Press TV
Encyclopedia
Press TV is a 24-hour English language
global
news network owned by the Iranian government. Its headquarters are located in Tehran, Iran, with bureaux in Beirut
(Lebanon
), Damascus
(Syria
), London
(UK
), Seoul
(South Korea
) and Washington DC (USA).
Press TV carries news analysis, documentary talk shows and sports news worldwide with special focus on West Asia, Central Asia
, and the Middle East
. Press TV is available in most parts of the world via 13 satellites
, as well as cable
and Internet
. It is free-to-air
for almost all of its viewers, although some cable companies include it on their platforms. Live video, audio, and FLV streaming
is also available on its website.
. We want to show that there is a different view. Iran, and the Shi'ites in particular, have become a focal point of world propaganda. From the media point of view, we are trying to give a second eye to Western audiences."
The network's official vision is "to heed the voices and perspectives of the people of the world; build bridges of cultural understanding
; encourage human beings of different nationalities, races and creeds to identify with one another; bring to light untold and overlooked stories of individuals who have experienced political and cultural divides
firsthand." Sarafraz explained that "our experience tells us that pictorial reflection of news and the use of images are more effective than discussion and analysis."
(IRIB).
The annual budget of Press TV is 250 billion rials
(more than 25 million US dollars
).
Press TV broadcasts news reports and analyses which are close to the official position of the Iranian government, and its programmes are monitored and regulated by the Islamic Republic. 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."
Press TV is free-to-air
and is available via at least 13 satellites worldwide. This has enabled Press TV to be easily accessed by technically anyone who uses a satellite receiver to watch television programmes.
A video archive of Press TV's selected programs is also available on its website.
Although there has been a ban on using satellite dishes in the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1995, Press TV is available in some Iranian homes because many Iranian families defy the ban and watch satellite TV programmes alongside or instead of the official state television channels.
Although the channel has never provided any statistics on viewership, in May 2009 Press TV CEO Mohammed Sarafraz claimed that "the number of Press TV's viewers is increasing on a daily basis."
Press TV was created for the purpose of presenting news, images and arguments, especially on Middle Eastern affairs, to counter the news coverage that appears on broadcasts such those of BBC World News, CNN International and Al Jazeera English.
Press TV has been praised for airing programs about under-reported stories around the world.
According to mediachannel.org, "the government aims to use Press TV to counter what it sees as a steady stream of Western propaganda against Iran as well as offer an alternative view of world news." Iranian analyst Khorosh Ziabari agreed that it is "objectionable" for Press TV to serve as a government mouthpiece, though he pointed out that other stations, notably France 24, are also funded by national governments to disseminate propaganda and news from a national point of view.
By launching an English-language television channel to promote an Iranian perspective 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." The two networks focus on "difficult issues in the Middle East such as the United States’ occupation of neighbouring Iraq and the Shiite question."
, Ramallah
and Jerusalem. He announced that many of Press TV's foreign-based staff and freelance correspondents would be non-Iranians and that training for some of the staff had been provided by "a BBC employee."
Before returning to London, Afshin Rattansi, a former journalist with the BBC Today program, CNN International, Bloomberg and Al Jazeera Arabic, also anchored from Press TV's HQ in Tehran.
Amir Arfa hosts a Press TV media criticism show called "Fine Print." 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. Arfa admits that his guest roster is skewed, but blamed most major media organisations for their reluctance 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," Arfa said in an interview. "We try hard to have a balanced show, but the mainstream media shuts you out."
, 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
.
"Autograph", Susan Modaress' new interview program, has mostly been filmed "on location" in the United States. Modaress has interviewed prominent people such as academics Norman Finkelstein
and Noam Chomsky
for that program. She has also interviewed former U.S. National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski
for a program called "Face to Face." 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."
Other reporters who have worked 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. Roxane Assaf has filed reports from Chicago.
Press TV's Canadian correspondent is Zahra Jamal, who is based in Vancouver.
. Munawar Zaman reports from New Delhi. Aamer Trambu is Press TV's news and current affairs correspondent for the Mumbai and South India region.
Sari Al-Khalili presents "INfocus" from Ramallah and files West Bank news reports. Shireen Yassin reports from Jerusalem. Reports were also filed by Preethi Nallu from Copenhagen; Mohammed Abd and Elmonem from Cairo.
Ali Rizk is Press TV's Beirut news director. Other staffers in Lebanon include correspondent Serena Shim, a Lebanese-American who was born in Detroit, and Sara Moussa, a producer who lived previously in the US.
Svetlana Korkina is Press TV's correspondent in Moscow.
channel].
Roshan Muhammed Salih is Press TV Limited's news editor and chief correspondent. Other London correspondents include Fareena Alam and Hassan Ghani. Matthew Richardson, Press TV Limited's Legal Adviser, has attracted attention for his appearances on other television outlets to discuss Press TV's compliance with Ofcom
, particularly its coverage of contentious matters such as the 2009 Iranian election protests
. Ofcom has since confirmed Matthew Richardson's view that Press TV had not breached rules of impartiality.
, a former presenter of one of Press TV's shows, told The Times that Press TV’s news coverage had been “reasonably fair” until the [2009] election—but not any longer.
During the 2011 revolts in the Arab world
, Press TV has been at pains to put the spotlight on the demonstrations taking place in Bahrain
, a state which Iran claims as its fourteenth province but which is governed as an independent state by a Sunni royal house, while at the same time toning down the significance of the demonstrations in Syria, a close ally of the Iranian leadership.
In 2010 the International Commission for Human Rights in Iran identified Press TV as being part of the Iranian regime's intelligence apparatus, and that Press TV collaborated with human rights violators to publicise forced confessions of dissidents.
In May 2011, Ofcom
, the regulatory authority for the telecommunication industries in the United Kingdom, ruled that Press TV was responsible for a serious breach of UK broadcasting rules and could face a fine for airing an interview with Maziar Bahari
, the Newsweek
journalist arrested covering the Iranian presidential election in 2009
, that was obtained by force while he was held in a Tehran jail.
Upon the release of Ofcom's findings, Press TV launched a campaign against Bahari and Ofcom. Bahari was accused of being a "an MI6 contact person"
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
global
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
news network owned by the Iranian government. Its headquarters are located in Tehran, Iran, with bureaux in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
(Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
), Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
(Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
), London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
), Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
(South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
) and Washington DC (USA).
Press TV carries news analysis, documentary talk shows and sports news worldwide with special focus on West Asia, Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
, and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Press TV is available in most parts of the world via 13 satellites
Satellite television
Satellite television is television programming delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by an outdoor antenna, usually a parabolic mirror generally referred to as a satellite dish, and as far as household usage is concerned, a satellite receiver either in the form of an...
, as well as cable
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
and Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. It is free-to-air
Free-to-air
Free-to-air describes television and radio services broadcast in clear form, allowing any person with the appropriate receiving equipment to receive the signal and view or listen to the content without requiring a subscription or one-off fee...
for almost all of its viewers, although some cable companies include it on their platforms. Live video, audio, and FLV streaming
Streaming media
Streaming media is multimedia that is constantly received by and presented to an end-user while being delivered by a streaming provider.The term "presented" is used in this article in a general sense that includes audio or video playback. The name refers to the delivery method of the medium rather...
is also available on its website.
Background
Mohammad Sarafraz (Press TV CEO) said in a June 2007 press conference that, "Since September 11, Western bias has divided the media into two camps: those that favour their policies make up one group and the rest of the media are attached to radical Islamic groups like Al-QaedaAl-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
. We want to show that there is a different view. Iran, and the Shi'ites in particular, have become a focal point of world propaganda. From the media point of view, we are trying to give a second eye to Western audiences."
The network's official vision is "to heed the voices and perspectives of the people of the world; build bridges of cultural understanding
Cultural sphere
The term cultural sphere expresses an understanding of culture as attached to an ethnolinguistic group and the territory it inhabits. The "spheres of influence" considered may however overlap or form concentric structures of macrocultures encompassing smaller local cultures.Examples:*East–West...
; encourage human beings of different nationalities, races and creeds to identify with one another; bring to light untold and overlooked stories of individuals who have experienced political and cultural divides
Political division
A political division is a term of art of geography defining the concept of a geographic region accepted to be in the jurisdiction of a particular government entity...
firsthand." Sarafraz explained that "our experience tells us that pictorial reflection of news and the use of images are more effective than discussion and analysis."
History of website and satellite TV launch
The channel's website launched in late January 2007. Test satellite transmissions were conducted in late April 2007. The launch date for the channel was July 3, 2007. On March 18, 2009, Press TV launched a new website with a modified graphical user interface.Funding and management
Press TV is state-funded and is a division of the Islamic Republic of Iran BroadcastingIslamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcaster, or IRIB, , formerly called the National Iranian Radio and Television until the Islamic revolution of 1979, is a giant Iranian corporation in control of radio and television which is among the largest media organizations in Asia and Pacific region, and a regular...
(IRIB).
The annual budget of Press TV is 250 billion rials
Iranian rial
The rial is the currency of Iran. It is subdivided into 100 dinar but, because of the very low current value of the rial, no fraction of the rial is used in accounting....
(more than 25 million US dollars
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
).
Press TV broadcasts news reports and analyses which are close to the official position of the Iranian government, and its programmes are monitored and regulated by the Islamic Republic. Although there have been attempts to establish private, independent media outlets in Iran, notably by former Iranian Presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi
Mehdi Karroubi
Mehdi Karroubi is an influential Iranian reformist politician, democracy activist, mojtahed, and chairman of the National Trust Party. He was Chairman of the parliament from 1989 to 1992 and 2000 to 2004, and a presidential candidate in the 2005 and 2009 presidential elections.He is a founding...
, the 1979 Constitution of the Islamic Republic mandates that "all broadcasting must exclusively be government-operated."
Availability and viewership
Press TV's website has three URLs: www.presstv.ir, www.presstv.com and www.presstv.co.uk.Press TV is free-to-air
Free-to-air
Free-to-air describes television and radio services broadcast in clear form, allowing any person with the appropriate receiving equipment to receive the signal and view or listen to the content without requiring a subscription or one-off fee...
and is available via at least 13 satellites worldwide. This has enabled Press TV to be easily accessed by technically anyone who uses a satellite receiver to watch television programmes.
A video archive of Press TV's selected programs is also available on its website.
Although there has been a ban on using satellite dishes in the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1995, Press TV is available in some Iranian homes because many Iranian families defy the ban and watch satellite TV programmes alongside or instead of the official state television channels.
Although the channel has never provided any statistics on viewership, in May 2009 Press TV CEO Mohammed Sarafraz claimed that "the number of Press TV's viewers is increasing on a daily basis."
Coverage
Press TV offers round-the-clock news bulletins every half-hour, a series of repeating commentary programmes and round-table panel discussions, as well as documentary-style political films. In May 2009, Press TV CEO Mohammed Sarafraz announced that Press TV would "provide viewers with more newscasts while cutting down on its news analysis programs."Press TV was created for the purpose of presenting news, images and arguments, especially on Middle Eastern affairs, to counter the news coverage that appears on broadcasts such those of BBC World News, CNN International and Al Jazeera English.
Press TV has been praised for airing programs about under-reported stories around the world.
According to mediachannel.org, "the government aims to use Press TV to counter what it sees as a steady stream of Western propaganda against Iran as well as offer an alternative view of world news." Iranian analyst Khorosh Ziabari agreed that it is "objectionable" for Press TV to serve as a government mouthpiece, though he pointed out that other stations, notably France 24, are also funded by national governments to disseminate propaganda and news from a national point of view.
By launching an English-language television channel to promote an Iranian perspective of the world, together with an Arab-language station, the Al-Alam News Network
Al-Alam News Network
Al-Alam is an Iranian Arabic satellite TV station.The network's political coverage tends to be the most popular; however, other subjects, such as commentaries, analysis, business and sports also get a share of the audience. Programs are broadcast for over 300 million Arabic-speaking people around...
, the Iranian government hoped “to address a global audience exposed to misinformation and mudslinging as regards the Islamic Republic of Iran." The two networks focus on "difficult issues in the Middle East such as the United States’ occupation of neighbouring Iraq and the Shiite question."
Personnel
Sarafraz announced at the broadcast channel's launch press conference that Press TV intended to have correspondents in cities outside Iran, as well as four correspondents covering the Israel-Palestine conflict from GazaGaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
, Ramallah
Ramallah
Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem, adjacent to al-Bireh. It currently serves as the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority...
and Jerusalem. He announced that many of Press TV's foreign-based staff and freelance correspondents would be non-Iranians and that training for some of the staff had been provided by "a BBC employee."
Iran staff
News anchors have included: Kaveh Taghvai, Arash Zahedi, Saeid Pourreza, Hassan Tavakoli, Kaneez Fatima, Homa Lezgee, Bardia Honardar, Waqar Rizvi, Behrouz Nadjafi, Nargess Moballeghi and Marzieh Hashemi. Also anchoring Sports International news in Tehran is Sheena Shirani, Junot Castelyn and Amir Hossein Eskandar.Before returning to London, Afshin Rattansi, a former journalist with the BBC Today program, CNN International, Bloomberg and Al Jazeera Arabic, also anchored from Press TV's HQ in Tehran.
Amir Arfa hosts a Press TV media criticism show called "Fine Print." 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. Arfa admits that his guest roster is skewed, but blamed most major media organisations for their reluctance 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," Arfa said in an interview. "We try hard to have a balanced show, but the mainstream media shuts you out."
North American staff
Press TV maintains a presence in the United States through intermediary companies. "American Dream," produced in Washington, DC by Atlantic Television News (ATN), is a once-a-week broadcast that focuses on the dark underside ("warts and all") of American life. It has been hosted by Mark LevineMark Levine (journalist)
Mark Levine is an American broadcast journalist who frequently appears as a pundit on FOX News, Fox Business News, MSNBC, and CNN Headline News, . He often debates radio host Mike Gallagher on America Live with Megyn Kelly and Laura Ingraham on the O'Reilly Factor....
, who quit the show after alleging editorial interference; Elliott Francis
Elliott Francis
Elliott Francis is a Washington, D.C.-based television journalistElliott Francis spent 7 years as a report and weekend co-anchor at WJLA, the ABC news affiliate in Washington, D.C...
; Ibrahim Hooper
Ibrahim Hooper
Ibrahim Hooper , a convert to Islam, is the National Communications Director and spokesperson for the Council on American-Islamic Relations , a Washington D.C.-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization.-Early life:...
(Communications Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
Council on American-Islamic Relations
The Council on American-Islamic Relations is America's largest Muslim civil liberties advocacy organization that deals with civil advocacy and promotes human rights...
), and Brian Becker (head of A.N.S.W.E.R.
A.N.S.W.E.R.
Act Now to Stop War and End Racism , also known as International A.N.S.W.E.R. and the ANSWER Coalition, is a United States-based protest umbrella group consisting of many antiwar and civil rights organizations...
) and the International Action Center
International Action Center
The International Action Center is an activist group founded by former United States Attorney General Ramsey Clark. It supports anti-imperialist movements around the world, and opposes U.S. military intervention in all circumstances....
.
"Autograph", Susan Modaress' new interview program, has mostly been filmed "on location" in the United States. Modaress has interviewed prominent people such as academics Norman Finkelstein
Norman Finkelstein
Norman Gary Finkelstein is an American political scientist, activist and author. His primary fields of research are the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the politics of the Holocaust. He is a graduate of Binghamton University and received his Ph.D in Political Science from Princeton University...
and Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky
Avram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, and activist. He is an Institute Professor and Professor in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at MIT, where he has worked for over 50 years. Chomsky has been described as the "father of modern linguistics" and...
for that program. She has also interviewed former U.S. National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski
Zbigniew Brzezinski
Zbigniew Kazimierz Brzezinski is a Polish American political scientist, geostrategist, and statesman who served as United States National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981....
for a program called "Face to Face." 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."
Other reporters who have worked 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. Roxane Assaf has filed reports from Chicago.
Press TV's Canadian correspondent is Zahra Jamal, who is based in Vancouver.
Other correspondents and staff around the world
Press TV has correspondents across East and South-East Asia including Shahana Butt, who reports from Indian Administered KashmirKashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
. Munawar Zaman reports from New Delhi. Aamer Trambu is Press TV's news and current affairs correspondent for the Mumbai and South India region.
Sari Al-Khalili presents "INfocus" from Ramallah and files West Bank news reports. Shireen Yassin reports from Jerusalem. Reports were also filed by Preethi Nallu from Copenhagen; Mohammed Abd and Elmonem from Cairo.
Ali Rizk is Press TV's Beirut news director. Other staffers in Lebanon include correspondent Serena Shim, a Lebanese-American who was born in Detroit, and Sara Moussa, a producer who lived previously in the US.
Svetlana Korkina is Press TV's correspondent in Moscow.
UK production company
Press TV Limited in London was incorporated in 2006 to produce news, factual programmes and documentaries to be sold to the Tehran-based Press TV News Channel. The company is registered at Companies House and is wholly owned and operated from the UK. Press TV Limited has its http://www.youtube.com/user/presstvlondonown YouTubeYouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
channel].
Roshan Muhammed Salih is Press TV Limited's news editor and chief correspondent. Other London correspondents include Fareena Alam and Hassan Ghani. Matthew Richardson, Press TV Limited's Legal Adviser, has attracted attention for his appearances on other television outlets to discuss Press TV's compliance with Ofcom
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
, particularly its coverage of contentious matters such as the 2009 Iranian election protests
2009 Iranian election protests
Protests following the 2009 Iranian presidential election against the disputed victory of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and in support of opposition candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi occurred in major cities in Iran and around the world starting June 13, 2009...
. Ofcom has since confirmed Matthew Richardson's view that Press TV had not breached rules of impartiality.
Current presenters
- Max KeiserMax KeiserTimothy Maxwell "Max" Keiser is an American broadcaster, film-maker, and former equities broker. Keiser is the host of On the Edge, a program of news and analysis hosted by Iran's Press TV. He also hosts Keiser Report, a financial program broadcast on RT - formerly Russia Today...
, a financial journalist, hosted On the Edge. - Yvonne RidleyYvonne RidleyYvonne Ridley is a British journalist, war correspondent and Respect Party activist best known for her capture by the Taliban and subsequent conversion to Islam after release, her outspoken opposition to Zionism, and her criticism of Western media portrayals of the War on Terror...
, the former Al Jazeera and Sunday Express journalist presents The Agenda and Rattansi & Ridley. - George GallowayGeorge GallowayGeorge Galloway is a British politician, author, journalist and broadcaster who was a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010. He was formerly an MP for the Labour Party, first for Glasgow Hillhead and later for Glasgow Kelvin, before his expulsion from the party in October 2003, the same year...
, a former British Member of Parliament, presents Comment and The Real Deal. - Tariq RamadanTariq RamadanTariq Ramadan is a Swiss academic, poet and writer. He is also a Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies in the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Oxford University...
presents a Islam & Life. - Amina TaylorAmina TaylorAmina Taylor is a former editor of Pride magazine, and regular contributor to The Guardian, Independent On Sunday, 5 Live and Sky News. She used to contribute to Drum Magazine and present her own radio show on BBC London 94.9 with co-presenter Dotun Adebayo as well as being a very popular guest...
presents The Big Story and Remember Palestine. She used to present Between the Headlines, before the end of the series. - Derek ConwayDerek ConwayDerek Leslie Conway TD is an English politician and television presenter. A member of the centre-right Conservative Party, Conway served as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Old Bexley and Sidcup from 2001 to 2010....
, another former Member of Parliament, presents Epilogue and Comment, on occasion. - Lauren BoothLauren BoothLauren Booth is an English broadcaster, journalist and pro-Palestinian activist. She works for Iran's English language news channel, Press TV.-Family:...
, anti-war activist and sister-in-law to former British prime minister Tony BlairTony BlairAnthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
, presents Remember Palestine and The Diaspora.
Former presenters
- Andrew GilliganAndrew GilliganAndrew Paul Gilligan is a British journalist best known for a 2003 report on BBC Radio 4's The Today Programme in which he said a British government briefing paper on Iraq and weapons of mass destruction had been 'sexed up', a claim that ultimately led to a public inquiry that criticised Gilligan...
is a journalist who felt resigned from Press TV after he said that the "Iranian shillingPolitics of IranThe politics of Iran take place in a framework of theocracy guided by an Islamist ideology. The December 1979 constitution, and its 1989 amendment, define the political, economic, and social order of the Islamic Republic of Iran, declaring that Shi'a Islam of the Twelver school of thought is...
that was inconsistent with my opposition to IslamismIslamic extremismIslamic extremism refers to two related and partially overlapping but also distinct aspects of extremist interpretations and pursuits of Islamic ideology:...
.. Prior to his departure, Gilligan hosted The Forum that consisted of a "regular discussion show on the station, in which Islamism, and the policies of the Iranian government, were often debated and challenged." - James Whale
- Ken LivingstoneKen LivingstoneKenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
, a former Mayor of London. He hosted Epilogue and Comment on occasion.
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 RidleyYvonne RidleyYvonne Ridley is a British journalist, war correspondent and Respect Party activist best known for her capture by the Taliban and subsequent conversion to Islam after release, her outspoken opposition to Zionism, and her criticism of Western media portrayals of the War on Terror...
formerly broadcast on the Islam ChannelIslam ChannelIslam Channel is a UK-based, free-to-air, English language, Islamic-focused satellite television channel funded by advertising and donations. It was reported in 2008 that UK government research found that 97.3% of Muslims watched the channel...
. - American Dream - A political round-table offering a "warts-and-all" picture of life in the USA from ghettos to gated communities.
- Anti-Semitism Rising, Why? - A debate show on the difference between anti-ZionismAnti-ZionismAnti-Zionism is opposition to Zionistic views or opposition to the state of Israel. The term is used to describe various religious, moral and political points of view in opposition to these, but their diversity of motivation and expression is sufficiently different that "anti-Zionism" cannot be...
and anti-SemitismAnti-SemitismAntisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
presented by Alan Hart. - 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.
- 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 GallowayGeorge GallowayGeorge Galloway is a British politician, author, journalist and broadcaster who was a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010. He was formerly an MP for the Labour Party, first for Glasgow Hillhead and later for Glasgow Kelvin, before his expulsion from the party in October 2003, the same year...
. 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."
- 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 GilliganAndrew GilliganAndrew Paul Gilligan is a British journalist best known for a 2003 report on BBC Radio 4's The Today Programme in which he said a British government briefing paper on Iraq and weapons of mass destruction had been 'sexed up', a claim that ultimately led to a public inquiry that criticised Gilligan...
, featuring Nick FerrariNick FerrariNick Ferrari is a radio presenter who currently hosts the weekday breakfast show from 0700-1000 UTC on the London-based talk and phone-in radio station LBC 97.3. He also has a regular column in the Sunday Express and is a regular guest on The Alan Titchmarsh Show on ITV1...
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.
- Islam & Life - A weekly show presented by Tariq RamadanTariq RamadanTariq Ramadan is a Swiss academic, poet and writer. He is also a Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies in the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Oxford University...
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.
- Rattansi & Ridley - A chat show aboard the only floating TV studio in the world, hosted by veteran award-winning journalists, Afshin Rattansi and Yvonne Ridley.
- The Real Deal - A wide-ranging weekly show by George GallowayGeorge GallowayGeorge Galloway is a British politician, author, journalist and broadcaster who was a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010. He was formerly an MP for the Labour Party, first for Glasgow Hillhead and later for Glasgow Kelvin, before his expulsion from the party in October 2003, the same year...
. - Remember the Children of Palestine - A weekly 1-hour show hosted by Lauren BoothLauren BoothLauren Booth is an English broadcaster, journalist and pro-Palestinian activist. She works for Iran's English language news channel, Press TV.-Family:...
and Amina TaylorAmina TaylorAmina Taylor is a former editor of Pride magazine, and regular contributor to The Guardian, Independent On Sunday, 5 Live and Sky News. She used to contribute to Drum Magazine and present her own radio show on BBC London 94.9 with co-presenter Dotun Adebayo as well as being a very popular guest...
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 WattsMark Watts (journalist)Mark Watts is an author, freelance journalist and previously hosted the show "Between the Headlines" on Press TV. He is the author of The Fleet Street Sewer Rat , an investigative book which describes the scavenging techniques used by legendary bin raider Benji Pell.He went to the University of...
, Lauren BoothLauren BoothLauren Booth is an English broadcaster, journalist and pro-Palestinian activist. She works for Iran's English language news channel, Press TV.-Family:...
, Afshin Rattansi, Amina TaylorAmina TaylorAmina Taylor is a former editor of Pride magazine, and regular contributor to The Guardian, Independent On Sunday, 5 Live and Sky News. She used to contribute to Drum Magazine and present her own radio show on BBC London 94.9 with co-presenter Dotun Adebayo as well as being a very popular guest...
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 TodayRussia TodayRussia Today may refer to:* Russia Today, an English language 24-hour television news channel from Russia. It was launched in 2005 and is not related to an online news service of the similar name operated by EIN News...
host Amanda Burt. - Epilogue - A 25-minute weekly programme on literature, featuring interviews with writers and critics, hosted by Derek ConwayDerek ConwayDerek Leslie Conway TD is an English politician and television presenter. A member of the centre-right Conservative Party, Conway served as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Old Bexley and Sidcup from 2001 to 2010....
, Bob StewartBob Stewart (television)Bob Stewart is a former American television game show producer. He was active in the TV industry from 1956 until his retirement in 1992....
, Hugo de BurghHugo de BurghHugo de Burgh is a British media theorist and academic. Professor de Burgh is Director of the China Media Centre at the University of Westminster, which he set up in January 2005 and is unique in Europe for its focus on studying the world's largest media system...
and James WhaleJames WhaleJames Whale was an English film director, theatre director and actor. He is best remembered for his work in the horror film genre, having directed such classics as Frankenstein , The Old Dark House , The Invisible Man and Bride of Frankenstein...
. - EuroFocus - Presented by Roshan Muhammed Salih and Fareena AlamFareena AlamFareena Alam is Editor of Q News, a British Muslim Magazine.-Background:Fareena is an established journalist. She is possibly the youngest Editor of a Muslim current affairs publication, Q News. She is a freelance contributor to British and international newspapers...
, offers a weekly round-up of news and features from all over Europe. - 4Corners - 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 veteran broadcast journalist Alan HartAlan Hart (writer)Alan Hart is an author, former Middle East Chief Correspondent for Independent Television News, and former BBC Panorama presenter specialising in the Middle East.-Career:...
engages a host of intellectuals, investigative journalists and activists, amongst others, in conversation. - Hearts and Minds - 45 Minute Panel Discussion on U.S. Foreign Policy produced in New York City. 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 RatherDan RatherDaniel Irvin "Dan" Rather, Jr. is an American journalist and the former news anchor for the CBS Evening News. He is now managing editor and anchor of the television news magazine Dan Rather Reports on the cable channel HDNet. Rather was anchor of the CBS Evening News for 24 years, from March 9,...
and defence expert Richard PerleRichard PerleRichard Norman Perle is an American political advisor, consultant, and lobbyist who began his career in government, a senior staff member to Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson on the Senate Armed Services Committee in the 1970’s...
) After Weisman, hosting duties were taken over by former "4 Corners" presenter Susan Modaress, who later hosted her own program, "Autograph." Stephanie Woods, a former reporter for the MTV News political news program Street Team '08, assumed the role of host in June 2009 until the program's last broadcast on September 30, 2009. - 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 WhaleJames WhaleJames Whale was an English film director, theatre director and actor. He is best remembered for his work in the horror film genre, having directed such classics as Frankenstein , The Old Dark House , The Invisible Man and Bride of Frankenstein...
and Mike MendozaMike MendozaMichael David Mendoza is a British radio presenter and politician best known for the overnight shows he presented on talkSPORT between 2004 and 2008, initially on weeknights before being moved to weekends in 2006...
. 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 BackerKristiane BackerKristiane Backer is a German-born television presenter, television journalist and author residing in London.-Occupation:From 1987 to 1989 she worked as a trainee for the private radio station Radio Hamburg...
.
Allegations of bias
Many critics have described Press TV as a mouthpiece for the Iranian government. One such claim was made by Nick FerrariNick Ferrari
Nick Ferrari is a radio presenter who currently hosts the weekday breakfast show from 0700-1000 UTC on the London-based talk and phone-in radio station LBC 97.3. He also has a regular column in the Sunday Express and is a regular guest on The Alan Titchmarsh Show on ITV1...
, a former presenter of one of Press TV's shows, told The Times that Press TV’s news coverage had been “reasonably fair” until the [2009] election—but not any longer.
During the 2011 revolts in the Arab world
2010–2011 Middle East and North Africa protests
The Arab Spring , otherwise known as the Arab Awakening, is a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Arab world that began on Saturday, 18 December 2010...
, Press TV has been at pains to put the spotlight on the demonstrations taking place in Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
, a state which Iran claims as its fourteenth province but which is governed as an independent state by a Sunni royal house, while at the same time toning down the significance of the demonstrations in Syria, a close ally of the Iranian leadership.
In 2010 the International Commission for Human Rights in Iran identified Press TV as being part of the Iranian regime's intelligence apparatus, and that Press TV collaborated with human rights violators to publicise forced confessions of dissidents.
In May 2011, Ofcom
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
, the regulatory authority for the telecommunication industries in the United Kingdom, ruled that Press TV was responsible for a serious breach of UK broadcasting rules and could face a fine for airing an interview with Maziar Bahari
Maziar Bahari
Maziar Bahari Maziar Bahari Maziar Bahari (مازیار بهاری, (born 1967) is an Iranian Canadian journalist, film maker and human rights activist. He was a reporter for Newsweek from 1998 to 2011...
, the Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
journalist arrested covering the Iranian presidential election in 2009
Iranian presidential election, 2009
Iran's tenth presidential election was held on 12 June 2009, with incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad running against three challengers. The next morning the Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran's official news agency, announced that with two-thirds of the votes counted, Ahmadinejad had won the election...
, that was obtained by force while he was held in a Tehran jail.
Upon the release of Ofcom's findings, Press TV launched a campaign against Bahari and Ofcom. Bahari was accused of being a "an MI6 contact person"
See also
- IRIB
- National Iranian Radio & TelevisionNational Iranian Radio & TelevisionNational Iranian Radio and Television or NIRT was the first Iranian Radio & Television Organization which started its work on October 26, 1966, and operated up until the Iranian Revolution in 1979, after which NIRT became the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting .-Background and History:In the...
- Media in Iran