Transport Ministry freezes press offices after report by AKnews
23/02/2012 08:50BAGHDAD, Feb. 23 (AKnews) - Iraq's Transport Ministry has suspended the work of its press offices following a report by AKnews in which commentators criticized the performance of such offices, appointed spokespersons and media advisers.
A anonymous source at the ministry told AKnews that the Transport Minister met yesterday with his media managers and ordered them not to give press statements about the ministry's revenues and financial activities.
"The minister informed the press offices that he will punish administratively all those who make media statements," the source said.
The source added that the proposal was made by the ministry's media advisor Abdul Karim Nouri "who lacks information about the work of the ministry and media configurations".
Nouri is known to dodge questions directed to him by journalists and promises of contacting reporters again but he does not.
AKnews published a report yesterday in which media commentators criticized ministry spokespersons who fail to do their job. Observers called for ministry press offices to be abolished because according to them they limit information rather than strengthen the role of media.
Some 12 ministries lack the presence of an official spokesperson, notably the ministries of foreign affairs, trade, industry, interior and national security, in addition to the National Reconciliation Commission and the investment and accountability and justice bodies.
The Council of Ministers limited the work of its spokesman Ali al-Allak to publishing a single statement an hour after the weekly government meeting on Tuesdays.
Similarly the spokesman of the Education Ministry is said to refuse to answer reporter's questions, and will only discloses the activities of universities.
Some press offices have also been accused of limiting information to certain foreign news agencies for money. The oil ministry in particular was accused of having an exclusive deal with three known foreign news agencies, excluding other media organizations from any new information.
The Trade Minister recently issued a circular to all Director-Generals in the ministry to prevent them from making any statement to the media. The ministry was criticized earlier this month by the Economics Committee of the Council of Representatives.
The Iraqi government also decided to limit media statements about government affairs to the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and government spokesman.
Statements from government officials are often contradictory about political and security events taking place in the country.
By Saman Dazzayi
RN/DM/AKnews
A anonymous source at the ministry told AKnews that the Transport Minister met yesterday with his media managers and ordered them not to give press statements about the ministry's revenues and financial activities."The minister informed the press offices that he will punish administratively all those who make media statements," the source said.
The source added that the proposal was made by the ministry's media advisor Abdul Karim Nouri "who lacks information about the work of the ministry and media configurations".Nouri is known to dodge questions directed to him by journalists and promises of contacting reporters again but he does not.
AKnews published a report yesterday in which media commentators criticized ministry spokespersons who fail to do their job. Observers called for ministry press offices to be abolished because according to them they limit information rather than strengthen the role of media.
Some 12 ministries lack the presence of an official spokesperson, notably the ministries of foreign affairs, trade, industry, interior and national security, in addition to the National Reconciliation Commission and the investment and accountability and justice bodies.
The Council of Ministers limited the work of its spokesman Ali al-Allak to publishing a single statement an hour after the weekly government meeting on Tuesdays.
Similarly the spokesman of the Education Ministry is said to refuse to answer reporter's questions, and will only discloses the activities of universities.
Some press offices have also been accused of limiting information to certain foreign news agencies for money. The oil ministry in particular was accused of having an exclusive deal with three known foreign news agencies, excluding other media organizations from any new information.The Trade Minister recently issued a circular to all Director-Generals in the ministry to prevent them from making any statement to the media. The ministry was criticized earlier this month by the Economics Committee of the Council of Representatives.
The Iraqi government also decided to limit media statements about government affairs to the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and government spokesman.
Statements from government officials are often contradictory about political and security events taking place in the country.
By Saman Dazzayi
RN/DM/AKnews
