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Press TV

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Press TV
Ownership
OwnerIslamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting[1][2]
Key peopleShahab Mossavat, Yvonne Ridley

Press TV is an English language international television news channel which is funded by the Iranian government, based in Tehran and broadcasts in English on a round-the-clock schedule. With 26 international correspondents and more than 400 staff around the world, its stated mission is to offer a different view of the world events.[3][4]

History

The channel's website launched in late January 2007.[5] Test satellite transmissions were conducted in late April 2007. The launch date for the channel was July 2, 2007.[6]

Vision

Press TV has stated its intention to cover world news differently from the Anglophone channels BBC World News, and CNN International. Press TV states that it is not beholden to any commercial or governmental entity, nor internally constrained to deviate from its editorial independence. Press TV seeks to compete, inter alia, with the past-launched Al Jazeera English and France 24 in 2006 and Russia Today in December 2005.[7]

Press TV has three mission statements; to break the global media stranglehold of western outlets; to bridge cultural divisions pragmatically; and to highlight the versatility and vitality of political and cultural differences, making up the human condition.

The policy makers of Press TV assert that since the 9/11 attacks, the global mass media have been divided into two major camps: the Western media, and a pan-Arabist grouping; both of which, in the channel's view, are limited if not partial in their coverage. The stated mission of Press TV is to offer alternative and independent views, especially on Middle East affairs, to the kinds of coverage exemplified by BBC World, CNN International and Al Jazeera English.[3][8]

Press TV, offers round-the-clock news bulletins every half-hour, a series of chiefly live commentary programs and roundtable panel discussions, as well as documentary films.

Funding and independence

Press TV is funded by the Iranian government.[9] According to Shahab Mossavat, the former Press TV director of communications - and currently a leading host - Press TV will keep its editorial independence from the government. In an interview with National Public Radio, he claimed that Press TV will be state-funded rather than state controlled.[10]

The annual budget of Press TV is 250 billion Rials (more than 27 million US dollars).[11]

Journalists

Mohammad Sarafraz, head of the new channel, said[12] most of Press TV's foreign-based correspondents were non-Iranians, and included many Britons as well as Americans. The channel has over 50 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 Al-Quds (Jerusalem). Mr Sarafraz said[12] training had been provided by BBC-affiliated educators.

The award-winning former BBC journalist & novelist and also Guardian columnist, Afshin Rattansi, who launched the Dubai Business Channel and worked in senior positions at the BBC, Al Jazeera Arabic, Bloomberg and CNN International, anchors world news from Press TV's headquarters in Tehran. He has interviewed such luminaries as Gore Vidal and Noam Chomsky for Press TV.

One of Press TV's presenters is Yvonne Ridley, the former Al Jazeera[13] and Sunday Express journalist who converted to Islam after being captured by the Taliban in 2001.[14] Another is George Galloway, a British member of parliament and the head of RESPECT party.

Andrew Gilligan is another high profile journalist working for Press TV in London. He is known for his investigative work; particularly the 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 now produces and presents "Forum" on Press TV.

Also presenting - a show entitled "Islam & Life" - out of the London bureau, is Tariq Ramadan, the renowned Swiss Muslim academic and thinker, ranked at number 8 in a list of the world’s top 100 public intellectuals by the magazines Prospect and Foreign Policy .

News Bulletin Anchors

With the latest regional & international stories being updated evey half hour, straight from the heart of the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, are: Kaveh Taghvae, Arash Zahedi, Afshin Rattansi, Said Pourreza, William Yong, Hassan Tavakoli, Touria Ghafari, Nargess Moballeghi, Bardia Honardar, Sheena Shirani and Zarrin Shajari ( formerly ). Also anchoring Sports Int'l news in Tehran are: Junot Castelyn, Nick Jones and Luke Manzarpour.

Criticism

The Israeli newspaper Jerusalem Post[15], reprinted by the official website of the Christian Broadcasting Network[16], has criticized Press TV for publishing, on its official website, an article by the British science historian Nicholas Kollerstrom[17], who has been described by some as a Holocaust denier.[18] The centre-left British newspaper The Guardian also noted in passing that "[Press TV's] website once included an article asserting that the Holocaust was 'scientifically impossible'".[19]

The conservative Canadian weekly Macleans has alleged that Press TV sometimes publishes so-called "intentional errors", citing a story on the Press TV website which claims that the Lebanese government is trying to convert the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp into an American military base, based on unnamed sources. Macleans, however, goes on to say that "most of Press TV's news reports are factually accurate."[20]

Programs

  • Fine Print - A thrice-weekly analysis of on-line mainstream media hosted by Amir Arfa.
  • The Agenda - A political commentary show hosted by Yvonne Ridley formerly broadcast on the Islam Channel.[14]
  • American Dream - A news commentary program formerly hosted in the United States by Mark Levine.[21]. The show is currently hosted by Elliot Francis.
  • Between the Headlines - A review of the day's headlines previously hosted by Mark Watts, now presented by Amina Taylor and Jan Fossgard, aired live from London.
  • Four Corners - 45 minutes of live daily news commentary panel discussion, hosted by Shahab Mossavat, Susan Modaress, and Joobin Zarvan, broadcast from Tehran. The show covers critical news stories from across the globe.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Epilogue - A 25-minute weekly program on literature, featuring intervewis withwriters and critics, hosted by Derek Conway, Bob Stewart, George Logan, Patrick Fyffe, Hugo De Burgh and James Whale.
  • World Week Watch - Half-hour round-up of world events by Oscar Reyes and Kristiane Backer.
  • Minbar - A weekly Q&A about Islam presented by Ahmad Haneef.
  • Forum - A debate programme presented by the former BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan, featuring Nick Ferrari and others.
  • Reporters' File - A weekly reportage-oriented program, dealing with various Iranian and world stories, from a local correspondent's perspective. The show is hosted by Susan Modaress.
  • Islam & Life - A weekly show presented by Tariq Ramadan in London, dealing with the challenges and opportunities facing Muslims, especially in the west.
  • The Real Deal - A wide-ranging weekly show by George Galloway, the British member of parliament, and head of the Respect party.
  • 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.
  • EURO Focus - Presented by Roshan Muhammed Salih and Fareena Alam, offers a weekly round-up of news and features from all over Europe.
  • Women's Voice - A program made by women for women. The show scrutinizes the status of women in the West and deals with their common issues, challenges and upheavals.
  • Outside The Box - A weekly 25-minute show, accentuating voices usually unheard of in the West. The show is hosted by Tina Richards.
  • 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.
  • Comment - A live show from London hosted by George Galloway. A platform to ask the presenter questions or argue with him live on controversial issues.
  • Middle East Press - A daily review of regional newspapers, highlighting various views on hottest issues impacting the region, hosted by Nadine Mazloum and Serena Shim in Beirut.
  • Off The Cuff - Another audience-driven program hosted by James Whale. The show focuses on controversial issues where the presenter asks the questions around the theme and the audience express their views.
  • 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.

References

  1. ^ BBC News / Country Profile: Iran
  2. ^ About Us (Official IRIB website)
  3. ^ a b "Iran launches English TV channel". bbc.co.uk. 2007-07-02. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
  4. ^ Iran to launch press TV
  5. ^ ISNA (2007-01-24). "IRIB-Iran launches Press TV website". Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 2007-06-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  6. ^ The Associated Press (2007-06-26). "Iran Launches English Satellite Channel". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-06-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  7. ^ Press TV Vision
  8. ^ Yahoo News Article on Press TV accessed 08-02-2007
  9. ^ International Herald Tribute article on Press TV 07-02-2007
  10. ^ Iran's Press TV to Rival Western Media (Audio file)
  11. ^ Mehr News article on Press TV
  12. ^ a b 'An antidote to Fox': Iran launches English TV channel (The Guardian)
  13. ^ Ilaam.net
  14. ^ a b Oliver Burkeman, Helen Pidd and Robert Tait (2007-07-03). "An antidote to Fox: Iran launches English TV channel". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
  15. ^ Iranian website promotes Holocaust denial
  16. ^ http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/381563.aspx
  17. ^ The Walls of Auschwitz; A Review of the Chemical Studies by Nicholas Kollerstrom, PhD
  18. ^ When academics lose their power of reason, The Observer
  19. ^ Interview with Yvonne Ridley, July 6, 2008 - The Guardian
  20. ^ Iran: Not the most reliable source | Macleans.ca - World - Global
  21. ^ "Mark is now on International Television". Retrieved 2007-07-20.

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