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.^[1][2]

History

The channel's website launched in late January 2007.^[3] Test satellite transmissions were conducted in late April 2007. The launch date for the channel was July 2, 2007.^[4]

Vision

Press TV intends to give a different view of the news than the Anglophone BBC World, and CNN International. Press TV wants to put more emphasis on debate, dialogue and the role of cultural difference. It will also be competing with the recently launched Al Jazeera English, France 24 and Russia Today news channels. ^[5]

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 believe that since the 9/11 attacks, the world's media had divided into two camps: On the one side was the perspective offered by Western media, while the other side was pro-Taleban, pro-Saddam and pro-al-Qaeda. The stated mission of Press TV is to offer a different view, unlike Al-Jazeera and western media (such as BBC and CNN).^[1][6]

Funding and independence

Press TV is funded by the Iranian government.^[7] According to Shahab Mossavat, Press TV director of communications, Press TV will keep its editorial independence from the government. In an interview with NPR (National Public Radio), he emphasized that Press TV will be state-funded rather than state controlled.^[8] Another of Press TV's journalists, Mark Levine, host of "The American Dream," stated that he is not being censored and will "explain American policies worldwide" with "the same uncompromising candor" that he has done on his radio show, "The Inside Scoop", for the last four years. ^{[9] [10]}

However, critics note that Iran has a poor record for freedom of speech. For example, as Press TV went on the air in early July 2007, Iran shut down several news outlets critical of the government.^[11] Press TV seldom criticizes the Iranian government and has provided little coverage of Iran's domestic troubles, but some commentators have been surprised by relatively neutral reporting on Iraq and the Middle East.^[12] Press TV is praised for letting guests speak their mind, but commentators have criticized the network for presenting dubious reports and analysis with no evidence to back them up.^[11][13]

The annual budget of Press TV is 250 billion Rials (more than 27 million US dollars).^[14]

Journalists

Mohammad Sarafraz, head of the new channel, said most of Press TV's 30 journalists were non-Iranians, and included many Britons as well as Americans. The channel will have correspondents in London, New York, Washington, Beirut, Damascus, Moscow and several other European capitals, as well as four correspondents covering the Israel-Palestine conflict from Gaza, Ramallah and Jerusalem. Mr Sarafraz said training had been provided by a BBC employee.

The most well-known face at the London bureau, based in Ealing, is Yvonne Ridley, the former Sunday Express journalist who converted to Islam after being captured by the Taliban in 2001.^[13]

Programs

• The Agenda - A political commentary show hosted by Yvonne Ridley formerly broadcast on the Islam Channel.^[13]
• The American Dream - A news commentary program hosted in the United States by Mark Levine.^[9]
• Between the Headlines - A review of the day's headlines hosted in the United Kingdom by Mark Watts.
• Four Corners - A news commentary program.
• Iran - A 25-minute weekly show by Behrouz Nadjafi which tries to cover all aspects of life and topical issues in Iran plus reports and interviews on major events held in the country over the week.
• Epilogue - A 25-minute weekly during which Martin Short introduces controversial literature while interviewing well-known writers & critics.
• World Week Watch - Journalist Sertan Baykara tells you everything you need to know of events from every nook and cranny of the globe in 23 minutes.
• Middle East Today - A riveting daily panel discussion of the world's most news-making region broadcast from Beirut, Damascus, London, and Tehran.
• Minbar - A weekly Q&A about Islam, fielding questions about all aspects of the world's fastest growing religion presented by Ahmad Haneef.
• Forum - Presented by journalist Andrew Gilligan. At the heart of the show is the audience driving the debate with own mix of questions.
• Reporters File - Reporter’s file covers the foremost stories, which have happened all over the world, a program which is hosted by Susan Modaress.
• Nexus - Rebecca Masterton and guests from various faiths tackle a wide range of challenging issues in an interfaith dialogue program.

References

External links

• Press TV - Official website of Press TV
• Press TV - Alt Official website of Press TV
• How to watch Press TV via Satellite in North America
• Press TV profile on USC Center on Public Diplomacy wikipedia
• The Iranian Press - Iranian RSS News Feed

Template:International news channels