Supporting Independent Iraqi Journalism

Welcome to IWPR’s Frontline Update, your go-to source to hear from journalists and local voices at the front lines of conflict.

 THE BIG PICTURE  

Founded just four years ago and working with a network of more than 60 mostly young contributors based across Iraq, the region and in the diaspora, Jummar provides a rare source of independent, non-sectarian and accurate information about issues that affect the lives of ordinary Iraqis.

 VOICES FROM THE FRONTLINE 

"When we created Jummar, we wanted to support young Iraqis to get their stories out to their peers in Iraq and around the world,” co-founder Aida Al-Kaisy said. “We wanted there to be accurate and timely reporting in and on Iraq. This is more important now than ever. Iraq, and the world, is at a critical point in determining the future for young generations.” 

Through text and multimedia, the online platform challenges traditional coverage to explore under-reported stories. Mary Burhan, an Iraqi contributor, used the platform to talk about her experience of sexual harassment.

“Simply put, I felt that if I shared an experience like this, Jummar wouldn’t judge or blame me — and they didn’t,” she said. “Women started coming to me, asking how to deal with harassers and how to protect themselves. Many of them now turn to me when they face such situations, and some even shared their stories for the first time. They told me, ‘Thank you — we feel less guilty now.’ That, to me, is the most important impact: helping women feel seen, heard, and less alone.”

 WHY IT MATTERS 

Jummar’s mentoring and support allows an extensive network of contributors to share work with other publications and institutions, encouraging a richer and more nuanced public discourse on Iraq. IWPR has been an early supporter, providing training, advice and financial assistance. 

A Jummar story, Short Sleeves in Iraq – which explored the social pressure on women despite the hardships of the summer heat – won a special mention in the 2024 IWPR Women’s Journalism Prize.

A media partnership series with the UK’s Guardian newspaper took a deep dive into recent legislative changes empowering religious authorities to rule on marriage and inheritance, which could allow marriage for girls as young as nine.

Al-Kaisy highlighted Jummar’s detailed reporting on the passage of recent important legislation, which included legal analysis, political coverage and reaction in both Arabic and English.

“We need support for independent journalism to help young people be part of a safer and fairer global society, where they can make decisions and choices based on facts and good information,” Al-Kaisy said. Last month, Jummar launched its first crowdfunding campaign to support its work.

 THE BOTTOM LINE 

IWPR has been working in Iraq since 2003, undertaking major programming to support media and civil society across the country. Our late Iraq chief-of-mission Ammar Al Shahbander, killed in a 2015 car bombing in Baghdad, pioneered programming supporting rights groups and activists from ethnic and religious minorities to advocate for inclusion in civic and political processes and empower women and youth to build cohesion, resilience and reconciliation. 

Strengthening independent media is critical to democratic progress, especially in areas of conflict and transition. While international attention has moved on, IWPR continues to support Iraqi voices in this struggle.