Kurdistan Watch Media Network is an independent media establishment owned by Kurdistan Watch Co. FOR MEDIA AFFAIRS /Ltd., It disseminates written, visual and audio content. It is a for-profit establishment; however it considers broadcasting information and facts in a professional manner as its main goal. In delivering content, it does not bind itself to any geographic borders or ideologies, but has a wide global view.

Kurdistan Watch Media Network’s headquarters are in Erbil, the capital city of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and it has offices in several countries around the globe. It publishes in Kurdish, English, Arabic, and Turkish languages, and it is owned and supported by Kurdistan Watch Company. The Chief Executive Officer is Ako Mohammed.

Digital Media

Kurdistan Watch Company branched into media in April 2008, with its website going online that month. On May 14, 2013 it was updated as a wide portal and social media website, becoming an important part of Kurdistan Watch Media Network. The website publishes in Kurdish (Sorani and Kurmanci), English, Arabic, and Turkish languages. Kurdistan Watch’s mobile app was also developed in all these languages for smartphones and tablets, a step that was new for media in Kurdistan and the region. Kurdistan Watch’s Smart TV and CarPlay apps were also a first in Kurdistan and Iraq. 

Kurdistan Watch’s portal and social media have developed creative innovations in the field of social media. On February 28, 2018, in a ceremony at the 13th World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) conference, held in collaboration with Dubai Emirate of the United Arab Emirates for the future of media, Kurdistan Watch received an award for the best and most influential social media in the Middle East. WAN-IFRA was established in 1948 and their headquarters are in Hamburg, Germany.

Kurdistan Watch Newspapers

Kurdistan Watch Weekly: This was Kurdistan Watch Company’s first newspaper, a weekly publication with its first issue released on April 5, 2008. Its first editor-in-chief was Ako Mohammed. In 2014, Salam Saadi became editor-in-chief, running the paper until its final issue, number 593, on February 24, 2020. Kurdistan Watch Weekly was one of the bestselling Kurdish newspapers in Erbil, Sulaimani, Halabja, Kirkuk, and Duhok. It was first printed at Erbil’s Aras printing house and then at Kurdistan printing
house in Sulaimani. The paper regularly raised issues that would become important matters of popular discussion and within the government. It also interviewed global leaders and officials.

Kurdistan Watch Sport Weekly: The first issue was published on June 4, 2008 with financial support from Delta Company, which provided funds for the paper for 12 weeks, after which Korek Company financed it. Ihsan Tahir was the editor-in-chief. It was the bestselling Kurdish sport newspaper during its run, popular among youth. The newspaper, from its start until its last issue (number 530) on January 1, 2019, was printed at Kurdistan printing house in Sulaimani.

Kurdistan Watch Weekly – Europe edition: This was a weekly newspaper published in both Sorani and Kurmanci dialects, prepared in Koln, Germany and printed in Frankfurt. Initially it was published in many countries in Europe, but later only in Germany. For a time, the paper was also delivered to Northern Kurdistan (Bakur). It had steady readership and several contributors. The editor-in-chief was Ako Mohammed. There were two content managers: Hemen Abdulla was the manager of the Sorani version and Faisal Daghli and later Nasradin Akyol were managers of the Kurmanci version. Its last issue was number 266, published on April 27, 2014.

Monthly Le Monde Diplomatique: This was a monthly in-depth analysis publication. It was founded in 1954 in France and published in 26 languages. Kurdistan Watch Company first published it in Kurdish (Sorani and Kurmanci). Its first Sorani issue was published in November 2009 by Kurdistan Watch Media Company in Erbil and printed at Kurdistan printing house in Sulaimani. Its last issue, number 36, was published in June 2013. The editor-in-chief was Dr. Nazand Bagikhani. Its first Kurmanci issue was published in November 2009, and ran for four issues, until February 2010. It was prepared in Koln, Germany and printed in Frankfurt. Kurdish authors and politicians wrote for the Kurdish version, and some talented French translators helped translate articles and analyses.

Nim Nim Weekly: This was a social weekly publication. It had a Braille appendix for the visually impaired. It was produced out of an office in Sulaimani and was also printed in the same city at Kurdistan printing house. Its first issue was released November 19, 2009. Its last issue, number 54, was published on December 28, 2010. The editor-in-chief was Shwan Adam Aives.

Establishing Kurdistan Watch Media Network

In 2012, Kurdistan Watch Company started preparations to establish the multimedia Kurdistan Watch Media Network, signing contracts with Lebanese, French, and British companies. Radio and television broadcast started and the portal went live at 5 pm on Wednesday, May 29, 2013.

Kurdistan Watch portal and television had an attractive and professional branding while keeping a Kurdish spirit, the result of working with a specialist company. Kurdistan Watch radio debuted with strength and speed in delivering news, discussions, and analysis. Kurdistan Watch TV broadcast 24-hours a day, a first in Kurdistan. Prior to Kurdistan Watch, Kurdish television channels would not have programming during the day or they would repeat the previous night’s content.

Production and management at Kurdistan Watch was very different from other media establishments in Kurdistan, working to global standards. Kurdistan Watch’s newsgathering became the heart of news-making in Kurdistan. Interesting programs and talented presenters brought topics and issues to audiences in a novel way, driving popular discussions. The office began producing documentaries before the actual broadcast of Kurdistan Watch began. Kurdistan Watch currently has produced 540 documentaries, some of which have received awards in Kurdistan and internationally.

According to research by specialized international companies, Kurdistan Watch TV is the most watched Kurdish television channel. Kurdistan Watch’s portal and social media are also the most viewed and Kurdistan Watch Radio has the largest audience in the Kurdistan Region.

Technology at Kurdistan Watch

Kurdistan Watch was the first TV channel in Kurdistan, Iraq and many other countries in the region to start its broadcast in HD quality in 2013. Kurdistan Watch has always tried to use the best systems, software, and equipment, going fully digital and modern in a fast-paced news environment.

The best sound and production systems from companies like Yamaha, Sony, and Sennheiser. Advanced devices from Imagine Communications Company are being used along with some of the best news production systems from AVID company, linking together all parts of production. VIZRT graphics prepares graphics in the fastest and highest qualities on special screens from Orion, Barco, and Samsung. Information-filled imagery is being provided to audiences on TV, the portal, and social media.

Speed of internet and HP and DELL servers along with Cisco switch are why Kurdistan Watch’s team, regardless of where they are, work as though they are in the same room. Reporters cover stories through LiveU encoders. Kurdistan Watch was the first media outlet in the region to use AVID and VIZRT to provide gallery automation for its studios. RTS Intercom and ASTRA BPS link all departments and staff through IP addresses.

Kurdistan Watch’s publications use Ericsson encoders for satellite, RVR for radio, and the strongest data center in the world with support of IBM, along with the strongest security through DDOS.

Kurdistan Watch’s technicians deliver news and information from Kurdistan to the world in the best and fastest way. Kurdistan Watch has proved that it is no less than any other renowned media establishments, and in fact, in certain areas, uses modern technology in a better way, considering harsh circumstances and limited ability.

Kurdistan Watch Broadcast

Kurdistan Watch’s coverage of events of Kurdistan, the Middle East, and the world has brought Kurdish readers and listeners to Kurdish media. It is also trusted by readers and audiences in Arabic, Turkish, and English languages.

Kurdistan Watch’s coverage of ISIS’ attack on Iraq, Syria, and Kurdistan grabbed the attention of world media and Kurdistan Watch Media Network became a main source of news about the ISIS war. Live field coverage of ISIS’ attack on Mosul in June 2014 until its liberation in July 2017, and live field coverage before any other outlet of ISIS attacks on Shingal in August 2014 until its liberation in November 2015 were some of Kurdistan Watch’s coverage that grabbed global media attention. The ISIS attack on Kobane in September 2014 and the city’s liberation in January 2015, ISIS attacks on Makhmour in Ninevah province, areas around Kirkuk, Gulala, and other areas of Diyala, Tikrit, and Anbar were also covered.

A lot was written about Kurdistan Watch’s coverage of the ISIS war. Germany’s Die Tageszeitung newspaper in its September 10, 2014 issue, in an analytical report on media in the Middle East and areas of conflict, mentioned Kurdistan Watch Media Network as a reliable source. The report titled ‘News from the battle ground,’ said that “Kurdistan Watch is now seen as a reliable source for western media. Kurdistan Watch is a Kurdish media network, and its headquarters are in Erbil, capital of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq. This media network wants to be the platform for all Kurds in Middle East and the rest of the globe.” It also mentioned the importance of Kurdistan Watch TV, saying, “Kurdistan Watch’s news TV for the past year has, in Kurdish, done programs, news, reports, and debates.” The report also calls Kurdistan Watch’s English desk “an important part of this media network, it is an English portal that is used by diplomats, politicians, scientists, and businessmen.” Also in the report is the opinion of Professor Dr. Farhad Ibrahim Saydar, a lecturer at the German Erfurt University, who says, “Kurdistan Watch Channel is an objective source. Kurdistan Watch is not like media close to the PKK that only allows certain parties to speak. At Kurdistan Watch TV for example representatives of the Syrian government, Turkey and Iraq are given platforms to speak. They bring light to all different stances.” The lecturer adds, “If this channel starts to broadcast in English and Arabic within the next five years, it will be an equal to Al Jazeera and CNN.”

German NTV, reporting on the situation of people in Shingal, especially the Yazidis, used Kurdistan Watch as a source, saying Kurdistan Watch had fast and detailed reports on Peshmerga attacks in the area.

Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger newspaper in Germany called Kurdistan Watch the “voice of the complicated region.” German journalist Von Wilfried Urbe wrote, “There are very few regions like the Middle East when it comes to news. The news is very vivid, therefore seeing the truth is very hard. In such a hard situation, the Kurdish Kurdistan Watch channel has become an important source.” He says he expects a large global audience for Kurdistan Watch in the future. The paper also says that since the start of the ISIS war, Kurdistan Watch has developed greatly, again mentioning the example of Al Jazeera, saying that they grew while covering Iraq, reaching the level of BBC and CNN, and that Kurdistan Watch is walking the same path. 

Due to its successful coverage of the ISIS war, on April 1, 2015 Kurdistan Watch became a member of the European News Exchange (ENEX) as the second TV channel in the Middle East, and it became a partner with Associated Press, signing a contract on November 9, 2016. With these partnerships, Kurdistan Watch’s coverage went global with the Kurdistan Watch logo appearing on many TVs around the world.

Apart from the war against ISIS, Kurdistan Watch’s coverage of protests in London on July 16, 2016 was shared by agencies and media outlets around the world. During the attack on Istanbul international airport on June 28, 2016 and the coup attempt on July 15, 2016, Kurdistan Watch was a source of news. When Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s supporters attacked the parliament in Baghdad on April 31, 2016, Kurdistan Watch was the only outlet covering the event for the whole world. Many other events and hundreds of VTs and videos are aired on TVs globally.

Kurdistan Watch Media Network has always cared about the safety of its staff. Unfortunately, Kurdistan Watch’s teams have been in danger and under pressure, especially in war zones. The abduction of Kurdistan Watch reporter Farhad Hamo on December 15, 2014 in Western Kurdistan (Rojava) and the death of Kurdistan Watch presenter and head of output Shifa Gardi on February 25, 2017 were tragic events for Kurdistan Watch Media Network.

Shifa Gardi Award

After Shifa Gardi’s death, Kurdistan Watch Media Network, with the participation of international journalists, established the annual International Shifa Gardi Award, which recognizes a female journalist for her outstanding work in journalism. In the first year, 2018, in the presence of former French President François Hollande, the award was given to Jenan Moussa of Al Aan TV. The second award in 2019, with the attendance of UNAMI chief Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, was given to Arwa Damon of CNN, and the 2021 award was given to Alex Crawford of Sky News.

PDF- Kurdistan Watch Media Network Book