FAIR, IMPARTIAL, CLOSE TO EVERYDAY LIFE: Dhi Qar’s pioneering female media executive talks about secrets of her success

By Al Menasa staff in Dhi Qar

As a child, Duaa Ali Taleb al-Moussawi enjoyed sharing sports newspapers and local radio programs with her father, well-known Iraqi footballer Ali Taleb al-Moussawi. And from an early age, she knew she was destined to work in media — she was fascinated by the idea of doing interviews and covering sports events.

Today, al-Moussawi is making history — in 2018, she became the first woman to lead a prominent media institution in the Iraqi province of Dhi Qar. As the leader of a team of 20, she has proven herself in local media.

“I owe a lot to my father,” al-Moussawi recounts. “He was my biggest supporter. I used to conduct mock interviews with him and my mother, using a hairbrush as a microphone. These are memories that will never leave me. Even after I became a professional in media, he continued to listen to me, discuss my programs and offer valuable advice.”

Al-Moussawi doesn’t have an academic degree but has learned much from experience and has a burning passion for journalism.

It was al-Moussawi’s voice that would ultimately open the door to a career in media. She became a presenter at a local radio station and made her first on-air appearance with a morning show.

Between 2006 to 2010, Dhi Qar had three local radio stations focused on social, political and cultural topics. Aal-Moussawi worked for one of these, Radio Al Haboubi, for nearly three years before joining Radio Al Nasiriyah Radio in 2011. It was at Al Nasiriyah that she gained national recognition after covering the bombing of pilgrims heading to Karbala.

“It was a pivotal moment in my career,” al-Moussawi now says. “I was on live for over an hour and a half, reporting directly from the scene. It’s an experience I’ll never forget. Being there with the people gave me a unique connection to the community.”

Al-Moussawi credits that connection to ordinary people in the community as one of her strengths. She reports from local markets and government offices, or from public events, and she believes the fact that her work reflects the realities of daily life in Dhi Qar is what makes her work relatable and popular.

In 2018, al-Moussawi was appointed executive director of Al Nasiriyah Radio and Television. She is the first woman to hold the position and under her leadership, the media institution has thrived and is seen as competing well with other regional media outlets.

Her leadership was tested during the 2019 October protests, when Dhi Qar’s central areas were riven by demonstrations and unrest. Still working as a reporter, al-Moussawi covered the protests accurately and impartially. This has made her media outlet one of the most trusted sources in the province, and even in Iraq — national television stations often use the local broadcasts from Al Nasiriyah on their own shows.

Despite her work as the outlet’s director, Al-Moussawi still does things like host live shows and conduct interviews. She is also enthusiastic about passing on her knowledge to the next generation. Al-Moussawi conducts training sessions for journalism students and through this, hopes to continue to shape Iraqi media in a positive way.

This article is part of a series produced with support from  (Qarib) , a regional program funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) and implemented by the French Agency for Media Development (CFI).