Mass media in Iran

The mass media in Iran is both privately and publicly owned but all channels are subject to censorship. In 2016, Iran had 178 newspapers, 83 magazines, 15,000 information sites and two million blogs.[1] A special court has authority to monitor the print media and may suspend publication, or revoke the licenses, of papers or journals that a jury finds guilty of publishing anti-religious or slanderous material or information detrimental to the national interest. The Iranian media is prohibited from criticizing Islamic doctrine (as interpreted by the Iranian government).[citation needed]

Newspapers

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Most Iranian newspapers are published in Persian, but newspapers in English and other languages also exist. The most widely circulated periodicals are based in Tehran. Popular daily and weekly newspapers include Iran, Ettelaat, Kayhan, Hamshahri and Resalat. Iran Daily and Tehran Times are both English language papers.[2] Iran’s largest media corporation is Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).[2] The Financial Tribune is the main (online) English language economic journal. Iran Front Page (IFP News) is an English News website which provides its audiences with the English version of the latest news and views from Iran published by the Iranian Persian-language media.[3]

Foreign broadcasts

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A number of foreign broadcasts are transmitted into the country, including Persian language programmes from BBC Persian TV, Kol Israel and Radio Farda; however, these broadcasts are occasionally countered by radio jamming.[4] The government engages in censorship programs with respect to anything that diverges from national laws and regulations.[5][6] The majority of Iranians - upwards of 80 percent - get their news from government-owned media.[7] Attempts to establish private, independent media outlets in Iran have been restricted or quashed, and Reporters Without Borders has declared Iran to have the highest number of jailed journalists in the Middle East. Under the 1979 Iranian Constitution, all broadcasting must exclusively be government-operated and, in 1994, the Islamic Republic banned the use of satellite television.[8] In spite of which, over 30 percent of Iranians do in fact watch satellite television channels.[9]

Iranian media include Iranian news agencies, Iranian newspapers, Iranian blogs, Persian-language magazines and Persian-language television stations (not all of which are actually Iranian).

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Lettres Persanes (23 May 2016). "Lettres Persanes : suivez l'Iran depuis l'Iran". Archived from the original on 12 August 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2018 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ a b Ayse, Valentine; Nash, Jason John; Leland, Rice (January 2013). The Business Year 2013: Iran. London, U.K.: The Business Year. p. 114. ISBN 978-1-908180-11-7. Archived from the original on 2016-12-27. Retrieved 2014-03-16.
  3. ^ "About Us - Iran Front Page". Archived from the original on 2018-03-18. Retrieved 2018-03-18. "About Iran Front Page"
  4. ^ "Listening to Iran - World - CBC News". Archived from the original on 2010-06-07. Retrieved 2008-11-30. "Listening to Iran" – Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
  5. ^ Reporters sans frontières – Internet – Iran Archived February 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Molavi, Soul of Iran, Norton, (2002) p.5
  7. ^ "State Department's First Persian-Language Spokesperson Could Appear In Iranian State Media". www.payvand.com. Archived from the original on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  8. ^ Sanati, Kimia (4 July 2007). "New TV Channel to Focus on Iraq, Shia Issues". IPS. Archived from the original on 21 January 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  9. ^ "Iran's war on satellite dishes: "We just buy new ones the next day"". france24.com. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
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