Sulaimani, April 26, 2026: A senior delegation from the Kurdish Media Watchdog Organization (CHMK), led by Associate Prof. Dr. Shwan Adam Aivas, met today with Deren Latif Rashid, Director General of Kurdsat Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), for high-level discussions on a shared vision for media development in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).
During the meeting, CHMK presented three issues of Dargawan magazine as an educational resource and reaffirmed its institutional mission: bridging the gap between academic media theory and professional practice in the KRI. Central to this discussion was a proposal to establish a joint media academy designed to train the next generation of Kurdish journalists in line with international scientific and professional standards. The two parties also reviewed preparations for the 3rd CHMK National Forum for Media Reform, scheduled for July 6–7, 2026, at Goldsmiths, University of London. The forum, themed “Media Reform in Post-Conflict Regions: An International Scientific Conference on Strategic Policy Roadmap for Kurdistan,” is set to be a landmark event, the first internationally convened scientific conference in the 128-year history of Kurdish journalism to be held in the British capital.
Director General Deren Latif Rashid expressed strong support for CHMK’s initiatives and reaffirmed Kurdsat’s readiness to engage with the organization’s plans, programs, and projects. Both parties agreed that advancing media diplomacy is essential to raising the profile of the Kurdish people and establishing a credible Kurdish presence on the global media landscape.
The Kurdish Media Watchdog Organization (CHMK) is an independent, non-profit organization founded in 2017 by a group of academics. It specializes in monitoring, evaluating, and researching professional standards and violations within Kurdish media. CHMK is committed to raising awareness of the rights of Kurdish individuals and communities, holding media institutions accountable, and developing practical frameworks to improve the professionalism and editorial standards of Kurdish journalism.
Kurdsat Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) was established in December 2000 in Sulaimani by Hiro Ibrahim Ahmad. It operates a portfolio of media outlets, including Khak terrestrial television station; Kurdsat and Kurdsat News, satellite channels; and a radio network. Broadcasting began in multiple Kurdish dialects and expanded at various stages to include Arabic, English, Persian, and Turkish. KBC is widely regarded as one of the most culturally significant media institutions in the Kurdistan Region and holds the distinction of producing the largest body of Kurdish films and drama series.
