"This study shows that the use of media in Iraq is only partly based on ethno-sectarian patterns, and that the majority of media users are not naively susceptible to the views of individual media offerings. There are broadcasters that explicitly appeal to ethno-denominational target groups, and there are user groups that follow only one broadcaster in a monothematic fashion. However, the majority of the public seems to be interested in the interpretations of reality by different camps and therefore receives and compares different media offerings. As a result, it is possible that biased reporting achieves the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of gaining more support in the public for certain positions, the partisan channel loses its credibility and thus its effectiveness, as well. From this standpoint, a departure from partisan and biased reporting would be in the interest of both media users, a majority of whom are critical of biased reporting, and media producers, who would also strengthen their position in the public by attaining greater credibility. One could object here that the results of the study are based on the self-assessments and self-perception of the respondents, and therefore do not reflect real behavior but social expectations. Conversely, however, this would mean that the majority of the respondents perceive anti-sectarian use of the media as a social expectation they would like to fulfill. This too would only reinforce the conclusions stated here." (Final remarks, page 21)