The Kurdish Media Watchdog (CHMK.org) is an independent, non-governmental, and non-profit media support organization. Established in November 2017 by a group of Kurdish academics, CHMK is dedicated to observing, evaluating, and reporting on violations of professional standards within Kurdish journalism and convergent media content. The organization also conducts analytical studies aimed at identifying weaknesses in media practices. CHMK’s core mission is to strengthen media professionalism while raising public awareness regarding human rights and democratic values within the Iraqi Kurdish Region. Its efforts particularly focus on safeguarding the rights of individuals whose civil liberties and personal privacy have often been disregarded or violated by certain Kurdish media institutions and practitioners. CHMK.org operates through a variety of projects, which include:
- Monitoring media content in Kurdish outlets,
- Conducting empirical and theoretical research,
- Designing and implementing surveys,
- Providing professional training, and
- Publishing scholarly and journalistic materials such as journals and books.
Over time, CHMK has expanded its activities beyond the Kurdistan Region to include media support initiatives throughout Iraq. Its broader aim is to help cultivate professional media practices and to promote democratic and liberal journalistic standards. To achieve this, CHMK places a strong emphasis on collecting and disseminating up-to-date data on the media environment in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The findings, reports, and training materials are made publicly available through its online platform, www.CHMK.org, which serves as a central hub for connecting media producers and consumers and providing reliable information about the state of Kurdish media.
Aims and Methodological Approaches
General Objectives
CHMK seeks to contribute to the establishment of a modern and professional media system that ensures the responsible and balanced production of journalistic content in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. A key part of its mission is to promote social cohesion, encourage reconciliation, and foster mutual respect across different segments of Kurdish society. All CHMK activities are aligned with democratic principles, including freedom of expression, media freedom, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the ethical standards outlined by the International Federation of Journalists.
Specific Objectives
- To systematically monitor and evaluate the quality and content of Kurdish media production across print, broadcast, and digital platforms.
- To provide training and capacity-building programmes for emerging Kurdish journalists, focusing on professional standards, legal frameworks, and journalistic ethics.
- To analyse key trends and societal impacts of Kurdish media content, particularly with regard to accuracy, fairness, and public influence.
- To assess the degree of access to information, as well as the status of freedom of expression and media freedom in the region.
- To advocate for the protection of individual privacy rights and to document and respond to media-related violations, especially those occurring during political crises, conflicts, and election periods.