The scientific assembly of Dr.Kazem Motamed-Nejad

27.Dec.2004.Allameh university.Tehran.Iran

An important interview whit him about :

Promotion of Independent and Pluralistic Press

Q: What factors led to the development of independent and pluralistic press in Iran?

A: Following the establishment of "The Press and Propagation Department" in the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance then headed by Seyed Mohammad Khatami, the number of newspapers and periodicals increased in Iran. Endeavors of this department, particulary in 1990- 1991 gave a new life to the Iranian press. New policies adopted to ensure the development of the press were easing the restrictions in issuing new publications, allocating financial aid to the press, and providing subsidies for equipment and raw materials required by the press. Also, two centers for the promotion of media studies and research in were established in 1990. Owing to the election of Seyed Mohammad Khatami as the Iranian President in 1997, a new dawn broke in the Iranian journalism and press. Improvements since then included foundation of the first Professional Association of Iranian Journalists, staging the Annual Press Festival to award the accomplished journalists, giving more independence to the press courts attended by a jury, rapid increase of newspapers and periodical across the country, and holding the Second Seminar on the Problems of the Iranian Press. The first such seminar was organized by Mr. Khatami when he was the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance in 1991. In the Second Seminar on the Problems of the Iranian Press staged in 1998, freedom of the press and necessity of its legal support was the main area of focus. Meanwhile, another significant topic was "The Press, Civil Society and Political Development in Iran". The next important seminar was held in June 1999 where exports of journalism and law discussed the press rights provide grounds for a reconsideration of the existing Iranian Press Law.

Q: Any figures available to assess this development?

A: In the spring of 1998, Iranian newsstands were offering a choice of 800 periodicals - five times more than those of the pre- Revolution period. However, growth of the press in Iran has not been limited to quantity. A review of the contents of Iranian newspapers and magazines reveals a progress in reflecting specialized and export issues in cultural, social, critical and arts periodicals. Another development of the Iranian press is a noticeable increase in their circulation. In the spring of 1997, about a million copies of newspapers would come out everyday. However, in the spring of 1999, this figure exceeded three million in response to the growing demand and interest of readers. Consequently, based on international criteria of UNESCO, there are fifty newspapers for every 1,000 Iranians. Such a development is unprecedented in Iran. Two of the country's newspaper are currently being published in about 500,000 copies, two others between 100,000 to 200,000 and 21 other newspapers circulate in 20,000 to 100,000 copies.

Q: Has Iran experienced a similar improvement in terms of journalism a discipline?

A: Establishment of professional associations for preserving the press freedom, female journalists, sports writers and photojournalists all indicate that the country is developing in the field. Iran has attached increased importance to the educational aspect of journalism. Measure taken in this respect include establishing separate undergraduate programs for journalism and public relations, undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programs for mass communication science and offering on the- job journalism courses.

Q: What steps have been taken to promote these developments in the global scene?

A: Iran has tried to inform the world about in winds of change. An Iran- UNESCO agreement paved the way for a special research project titled "Development of Independent and Pluralistic Press in Iran". Supported by UNESCO, this research is conducted by Alameh Tabatabaie University with the cooperation of Paris University's Press Institute and the Center for Media Studies and Research. This effort specifically deals with:

1. Diversity of newspapers, magazines and specialized periodicals.

2. Plurality of publishing organizations and individuals.

3. Development of critical accounts in the press.

4. New experience of dealing with violations committed by the press before a jury in court.

5. Justifiability of independence, pluralism and freedom as practiced by the Iranian press base on the existing fact. A review of the objectives sough by such a move demonstrates that there is a definite correspondence between the new policies of Iran for the development of the independent and pluralistic press and UNESCO's guidelines in this regards as announced in the 1992 Alma-Ata Seminar... more