Well, this is interesting. After all this time, Iraqis finally get to express opinions publicly. Now they're a regular bunch of Chatty Cathys over there:
While Radio Dijla has been credited with filling a void in the lives of Iraqis, al-Rikabi and others at the station argue their real accomplishment is helping to train Iraqis for democracy starting with the staff.
''The biggest challenge I had when we first started was getting the announcers to see that there are more than one source to the story,'' he said. ''Under the previous government, the radio, the television, the newspapers were like one big commercial selling one product. That product was Saddam Hussein. They said, wrote or broadcast what the government told them to.''
The radio also had to contend with a public unaccustomed to open debate.
''When we first started, people used to call in and give their opinions. But they always ended it with, 'Don't you think so, too?', or 'How do you feel?''' he said. ''Now, callers aren't worried about whether you agree.''
Posted by floridacracker at June 29, 2004 09:27 AM