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Press TV also maintains a presence in the United States through intermediary companies that produce two of its flagship programs. "American Dream," produced in Washington, DC by ATN Television,<ref>http://www.city-journal.org/2009/19_1_snd-press-tv.html</ref> <ref>http://www.tvz.tv/newsfile/2005/october/talebkhallash.html</ref> is a once-a-week broadcast that focuses on the dark underside ("warts and all") of American life. It has been hosted by [[Mark Levine (journalist)|Mark Levine]], who quit the show after alleging editorial interference; [[Elliott Francis]]; [[Ibrahim Hooper]] (Communications Director of the [[Council on American-Islamic Relations]]), and Brian Becker (head of [[A.N.S.W.E.R.]] and the [[International Action Center]].<ref>http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/press-tv-mehrdad-yazdani-interviews-brian-becker-bush-war/8886624</ref> <ref>http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OGI2NjMzNDNjYmE2YzliOTJkZTc3YWM4OTNiOTJmYzc=</ref> Little reliable information is available on the Internet about guests who have appeared on this show. One guest, Jon Katz, who appeared at least twice to speak about gun rights in the United States, claims that he was initially lured to the show under false pretenses: "I did not know about the Iranian government funding aspect of this program until after I appeared on the show."<ref>http://katzjustice.com/blog2/serendipity/index.php?serendipity%5Baction%5D=search&serendipity%5BsearchTerm%5D=%22second+amendment%22</ref>
Press TV also maintains a presence in the United States through intermediary companies that produce two of its flagship programs. "American Dream," produced in Washington, DC by ATN Television,<ref>http://www.city-journal.org/2009/19_1_snd-press-tv.html</ref> <ref>http://www.tvz.tv/newsfile/2005/october/talebkhallash.html</ref> is a once-a-week broadcast that focuses on the dark underside ("warts and all") of American life. It has been hosted by [[Mark Levine (journalist)|Mark Levine]], who quit the show after alleging editorial interference; [[Elliott Francis]]; [[Ibrahim Hooper]] (Communications Director of the [[Council on American-Islamic Relations]]), and Brian Becker (head of [[A.N.S.W.E.R.]] and the [[International Action Center]].<ref>http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/press-tv-mehrdad-yazdani-interviews-brian-becker-bush-war/8886624</ref> <ref>http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OGI2NjMzNDNjYmE2YzliOTJkZTc3YWM4OTNiOTJmYzc=</ref> Little reliable information is available on the Internet about guests who have appeared on this show. One guest, Jon Katz, who appeared at least twice to speak about gun rights in the United States, claims that he was initially lured to the show under false pretenses: "I did not know about the Iranian government funding aspect of this program until after I appeared on the show."<ref>http://katzjustice.com/blog2/serendipity/index.php?serendipity%5Baction%5D=search&serendipity%5BsearchTerm%5D=%22second+amendment%22</ref>


"Hearts and Minds," a foreign policy discussion show, was produced in New York City by "American Press and TV Services"<ref>http://islamuswest.org/pdfs_Islam_and_the_West/HeartsAndMinds.pdf</ref> "American Press and TV Services" collaborated on the show with a "non-profit" student activist organization called the Student World Assembly,<ref>http://studentworldassembly.org</ref>. The Executive Director of the Student World Assembly, Mr. Shahram Hashemi, a native of Tehran, is also the co-founder of the Islamic Institute for Human Rights, which he created "as a response to increasing negative and inaccurate views of Islam resulting from the 9-11 attacks and to encourage cross-cultural human rights dialogue on Islam."</ref>http://www.amnestyusa.org/board-of-directors/hashemi-shahram/page.do?id=1091325</ref> Ms. Yuliya Uvarova, a student from Kazakhstan who worked on the show in summer of 2008, wrote that "the TV show ["Hearts and Minds"] was one of many fundraisers that the organization undertakes."<ref>http://al.odu.edu/gpis/bulletin/Vol3/VOL3Iss4.pdf</ref> For several months, "Hearts and Minds" was presented by [[Alan Weisman]] (former producer of the Charlie Rose Show, and author of biographies of retired CBS newsman [[Dan Rather]] and neocon defense expert [[Richard Perle]]).<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/books/review/traub.html</ref> Mr. Weisman promoted Press TV as being run "by a group of prominent Iranian reformists, journalists, and intellectuals,"<ref>http://islamuswest.org/pdfs_Islam_and_the_West/HeartsAndMinds.pdf</ref>, a view that has fallen out of favor since the Presidential election controversy.<ref>http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/edwest/100008941/its-time-to-boycott-press-tv-irans-propaganda-machine/</ref> Guests on Weisman's program included SIPA Dean [[John Coatsworth]], authors [[John Mearsheimer]] and [[Stephen Walt]], [[Columbia University]] professor [[Robert Jervis]], author Shuja Nawaz, CTEC President Veronika Krasheninnikova, "journalist" [[Robert Dreyfuss]], [[Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs]] Director David Speedie, NYU professor Patricia DeGennaro, retired [[Barnard College]] professor Peter H. Juviler, and analysts from the [[Council of Foreign Relations]].<ref>http://www.cfr.org/about/</ref> Weisman's final show was broadcast June 10, just before the election. Hosting duties were then taken over by former "4 Corners" presenter [[Susan Modaress]], who was given her own program, "Autograph." "Hearts and Minds" last broadcast, on September 30, 2009, was hosted by [[Stephanie Woods]]. During the show's final episodes, Ms. Woods welcomed former ''[[New York Times]]'' UN Bureau Chief [[Warren Hoge]]; [[Tina Monshipour Foster]], founder of the [[International Justice Network]]; [[Jonathan Horowitz]], described as a consultant to the [[Open Society Institute]]; [[Stephen Schlesinger]], former director of the [[World Policy Institute]] at the [[New School of Social Research]]; [[Michael Cohen]], Senior Analyst at the [[New America Foundation]]; [[Columbia University]] professor [[Padma Desai]]; [[Rahul Chandran]] of [[New York University]]'s Center on Global Cooperation, and [[Jeff Laurenti]], Senior Fellow at the [[Century Foundation]].<ref>http://www.presstv.com/programs/detail.aspx?sectionid=3510505&id=107582#107582</ref>
"Hearts and Minds," a foreign policy discussion show, was produced in New York City by "American Press and TV Services"<ref>http://islamuswest.org/pdfs_Islam_and_the_West/HeartsAndMinds.pdf</ref> "American Press and TV Services" collaborated on the show with a "non-profit" student activist organization called the Student World Assembly.<ref>http://studentworldassembly.org</ref> The Executive Director of the Student World Assembly, Mr. Shahram Hashemi, a native of Tehran, is also the co-founder of the Islamic Institute for Human Rights, which he created "as a response to increasing negative and inaccurate views of Islam resulting from the 9-11 attacks and to encourage cross-cultural human rights dialogue on Islam."</ref>http://www.amnestyusa.org/board-of-directors/hashemi-shahram/page.do?id=1091325</ref> Ms. Yuliya Uvarova, a student from Kazakhstan who worked on the show in summer of 2008, wrote that "the TV show ["Hearts and Minds"] was one of many fundraisers that the organization undertakes."<ref>http://al.odu.edu/gpis/bulletin/Vol3/VOL3Iss4.pdf</ref> For several months, "Hearts and Minds" was presented by [[Alan Weisman]] (former producer of the Charlie Rose Show, and author of biographies of retired CBS newsman [[Dan Rather]] and neocon defense expert [[Richard Perle]]).<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/books/review/traub.html</ref> Mr. Weisman promoted Press TV as being run "by a group of prominent Iranian reformists, journalists, and intellectuals,"<ref>http://islamuswest.org/pdfs_Islam_and_the_West/HeartsAndMinds.pdf</ref>, a view that has fallen out of favor since the Presidential election controversy.<ref>http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/edwest/100008941/its-time-to-boycott-press-tv-irans-propaganda-machine/</ref> Guests on Weisman's program included SIPA Dean [[John Coatsworth]], authors [[John Mearsheimer]] and [[Stephen Walt]], [[Columbia University]] professor [[Robert Jervis]], author Shuja Nawaz, CTEC President Veronika Krasheninnikova, "journalist" [[Robert Dreyfuss]], [[Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs]] Director David Speedie, NYU professor Patricia DeGennaro, retired [[Barnard College]] professor Peter H. Juviler, and analysts from the [[Council of Foreign Relations]].<ref>http://www.cfr.org/about/</ref> Weisman's final show was broadcast June 10, just before the election. Hosting duties were then taken over by former "4 Corners" presenter [[Susan Modaress]], who was given her own program, "Autograph." "Hearts and Minds" last broadcast, on September 30, 2009, was hosted by [[Stephanie Woods]]. During the show's final episodes, Ms. Woods welcomed former ''[[New York Times]]'' UN Bureau Chief [[Warren Hoge]]; [[Tina Monshipour Foster]], founder of the [[International Justice Network]]; [[Jonathan Horowitz]], described as a consultant to the [[Open Society Institute]]; [[Stephen Schlesinger]], former director of the [[World Policy Institute]] at the [[New School of Social Research]]; [[Michael Cohen]], Senior Analyst at the [[New America Foundation]]; [[Columbia University]] professor [[Padma Desai]]; [[Rahul Chandran]] of [[New York University]]'s Center on Global Cooperation, and [[Jeff Laurenti]], Senior Fellow at the [[Century Foundation]].<ref>http://www.presstv.com/programs/detail.aspx?sectionid=3510505&id=107582#107582</ref>


"Autograph", Susan Modaress' new interview program, has mostly been filmed "on location" in the United States. Modaress has interviewed prominent people such as anti-Israel academics [[Norman Finkelstein]] and [[Noam Chomsky]] for that program.<ref>http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=92567</ref> She has also interviewed former U.S. National Security Advisor [[Zbigniew Brzezinski]] for a program called "Face to Face."<ref>http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=92446&sectionid=351020101</ref><ref>http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=92451&sectionid=3510302</ref> Susan Modaress has also done general assignment reporting from New York on issues ranging from a cigarette tax increase in New York to a Society of Ethical Culture forum on "Obama and the Imperial Presidency."<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-cNSBoFcu8&feature=related</ref> <ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdPKvCDtX7c</ref>
"Autograph", Susan Modaress' new interview program, has mostly been filmed "on location" in the United States. Modaress has interviewed prominent people such as anti-Israel academics [[Norman Finkelstein]] and [[Noam Chomsky]] for that program.<ref>http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=92567</ref> She has also interviewed former U.S. National Security Advisor [[Zbigniew Brzezinski]] for a program called "Face to Face."<ref>http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=92446&sectionid=351020101</ref><ref>http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=92451&sectionid=3510302</ref> Susan Modaress has also done general assignment reporting from New York on issues ranging from a cigarette tax increase in New York to a Society of Ethical Culture forum on "Obama and the Imperial Presidency."<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-cNSBoFcu8&feature=related</ref> <ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdPKvCDtX7c</ref>

Revision as of 05:47, 7 December 2009

Press TV
HeadquartersTehran, Iran
Programming
Language(s)English
Ownership
OwnerIslamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting[1][2]
Key peopleShahab Mossavat, Yvonne Ridley

Press TV was created early in 2007 as an English language Internet political commentary and news website; an associated eponymous satellite television news channel was launched later that year. Press TV is fully funded by the Iranian government, which exercises control over editorial content and personnel decisions. The website and TV station are based in Tehran.

Availability and viewership

Press TV is available at two websites, www.presstv.ir and www.presstv.com. It is also now possible to watch Press TV on televisions equipped with a satellite dish capable of tuning into the proper frequency (see listing at the right side of this page). The channel, which was created for the purpose of providing a counterweight to Western media in English, achieved some success in having video images picked up by mainstream English-language media organizations such as CNN in the aftermath of the 2009 Presidential election, when foreign media organizations were blocked from reporting in the streets of Iran.[3] The Press TV website contains archive video of selected programs that have run on the broadcast channel.

The channel has never provided any reliable information on viewership, although Press TV CEO Mohammed Sarafraz claimed in May 2009, at a time when Press TV was cancelling programs and eliminating satellite feeds to save money, that "the number of Press TV's viewers is increasing on a daily basis and the channel is being broadcast on German, British and Middle-Eastern cable televisions."[4]

Coverage

The stated mission of Press TV is to present images and arguments, especially on Middle Eastern affairs, to counter the fact-based news coverage that appears on "mainstream" news broadcasts such those of BBC World, CNN International and Al Jazeera English, which are not bound by the content standards and media restrictions imposed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.[5]

Mohammad Sarafraz, Deputy Head of IRIB and head of the channel, said in a June 2007 press conference that, "Since September 11, Western bias has divided the media into two camps: those that favor their policies make up one group and the rest of the media are attached to radical Islamic groups like Al-Qaeda."[6] While there is little or no difference between the Al-Qaeda and Iranian point of view on the evils of Zionism and the needs for Muslims to stand up to America and Israel by any means available,[7] [8] there are differences on other issues.[9] Key among these differences is a dispute over which sect of Islam should be exalted over all over religions. Shia Islam, which most Islamic countries in the Middle East regard as an apostasy,[10] and which Al-Qaeda leaders have condemned in the same terms they use for Jews,[11] is Iran's state religion.[12] [13] On November 15, 2009, Press TV published an article outlining this dispute. In that article, Iranian Parliament speaker Ali Larijani claims that Al-Qaeda, by means of terrorist acts, makes Islam look bad. According to Press TV, Larijani maintains that "any division among different Islamic sects has been brought to the region by the intelligence services of foreign forces who seek to gain a foothold in the region."[14]

At the beginning of July 2007, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivered a speech on the occasion of the inauguration of Press TV’s broadcast operations. In that speech, he said, "Disseminating correct and timely news, and presenting correct analyses and disclosing behind scene of the mankind's enemies propaganda networks are among new TV's basic duty." Ahmadinejad added that “the message of media is the same as that of the prophets,” and insisted that "our media should be fully free from all vices that have polluted the world."[15]

By launching an English-language television channel to promote an Iran-centric view of the world, together with an Arab-language station, the Al-Alam News Network, the Iranian government hoped “to address a global audience exposed to misinformation and mudslinging as regards the Islamic Republic of Iran.”[16] The two networks focus on "difficult issues in the Middle East such as the United States’ occupation of neighbouring Iraq and the Shiite question."[17] Press TV, together with its Arabic-language sister, has been criticized by numerous British, American and Israeli media outlets, and by independent commentators from all over the world, for brazenly promoting the Islamic Republic's propaganda line overseas, often at the expense of the truth.[18] [19] [20]

Press TV devotes considerable space on its website and time on air to strident criticism of Israel. The station has become notorious for its vigorous promotion of Holocaust denial. On the subject of International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27), an editorial on the Press TV website noted, "On this anniversary, we all need to mull over the faking of history and the Greatest Lie Ever Told."[21]

Press TV frequently broadcasts programs on the topic of "Islamophobia" and alleged discrimination against Muslims in Western countries. Critics such as Doug Bandow (a former Reagan administration official who has appeared on Press TV, although not since the Iranian election) point out that discrimination against other religions is far more severe and widespeared in the Muslim world than in the West: "One of the uglier Islamic persecutors is Iran. The constitution nominally affirms the rights of “protected” religions — Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians. However, in practice no non-Shi’a believer is safe."[22]

Press TV seeks to compete, inter alia, with Al Jazeera English and other English-language state broadcasters such as France 24 and Russia Today.[23] However, its news coverage has been compared with that of organs such as Kim Jong-Il's Korean Central News Agency, and Cuba's Prensa Latina, both of which prominently and uncritically feature the opinions and words of state leaders.[24] While Press TV has been praised by some for airing programs about under-reported stories in Africa, Afghanistan and other places around the world,[25] [26] the station has come under heavy criticism for giving a platform to Holocaust deniers, conspiracy theorists and radical political activists.[27] [28]

Press TV offers round-the-clock "news bulletins" every half-hour, a series of repeating commentary programmes and roundtable panel discussions, as well as documentary-style political films. In May 2009, Press TV reported an announcement by CEO Mohammed Sarafraz that Press TV would “provide viewers with more newscasts while cutting down on its news analysis programs.” [29]

Press TV now functions more as a mouthpiece for hardliners in the Iranian government than as a media organization. In a post-election "information offensive," reports the Associated Press, Press TV and Al-Alam have "churned out a blitz of policy statements, negotiating points and news breaks as the main soapboxes for Iran's public diplomacy." In the wake of the recent announcements that the Revolutionary Guards (the Iranian army) will take over international news and propaganda broadcasts, there has been widespread speculation that Press TV will soon be supplanted or even completely replaced by a Guard-controlled news and propaganda entity called Atlas TV.[30]

State Funding and Management

Press TV is funded by the Iranian government.[31] The annual budget of Press TV is 250 billion Rials (more than 25 million US dollars).[32]

Press TV broadcasts news reports and analysis that support the official positions of the Iranian authorities, and its programs are carefully monitored and directed by the Iranian government.[33] [34] This is standard operating procedure in Iran, where journalists who seek to disseminate information not sanctioned by the government are subject to arrest and torture.[35] Although there have been attempts to establish private, independent media outlets in Iran, notably by former Iranian Presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi, the 1979 Constitution of the Islamic Republic mandates that "all broadcasting must exclusively be government operated."[36]

On October 7, 2009, Press TV reported that the Etemad Mobin consortium, a "quasi-governmental agency" linked to the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, purchased a controlling interest for $7.9 billion in the Telecommunications Company of Iran (TCI), giving the Guard monopoly control over the country's entire communications network.[37] [38]

Press TV has been operated as a division of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, and IRIB Deputy Head Mohammad Sarafraz is Press TV's CEO. According to Iranian journalist Khosro Ekhtiari, a former Press TV employee, Mr. Sarafraz was "hand-picked by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, whose office funds and controls IRIB."[39]

Press TV runs news bulletins every half-hour. These news bulletins typically feature Iranian ministers, diplomats or government officials, or guest commentators that are able to express views consistent with the Iranian government's "message of the day." While Press TV once ocasionally featured commentators critical of the Iranian government's handling of the economy, internal opposition is no longer presented on the network except to demonize its representatives. Opposition political figures such as Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi have not appeared on Press TV since the June 2009 Presidential election.[40]

Controversy

Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post,[41] together with outlets such as Searchlight Magazine,[42] have criticized Press TV for publishing, on its official website, an article, The Walls of Auschwitz: A Review of the Chemical Studies, claiming that the Auschwitz gas chambers were used for "benign" purposes only; it is authored by the British science historian, Holocaust denier and conspiracy theorist Nicholas Kollerstrom.

Journalist Mark Levine says that he was promised editorial control of his show, "The American Dream". However, in September 2007, when Levine decided to broadcast a show on Ahmadinejad's UN visit that included noted Persian scholars who had expressed criticism of Ahmadinejad, he alleges that he was blocked from doing the program at the last minute: "One hour before the show was scheduled to air live, the show was cancelled with no explanation given. I was later told that Press TV would not allow me to discuss the topic." Shortly after that, Levine was fired from his job.[43] Levine alleged that anti-Semitism also may have played a role in his firing: "I also believed my being Jewish may have played a role in the firing, given the shock, surprise, and horror manifested by the producer who hired me when she discovered my religious faith."[44]

In 2007, the conservative Canadian weekly Maclean's, while noting that "most of Press TV's news reports are factually accurate," alleged that Press TV also publishes "intentional errors," citing a story on the Press TV website that contained the claim, based on "no evidence," that the Lebanese government is trying to convert the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp into an American military base. "[45]

On July 2, 2009, Press TV reported that the Death of Neda Agha-Soltan was probably caused by a doctor who witnessed it. Or maybe it was a (non-Iranian?) sniper, who could have been imitating a possibly staged incident that allegedly happened in Venezuela in 2002. Anyway, the bullet looked like it was from a different kind of gun than the ones the Iranian security forces like to use.[46] On July 3, 2009, just a day after reporting all this false information, Press TV made a rare admission that it got the story wrong, and that Interpol was not seeking to arrest Dr. Hejazi as a suspect in Neda's death.[47]

On July 7, 2009, Press TV reported its license was revoked in Jordan, meaning it could no longer operate in the country.[48]

It was also one of only two English-language news channels with correspondents and live coverage from within the Gaza strip during Israel's offensive in the winter of 2008/2009.[citation needed] In August 2009, Ofcom, the British broadcasting regulator, judged that certain shows on Press TV had broken its broadcasting code on impartiality in their coverage of the Gaza War.[49]

Nick Ferrari, a leading British radio presenter, quit his show on Press TV on 30 June 2009, following the response of the country's authorities to protests over the disputed Iranian presidential election. Ferrari told The Times that Press TV’s news coverage had been “reasonably fair” until the election — but not any longer.[50]

In July 2009, Dominic Lawson, a columnist for the Sunday Times of London, criticized Press TV for broadcasting the "confession" of an Canadian-Iranian journalist "without a scintilla of skepticism." He also criticized British journalists and politicians for appearing on Press TV and for giving a forum to Holocaust deniers. Lawson said they are "being paid to lend credibility to the propaganda arm of a regime that subjects its own journalists to the most brutal 'political interference.'"[51]

Press TV has been accused of reporting false information with the intention of helping the Iranian government avoid responsibility for the rape, torture and murder of Zahra Kazemi, a photojournalist of Iranian descent who had been given political asylum in Canada, and who died while under Iranian custody in 2003.[52] This incident had led Canada to break diplomatic relations with Iran. On August 26, 2009, Press TV quoted Iranian government officials saying that Ms. Kazemi had died "after falling and hitting her head."[53] Dr. Shahram Azam, who examined Ms. Kazemi in prison, and whose statement was corroborated by others, claimed that Ms. Kazemi had been brutally raped and likely whipped before she was beaten nearly to death, probably within an hour of her arrest. "Her entire body carried strange marks of violence," Dr. A’zam said. "She had a big bruise on the right side of her forehead stretching down to the ear. The ear drum was intact, but the membrane in one of her ears had recently burst, and a loose blood vessel could be seen. Behind the head, on the left-hand side, was a big, loose swelling. Three deep scratches behind her neck looked like the result of nails digging into the flesh. The right shoulder was bruised, and on the left hand two fingers were broken. Three fingers had broken nails or no nails."[54] [55]

In August 2009, Tariq Ramadan, host of "Islam and Life" on Press TV, was recently terminated from his position as a guest lecturer at Erasmus University Rotterdam, after the university’s board decided that his “indirect relationship with a repressive regime” was unacceptable. Ramadan, who also holds a position at the University of Oxford, is considering legal action against the university.[56]

In September 2009, it was revealed in a Times of London article that Hassan Abdulrahman, born David Theodore Belfield, one of the chief editors of the Press TV website from the beginning of Press TV's news department, is a fugitive wanted in the United States. Abdulrahman, who has also used the alias Dawud Salahuddin, is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for shooting dead at point-blank range Ali Akbar Tabatabai, a former press attache at the pre-revolutionary Iranian embassy in Washington. The Iranian government provided money and airfare to Tehran to Mr. Belfield after he committed the murder. The Times of London also reported Abdulrahman's claim that he left as chief online editor in July 2009 after the election in protest at Press TV's skewed coverage of that event.[57] [58] [59] The Times quoted Abdulrahman as saying, “No, I don’t think Press TV is about [real journalism]. By its nature, state journalism is not journalism. They have some programmes on there that might be, but generally it’s not.”[60] [61]

On September 9, 2009, British journalist Ed West wrote in a blog on The Telegraph that guests who appear on Press TV news updates or discussion programs are typically promised an honorarium in exchange for coming to offer their opinions, and there has been some controversy about whether it is proper for journalists and others to take money from the Iranian regime, particularly in the aftermath of the 2009 election. West called for a boycott of Press TV, claiming that "Press TV normalises one of the most vile governments on earth."[62]

Rania Masri, who was featured together with Paul Craig Roberts (who has written of the "scientific impossibility" of the official explanation for the events on 9/11)[63] and Danny Schechter on a Press TV show commemorating the eighth anniversary of 9/11, commented on her blog, “Danny Schechter is right: even such a limited conversation, as was had on Press TV, cannot be heard on mainstream/corporate US press. … Would it be heard on Press TV if Iran had a different relationship with the US government?”[64]

In a September 15, 2009 article entitled "Incendiary Press Reporting," Morroccan journalist Hassan Masiky criticized Press TV for trafficking in "fiction and fantasy" by circulating a suspect story about "an alleged Jewish gang trading in “body parts” and abduction of Algerian children towards Morocco."[65]

Personnel

Khosro Ekhtiari, a former Press TV employee, wrote that most of Press TV's staff members in Tehran are "native Iranians who majored in English, the top-tier are Iranian-hyphenates raised abroad and foreign nationals. Many are under 30 and few had prior experience in TV or journalism before signing on." Khosro goes on to claim that the station is managed by "veteran IRIB producers," and some members of well-connected families such as the Tahami family, three of whose members (including Newsroom Director Saeed Tahami)[66] work at the station.[67]

Shahab Mossavat, a former CNN International anchor, hosted news updates and "4 Corners" (a daily roundtable discussion of international events) on Press TV. Mossavat was one of the most articulate and recognizable faces on the network, and served as Press TV's spokesman beginning in 2007. His program was cancelled shortly before the 2009 Presidential election, and Mr. Mossavat was arrested the day after the election for alleged participation in demonstrations protesting election fraud. In an August 28, 2009 interview on Public Radio International, Mr. Mossavat, who now lives in London, spoke about his experiences in detention: "I saw many people maltreated – brutally treated – tortured physically, psychologically. I didn’t see any sexual abuse but I did certainly see physical abuse. I saw people whose noses had been smashed so much so that they were flattened into their faces."[68]

Amir Arfa hosts a Press TV media criticism show called "Fine Print," which was recently cut back from three times to twice a week. Arfa's show used to feature live debates among guests appearing by satellite, a format that has fallen out of favor with the station's management.[69] Afra admitted that his guest roster is skewed, but blamed this on the reluctance of media organizations to allow their reporters to appear on Press TV, even when the reporters themselves are willing. "If the lineup of guests seems lop-sided, its not our fault," Afra said in an interview published by independent journalist Renee Feltz. "We try hard to have a balanced show, but the mainstream media shuts you out."[70]

Press TV CEO Mohammad Sarafraz announced[71] at the broadcast channel's launch press conference that Press TV intended to have correspondents in London, New York, Washington, Beirut, Damascus, Beijing, Moscow and several other European capitals, as well as four correspondents covering the Israel-Palestine conflict from Gaza, Ramallah and Jerusalem. Sarafraz went on to claim that most of Press TV's foreign-based staff and free-lance correspondents were non-Iranians, and included many Britons as well as some Americans. Mr Sarafraz said training had been provided by "a BBC employee."[71] [72]

Roshan Muhammed Salih is Press TV's London news editor and chief correspondent.[73] Other London correspondents who have appeared on Press TV include Fareena Alam and Hassan Ghani. Matthew Richardson, Press TV's Legal Advisor and spokesman in London,[74] has attracted attention for his appearances on other television outlets to defend Press TV's coverage of contentious matters such as the Iranian election protests.[75]

Michael Mazzocco reports for Press TV from the United Nations.[76] Other reporters working with Mazzocco in New York include Ataf Konja and Julie Walker. Colin Campbell, Rhonda Pence, Jihan Hafiz, Erin Connors, Mike Kellerman, and Ernie Cruise have filed reports from Washington, DC.[77] [78] Shireen Yassin has reported from "Jerusalem al-Quds". Other recent correspondent reports were filed by Preethi Nallu from Copenhagen; Mohammed Abd Elmonem from Cairo; Christine Legault from Rome and Roxane Assaf from Chicago.[79]

Press TV's Canadian correspondent is Zahra Jamal, who is based in Vancouver.[80] Press TV has other correspondents across East and South-East Asia including Shahana Butt, who reports from Indian Administered Kashmir. [81] Aamer Trambu is Press TV's news and current affairs correspondent from New Delhi [82]

Correspondents who have appeared on Press TV in the past include Fayez Khurshid, who alleged on Press TV in October 2007 that he was detained, tortured and threatened by American forces in Kabul.[83] Amanda Lindhout, a Canadian free-lance reporter who had worked for Press TV as a correspondent in Baghdad, was kidnapped in Somalia on August 23, 2008.

Presenters in London

One of Press TV's presenters is Yvonne Ridley, the former Al Jazeera[84] and Sunday Express journalist who converted to Islam after being captured by the Taliban in 2001.[72] Another is George Galloway, a British member of parliament and the head of RESPECT party. Galloway's broadcasts on Press TV have been criticized by British broadcast authority Ofcom for "breaching impartiality rules." In its report, Ofcom cited complaints about Galloway's January 2009 programs on Gaza alleging that Galloway's broadcasts "failed to put both sides of the argument in relation to the situation in Gaza; constituted Iranian propaganda; and that George Galloway in particular did not conduct a balanced discussion on the issue of Gaza."[85] In a 2008 episode of "The Real Deal," Galloway took on David Henshaw over his documentary "Undercover Mosque," in which British Muslims expressed the intention "to kill homosexuals and apostates" (non-believers). Galloway defended their right to make such threats on grounds of religious freedom.[86]

Andrew Gilligan is a journalist working for Press TV in London. He is known for his investigative work; particularly a controversial 2003 report about a British government briefing paper on Iraq and weapons of mass destruction (the September Dossier) while working for BBC Radio 4's The Today Programme as its defense and diplomatic correspondent. He felt compelled to resign from the BBC when that report came under fire for reliance on unreliable sources,[87] but defended his reporting in his departure statement. In a docudrama entitled "The Government Inspector," an actor playing Gilligan was shown altering a key computer file to make the content match his reporting, an allegation he denounced as "demonstrably, even absurdly, false."[88] More recently, Mr. Gilligan has been criticized for allegedly creating fake online identities to praise and defend his work, a practice known as "sockpuppeting."[89] He now produces and presents "Forum" on Press TV.

Tariq Ramadan presents a show entitled "Islam & Life" broadcast from the London bureau.

Amina Taylor, who presents Between the Headlines, and Derek Conway MP, who presents Epilogue. Regular contributors include James Whale, the radio presenter who is known for the late night radio show he presented on TalkSport from 1995 until 2008, when he was infamously sacked for calling on his listeners to vote for Boris Johnson in the London mayoral election, thereby violating Ofcom rules on election bias,[90] and antiwar activist Lauren Booth, sister-in-law of Tony Blair.

Max Keiser, a noted financial journalist, hosts a show entitled "On the Edge" for Press TV.[91]

Press TV operations in the United States

Since the United States government currently maintains a set of comprehensive trade and economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran,[92] Press TV's only official presence in the United States is at the United Nations. In 2007, journalist Frank Ucciardo,[93] using the "broadcast name" Jonathan Martin, established Press TV's United Nations news bureau. The current Press TV UN bureau chief is Michael Mazzocco.[94] Mr. Mazzocco has also been involved in establishing an unofficial but very active Press TV bureau in Los Angeles, from where Ross Frasier has reported on topics such as global warming and anti-war protests.[95]

Press TV also maintains a presence in the United States through intermediary companies that produce two of its flagship programs. "American Dream," produced in Washington, DC by ATN Television,[96] [97] is a once-a-week broadcast that focuses on the dark underside ("warts and all") of American life. It has been hosted by Mark Levine, who quit the show after alleging editorial interference; Elliott Francis; Ibrahim Hooper (Communications Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations), and Brian Becker (head of A.N.S.W.E.R. and the International Action Center.[98] [99] Little reliable information is available on the Internet about guests who have appeared on this show. One guest, Jon Katz, who appeared at least twice to speak about gun rights in the United States, claims that he was initially lured to the show under false pretenses: "I did not know about the Iranian government funding aspect of this program until after I appeared on the show."[100]

"Hearts and Minds," a foreign policy discussion show, was produced in New York City by "American Press and TV Services"[101] "American Press and TV Services" collaborated on the show with a "non-profit" student activist organization called the Student World Assembly.[102] The Executive Director of the Student World Assembly, Mr. Shahram Hashemi, a native of Tehran, is also the co-founder of the Islamic Institute for Human Rights, which he created "as a response to increasing negative and inaccurate views of Islam resulting from the 9-11 attacks and to encourage cross-cultural human rights dialogue on Islam."</ref>http://www.amnestyusa.org/board-of-directors/hashemi-shahram/page.do?id=1091325</ref> Ms. Yuliya Uvarova, a student from Kazakhstan who worked on the show in summer of 2008, wrote that "the TV show ["Hearts and Minds"] was one of many fundraisers that the organization undertakes."[103] For several months, "Hearts and Minds" was presented by Alan Weisman (former producer of the Charlie Rose Show, and author of biographies of retired CBS newsman Dan Rather and neocon defense expert Richard Perle).[104] Mr. Weisman promoted Press TV as being run "by a group of prominent Iranian reformists, journalists, and intellectuals,"[105], a view that has fallen out of favor since the Presidential election controversy.[106] Guests on Weisman's program included SIPA Dean John Coatsworth, authors John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, Columbia University professor Robert Jervis, author Shuja Nawaz, CTEC President Veronika Krasheninnikova, "journalist" Robert Dreyfuss, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs Director David Speedie, NYU professor Patricia DeGennaro, retired Barnard College professor Peter H. Juviler, and analysts from the Council of Foreign Relations.[107] Weisman's final show was broadcast June 10, just before the election. Hosting duties were then taken over by former "4 Corners" presenter Susan Modaress, who was given her own program, "Autograph." "Hearts and Minds" last broadcast, on September 30, 2009, was hosted by Stephanie Woods. During the show's final episodes, Ms. Woods welcomed former New York Times UN Bureau Chief Warren Hoge; Tina Monshipour Foster, founder of the International Justice Network; Jonathan Horowitz, described as a consultant to the Open Society Institute; Stephen Schlesinger, former director of the World Policy Institute at the New School of Social Research; Michael Cohen, Senior Analyst at the New America Foundation; Columbia University professor Padma Desai; Rahul Chandran of New York University's Center on Global Cooperation, and Jeff Laurenti, Senior Fellow at the Century Foundation.[108]

"Autograph", Susan Modaress' new interview program, has mostly been filmed "on location" in the United States. Modaress has interviewed prominent people such as anti-Israel academics Norman Finkelstein and Noam Chomsky for that program.[109] She has also interviewed former U.S. National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski for a program called "Face to Face."[110][111] Susan Modaress has also done general assignment reporting from New York on issues ranging from a cigarette tax increase in New York to a Society of Ethical Culture forum on "Obama and the Imperial Presidency."[112] [113]

News bulletin anchors

Press TV discussion programs, which often included controversial and non-Iranian guests, have been scaled back in favor of "news bulletins" in recent months. Press TV CEO Mohammed Sarafraz explained that "our experience tells us that pictorial reflection of news and the use of images are more effective than discussion and analysis."[114] News anchors have included: Kaveh Taghvae, Arash Zahedi, Said Pourreza, Hassan Tavakoli, Nargess Moballeghi, Bardia Honardar, Sheena Shirani, Waqar Rizvi, and Kaneez Fatima. Also anchoring Sports International news in Tehran are Junot Castelyn and David Sanati.

Regular guests on the news bulletin segments include people such as Iran's IAEA ambassador Ali Asghar Soltaniyeh,[115] Mr. Adnan Oktar (billed as an expert on Islamophobia),[116] Iran's former Interior Minister Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi,[117] outspoken Jewish anti-Zionist commentator Norman Finkelstein,[118] and Mohammad Ali Ramin, who is Secretary General of the World Holocaust Foundation and Deputy Culture Minister for Media Affairs.[119] Minister Ramin, who organized Iran's notorious anti-Holocaust conference, and is widely known as "Iran's leading Holocaust denier", has been quoted in media interviews to the effect that "Hitler was a Jew who helped found Israel."[120]

History of website and satellite TV launch

The channel's website, directed by American fugitive Hassan Abdulrahman,[121] launched in late January 2007.[122] Test satellite transmissions were conducted in late April 2007. The launch date for the channel was July 3, 2007.[123] On March 18, 2009, Press TV launched a new website with a modified graphical user interface.[124] The new website was available on an alternative address (www.presstv.ir/new) until March 31, 2009 when the old website was put out of service. On April 5, 2009, Press TV made it possible to view its website in two different versions - the old version (Classic Version) and the ordinary version.

Press TV has often been caught reporting Internet jokes, satirical essays and photoshopped pictures on its website as if they were real news. On December 27, 2007, Press TV reported that demonstrators in Iran marched through the streets of Tehran carrying signs (in English!) saying "I Love Jews," citing this as evidence that there is no anti-Semitism in Iran. "The People's Cube" website, source of this spoof that Press TV reported as news, had this explanation for why Press TV was taken in by such an obvious prank: "You have been lying for so long that you lost the ability to distinguish between truth and fiction."[125] [126]

Another, more common, problem with the website is the way that sensational headlines and exaggerated descriptions of interviews online twist the words of Press TV guests, making it appear that they are representing positions or facts differently or with a different emphasis that they did in fact. Brendan Varma, a member of the UN Secretary General Spokesman's Office, after being blindsided by a question (during an interview obstensibly covering an unrelated subject) about Ban Ki-Moon's plans to visit Iran, said he knew nothing about any such plans. Press TV prominently featured the interview under the banner headline, "UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon Too Busy to Visit Iran."[127]

Many foreign guests who appear on Press TV do so in the belief that their comments will be broadcast in Iran. Former US National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, for example, who appeared on the Press TV program "Face to Face," stated that "it is nice to have the opportunity to address Iranian viewers."[128] However, Press TV is broadcast via satellite, and the Islamic Republic banned possession of satellite dishes in 1995.[129] Although the ban on satellite dishes is widely flouted,[130] watching Press TV broadcasts on a TV at home is illegal in Iran. The Iranian authorities have been criticized on human rights grounds for using the possession of a satellite dish as a pretext to harrass people and raid their homes in search of other things such as alcohol, condoms, drugs, pornographic materials and banned books.[131]

Current programmes

  • Africa Today - Analytical weekly review of political, economic and social events in Africa, the world's second largest continent.
  • The Agenda - A political commentary show hosted by Yvonne Ridley formerly broadcast on the Islam Channel.[72]
  • American Dream - A political roundtable offering a "warts-and-all" picture of life in the USA from ghettos to gated communities.
  • Autograph - A 25min weekly interview with academics, authors, politicians and dignitaries encompassing a range of topics from cultural to political issues hosted by Susan Modaress.[132]
  • CinePolitics - A weekly 25-minute show, hosted by the Emmy-nominated film-maker Russell Michaels. The show examines current cinematic releases, and explores the underlying political and social issues that shape them.
  • Comment - A live show from London hosted by George Galloway. The format allows a studio audience to ask the presenter questions or argue with him.
  • East Asia Now - "Piercing questions, challenging experts, backed up by other opinions, statistics, as well as comments and questions from correspondents on East Asian stories."[133]
  • Fine Print - A twice-weekly analysis of on-line mainstream media hosted by Amir Arfa.
  • Forum - A debate programme presented by the former BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan, featuring Nick Ferrari and others.
  • Iran - A 25-minute weekly show covering topical issues on Iran plus reports and interviews on major cultural events held in the country over the week. The show is hosted by Setareh Ghane.
  • Iran Today - a show aired 5 times a week examining various issues about Iran in the presence of a panel of guests. The show was called-out by digital-ed.com[134] on July 8, 2009, alleging manipulation of an interview through selective editing.
  • Islam & Life - A weekly show presented by Tariq Ramadan in London, dealing with the challenges and opportunities facing Muslims, especially in the west.
  • Middle East Press - A daily review of regional newspapers, highlighting views on issues impacting the region, hosted by Nadine Mazloum and Serena Shim in Beirut.
  • The Real Deal - A wide-ranging weekly show by George Galloway.
  • Remember the Children of Palestine - A weekly 1-hour show hosted by Lauren Booth and Amina Taylor covering issues that concern children living in Palestine, including music, films, photos, poems and artwork made in aid of their remembrance.
  • Reporters' File - A weekly reportage-oriented programme, dealing with various Iranian and world stories, from a local correspondent's perspective. The show is produced & hosted by Joobin Zarvan.

Former programmes

  • Between the Headlines - A review of the day's headlines hosted by Mark Watts, Lauren Booth, Afshin Rattansi, Amina Taylor and Jan Fossgard, aired live from London.
  • Canon - A 25-minute weekly show debating the legal perspective on the social and political issues around the world.
  • Energy World - A 25-minute weekly show, dealing with current energy issues together with their political undercurrents, presented by former Russia Today host Amanda Burt.
  • Epilogue - A 25-minute weekly programme on literature, featuring interviews with writers and critics, hosted by Derek Conway, Bob Stewart, Hugo de Burgh and James Whale.
  • Euro Focus - Presented by Roshan Muhammed Salih and Fareena Alam, offers a weekly round-up of news and features from all over Europe.
  • Four Corners - 25 minutes of live daily news commentary panel discussion, hosted by Shahab Mossavat, Joobin Zarvan and Nargess Moballeghi, broadcast from Tehran. The show covers critical news stories from across the globe.
  • Hart of the Matter - A show where the veteran broadcast journalist Alan Hart goes searching for the truth of matters by engaging a host of intellectuals, investigative journalists and activists, among others, in conversation.
  • Hearts and Minds - 45 Minute Panel Discussion on U.S. Foreign Policy hosted by Stephanie Woods.
  • Middle East Today - 25 minutes of daily panel discussion on the region's most news-making events, broadcast live from Tehran, formerly hosted by Chris Gelken and Joobin Zarvan and now presented by Marziyeh Hashemi. The show is also aired on weekends, from Beirut by Mariam Saleh and Marlin Dick and Zeinab Safar.
  • Minbar - A weekly Q&A about Islam presented by Ahmad Haneef.
  • Off The Cuff - Another audience-driven programme hosted by James Whale and Mike Mendoza. The show focuses on controversial issues where the presenter asks the questions around the theme and the audience express their views.
  • Outside the Box - A weekly 25-minute show hosted by Tina Richards.
  • Women's Voice - A programme made by women for women. The show scrutinizes the status of women in the West and deals with their common issues, challenges and upheavals.
  • World Week Watch - Half-hour round-up of world events by Oscar Reyes and Kristiane Backer.

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  127. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G09uoEsvyrc
  128. ^ http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=92451&sectionid=3510302
  129. ^ http://www.iranfocus.com/en/special-wire/iran-police-hunt-banned-satellite-dishes-03400.html
  130. ^ http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2008/08/dont-expect-ira.html
  131. ^ http://ncr-iran.org/content/view/6762/1/
  132. ^ http://www.cceia.org/resources/video/data/000251
  133. ^ http://www.presstv.com/programs
  134. ^ "Press TV burns a source - Me!". 8 July 2009.

External links


Template:International news channels

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