Challenges and Illegalities

Babak Mehdizadeh, Rooz Online:

The autumn of Iranian press started in the Spring of 2000. More than forty publications were seized overnight and the number later reached 100. Now it is the internet sites that are under attack. At the time when Iran urgently needed professional newsmedia, news services were born and later on with the increasing use of internet, news sites and electronic newspapers came to the scene. These internet sites are challenged with many political and economic problems. Some are blocked for political reasons while others are shut down because of financial issues.

The following is an interview with editors of three known news sites: READ MORE

Eisa Saharkhiz, editor of a reformist newspaper that remains closed and member of Iran’s Association to Defend Freedom of Press says that the creation of internet news-site is a transitional period from print to electronic media. He says Iranians and even journalists turned to non-traditional sources of news when the print media was confronted with severe restrictions. So electronic news services and blogs did what traditional news agencies provided. He believes that the interference of the Judiciary which led to the arrest of writers is the main problem that these internet sites face. He adds that since these news sites do not have a clear legal status, everyone makes personal decisions about them. Government filtering and lack of sufficient readers due to the limited number of available computers and internet access have also caused some problems for these sites. However, he sees this transitional period as a rewarding one and believes that by having access to cheaper internet providers and finding better ways to unlock the filters inside Iran, internet news sites will attract more readers as time goes by.

Bijan Safsari, editor of "Iran-e Ma" (Our Iran) news site has informed its readers of its imminent closure due to financial problems. He told "Rooz" that financial problems and finding readers are two of the main challenges his site is facing. He complains about high expenses in managing an internet news site that not only has a small income but cannot sell advertising to generate revenue either.

Editor of Entekhab news site says unfortunately, despite the increasing rise of electronic news-sites and their impact on society, the government and its affiliated organizations have not formally recognized them. He blames this lack of support on the officials’ lack of understanding of modern media and its influence in today’s world.