„Radio Baghdad“ refers to the state-run radio station in Baghdad, Iraq. The history of radio broadcasting in Baghdad dates back to the early 20th century. The first radio station in Iraq, known as „Radio Baghdad,“ was established in 1936 during the era of King Ghazi. It started as a local station and later expanded its reach.
During different periods in Iraq’s history, the radio station went through changes in ownership, content, and policies, reflecting the political landscape of the country. Under Saddam Hussein’s regime, the media, including Radio Baghdad, was tightly controlled and used as a tool for propagating government ideologies and messages.
Shortwave radio, a method of long-distance radio communication, was widely used by various countries for international broadcasting. It allowed radio signals to travel long distances, making it a powerful tool for reaching audiences beyond national borders. Radio Baghdad, like many other international broadcasters, likely used shortwave transmissions to reach a global audience and share its perspective on events in Iraq and the world.
Media under Saddam Hussain’s Ba’ath party was severely limited and strictly controlled by the state. There was one news network called Iraqi News Agency which functioned solely as a mouthpiece for the regime. Any media other than that under the purview of the government was barred. Satellite dishes were illegal. Although this may have been circumvented by some of Baghdad’s elite, the fear of being turned in or found out made this an uncommon occurrence.
The Ministry of Information was charged with control of the media during Saddam’s rule. At this time, there were only five state-owned daily newspapers, one government TV channel, and four radio stations. Legislation was in place to assist in the control of the media by the state, and digressions were not tolerated. Expression was widely restricted, and there were no laws to protect journalists or media professionals.
