Reformist demonstrators break the taboo of the untouchable national Iranian TV facilities by gathering outside state-run broadcasting corporation this week to protest the monopoly it seeks over public opinion in the run-up to June 12 presidential elections.
“Jaam-e – jam”, the main headquarter of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB),in 10,870 sq. meters is located in the northern quarter of Tehran’s longest street, Vaali Aasr, and is being supervised by a very special trained compact army headed by a well-known 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war veteran.
Protesters in the past have not dared to assemble in front of the headquarters, known as Jaam-e-jam in reference to a cup in Persian mythology in which King Jamshid could see the future. The sit-in against what demonstrators called the "anti-national radio and television network" was something new.
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) is not only a state run television network, it is also Islamic Republic's tribune.
Iran's rulers pay close attention to state broadcasting, which became the Achilles heel of the former shah's regime when young revolutionaries seized the facility during the 1978-79 revolution.
Since that time, the facility has been guarded round-the-clock, and authorities have responded severely to even mild protests and staff gatherings.
One cannot easily enter the campus. Even if you are a prominent guest of a daily routine TV show you should pass several security gates and body-searched as well. This hard rules are not only for guests but even TV hosts themselves must pass these gates daily and have to renew their security clearances every 6 months.
IRIB state run broadcasting has been dominantly affected public opinion of Iranian people for more than three decades through its vast coverage of five national TV channels and a dozen local TV channels in lack of rivalry benefiting the Islamic Republic’s constitution which banns private ownership of TV and radio stations.
As the signing date for the June 12 presidential elections in Iran nears, Jaam-e-jam which is now controlled mostly by hardliners and less by conservatives, contrary to its recent year history, continues to be exclusively at the campaign services of incumbent president Mahmud Ahmadinejad.
Just weeks before presidential election, any individual action or speech is given far-reaching national coverage and the “News Management”, an independent division which controls all news programs through a widespread network of secret security clearance holder reporters and news staff, also fully covers his regularly-scheduled trips to the provinces and broadcasts live interviews with him during prime time.
The very clear full-support of Ahmadinejad by Jaam-e-jam brought on severe criticism even from conservative camp.
Criticism over the non-availability of the alternative networks to others has been always a strong part of reformist claims but the recent stage a sit-in in front of Jaam-e-jam in protest against what they called “anti-national radio and television network”is very novice.
But the most recent gathering by young reformists did not receive any response yet.
Coinciding with this protest, Mir Hossein Mousavi, the presidential hopeful supported by a group of reformers, has sent a letter to Ezatollah Zarghami, the head of IRIB, asking for a meeting to “express his strong protest over the biased coverage of events in recent months and for turning the network into a private channel for one of the candidates.”
The bias has aroused criticism even from some Iranian conservatives who are split over whether Mr. Ahmadinejad should be elected to a second four-year term.
Ali Larijani, a conservative who is speaker of the Iranian parliament, complained Thursday about "very biased coverage" by IRIB, a somewhat ironic comment given that Mr. Larijani once headed the organization. He urged IRIB management to behave more professionally rather than trumpet a specific candidate.
Mr. Larijani also criticized overall media coverage of the presidential registration process as not serious and an outlet for "shenanigans."
A moderate newspaper, Mardom Salari, also criticized IRIB's approach in an editorial Thursday.
"We have not yet forgotten the behavior of the IRIB in the presidential election in which [former president Mohammad] Khatami was one of the candidates. The IRIB did everything for Khatami's rivals except openly ask the people not to vote for Khatami."
“Number of protesters in front of the Jam-e-jam may increase as more protesters may join them if Zarghami continues to trumpet Ahmadinejad,” say some protesters.
For more info: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/may/07/hundreds-protest-political-bias-in-state-run-media/.
Comments
How odd. Islam is still stuck in the thirteenth century and still stuck on stupid.
Okpulot Taha
Choctaw Nation
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