<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>This study investigates the tone of election news coverage in the evening newscasts of four Iraqi satellite TV channels: Iraqia (government-run), Furat (Shiite), Hurria (Kurdish) and Baghdad (Sunni) for two weeks leading up to the general election. A total sample of 56 evening newscasts containing 857 news stories that were related to the election was analysed. Although all channels claimed to be addressing all Iraqis and to be following the principles of professional journalism, the evidence presented here argues that all four channels disregarded professional news values. Even the state-run al-Iraqia channel, that is supposed to be independent, showed preferences for some topics over others.</jats:p>