Mosul celebrates local Press Day
Spotlight on veteran journalist Parwin Hamid Majid
MOSUL — As Mosul commemorates the 139th anniversary of “Mosul Newspaper” in 1885, 964media spoke to Parwin Hamid Majid, a distinguished journalist in the governorate.
Prior to the foundation of the academic media department at the University of Mosul in 2012, the city scarcely had specialized female journalists, with Parwin Hamid Majid being a notable exception. Majid, who graduated from the University of Baghdad’s College of Arts in 1986, embarked on her journalistic journey in 1982 as a freshman, crafting an investigative piece on the Mosul Technical Institute.
Now, Majid is recognized as one of Mosul’s most seasoned journalists, with a career that spans several decades.
Throughout her career, she has significantly contributed to various Iraqi newspapers and magazines and remains active in the field. Currently, she leads the media division at the University of Mosul’s media department and serves on the editorial team of the international newspaper, Al-Zaman.
In a recent interview with 964media, Majid shared her reflections on her career: “Journalism runs in my blood. I managed to carve out a path in this demanding yet enjoyable profession. I had a great desire to enter the field of journalism from a young age and joined the media department at the College of Arts at the University of Baghdad with immense support from my family.”
Majid added, “I am proud to be the first academic specialist in media in Mosul. I achieved what I aspired to since joining the media department and was eager to engage in fieldwork, starting with the most challenging form of journalism—investigative reporting.”
Beginning in 2004, she contributed weekly to the university newspaper “Wamdat” and the monthly magazine “Manahel”. She was responsible for the investigations page, producing at least eight reports per issue.
Her investigative efforts have garnered her hundreds of reports on university activities and in 2013, she received the title of Best Journalist in Nineveh from the Journalists Syndicate.
“Journalism is not without its troubles and difficulties. Coming to a large academic institution like the University of Mosul, I faced numerous challenges, including accessing information,” Majid noted.
Her works have been featured in “Wamdat”, “Manahel”, “Al-Zaman International”, “Sada Mosul”, and the “Ninawa Education Magazine”. From 2007 to 2009, she was the editor-in-chief of the monthly women’s magazine “Half of Society”.
Majid expressed her pride in being part of Mosul’s journalistic legacy and extended her congratulations to the city’s press on its 139th anniversary.
“The future of Iraqi journalism, particularly in Mosul, is promising. We have academically trained journalists who can elevate journalism in our city. I encourage the new generation to engage in fieldwork,” she stated.
She also emphasized the need for veteran journalists to share their expertise and support emerging journalists, aiming to bridge the generational gap in the field.
“I have observed the passion, determination, and perseverance of the students and graduates from the media department. These energies should be harnessed to serve the media institutions in Nineveh, but they need support from seasoned journalists and the establishment of bridges of communication between the old and new generations,” she concluded.
964 Editor-in-Chief laments state of journalism in changing Iraqi landscape
