Levels of Attention of Iraqi Electronic News Websites to Environmental Pollution Issues: An Analytical Study Shafaq News Website and the Iraqi News Agency

Abstract

This study examines how Iraqi electronic news websites address environmental pollution issues through a comparative analysis of the Iraqi News Agency and Shafaq News. Using a descriptive–analytical method and content analysis, the research evaluates 651 media items published over a defined period. The results show that coverage of environmental issues is generally limited and lacks consistency. The Iraqi News Agency tends to rely heavily on official narratives and government sources, presenting information in a factual, report-like style. In contrast, Shafaq News demonstrates greater diversity by incorporating opinion pieces, investigative journalism, and both international and field-based sources. It also adopts a more emotional and human-centered discourse. The study concludes that environmental media coverage in Iraq requires significant improvement, emphasizing the need for greater specialization, more diverse sources, and the use of interactive approaches to enhance audience engagement and awareness of environmental concerns.