About RUDAW

What Rudaw English is:
Rudaw is a Kurdish word literally meaning “the happening.” Rudaw English is a private English-language newspaper published by the Rudaw Media Company in Erbil, the capital of the semiautonomous Kurdistan region in the north of Iraq. It has no link to any political party or interest group. Currently, it is only available through its website, www.rudaw.net/english. Rudaw English considers itself an integral part of Kurdistan, Iraq and indeed the larger world community. Through its neutral reporting, Rudaw English works to promote democracy, freedom and human rights in Iraq and Kurdistan, as two post-war societies. Honesty and integrity are the two principles upon which Rudaw English is based. It promises to put its readers first by providing them with true information about what is really happening in Kurdistan, Iraq, the region and beyond. 

In a society which is transitioning from authoritarianism to democracy, the media is largely politicized. All political parties in Iraqi Kurdistan own at least several media outlets to advance their political goals. The media controlled by political parties, the government or the state are predominantly ideological. They are not there to represent the true image of the society, but rather to represent the image they are interested in showing. In such media, neutrality and objectivity are almost always lost. Thus, the mission of Rudaw English is by no means an easy one. Its aim is not to tell people what to believe, but to allow them to make informed choices through access to unbiased information.

What makes a Rudaw English journalist:
Rudaw English, in partnership with other media outlets published by the Rudaw Media Company, has correspondents in most of the cities of Kurdistan, Iraq, and in many neighboring and Western countries. Since these journalists vary in their work, it is not easy to include them in one single definition. Indeed, Rudaw English does not wish to do so. Since we strongly believe in individual freedom, we wish to leave the largest possible space for our journalists to operate in, so they can produce innovative articles. However, in brief, Rudaw English journalists are bound by the following “ten absolutes” set by Reuters news agency:

1. Always hold accuracy sacrosanct
2. Always correct an error openly
3. Always strive for balance and freedom from bias
4. Always reveal a conflict of interest to a manager
5. Always respect privileged information 
6. Always protect your sources from the authorities
7. Always guard against putting your opinion in a news story
8. Never fabricate or plagiarize
9. Never alter a still or moving image beyond the requirements of normal image enhancement
10. Never pay for a story and never accept a bribe

What Rudaw English writes:
Rudaw English covers a range of issues, including politics, the economy, social issues, culture, entertainment and sport. Writing within the scope of each of these categories has its own requirements and characteristics. Rudaw English includes reports, face-to-face interviews, and opinion pieces.



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Chris Bowers