Press TV is an English language international television news channel which is funded by the Iranian government, based in Tehran and broadcast in English on a round-the-clock schedule. It has 26 international correspondents and more than 500 staff around the world.

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 3, 2007.^[4] On March 18, 2009, Press TV launched a new website with a modified graphical user interface.^[5] 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.

Vision

Press TV has stated its intention to cover world news differently from the Anglophone channels BBC World News, and CNN International. Press TV claims 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.^[6]

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 has 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 Eastern affairs, to the kinds of coverage exemplified by BBC World, CNN International and Al Jazeera English.^[7][8]

Press TV offers round-the-clock news bulletins every half-hour, a series of chiefly live commentary programmes 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 stated 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.

2002 Sony Radio Academy Award winner, Afshin Rattansi, who launched the Dubai Business Channel and worked in senior positions at the BBC, Al Jazeera Arabic, Bloomberg and CNN International, anchored world news from Press TV's headquarters in Tehran before moving back to London to present live programs. He has interviewed such luminaries as Gore Vidal and Noam Chomsky for Press TV. He left Press TV shortly before the 2009 Iranian presidential elections.^{[citation needed]}

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. 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^{[citation needed]}, and Lauren Booth sister-in-law of Tony Blair.

Max Keiser, a noted financial journalist, hosts a show entitled "On the Edge" for Press TV.^[15]

News bulletin anchors

With the latest regional & international stories being updated every half hour, straight from the heart of the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, are: Kaveh Taghvae, Arash Zahedi, Said Pourreza, Hassan Tavakoli, Nargess Moballeghi, Bardia Honardar, Sheena Shirani, Waqar Rizvi, Kaneez Fatima . Also anchoring Sports Int'l news in Tehran is: Junot Castelyn.

Controversy

Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post,^[16] together with outlets such as Searchlight Magazine,^[17] have criticized Press TV for publishing, on its official website, an editorial^[18] claiming that the Auschwitz gas chambers were used for "benign" purposes only, authored by the British science historian, Holocaust denier and conspiracy theorist Nicholas Kollerstrom.

The conservative Canadian weekly Maclean's has alleged that Press TV sometimes publishes so-called "intentional errors", citing a story on the Press TV website that it said contained the claim, based on unnamed sources, that the Lebanese government is trying to convert the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp into an American military base. Maclean's, however, goes on to say that "most of Press TV's news reports are factually accurate."^[19]

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.^[20]

On July 7, 2009, Press TV reported its license was revoked in Jordan, meaning it could no longer operate in the country. No reason was given for the decision.^[21]

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.^[22]

Current programmes

• The Agenda - A political commentary show hosted by Yvonne Ridley formerly broadcast on the Islam Channel.^[14]
• American Dream - A news commentary programme formerly hosted in the United States by Mark Levine.^[23]. The show is currently hosted by Elliot Francis.
• 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. A platform to ask the presenter questions or argue with him live on controversial issues.
• Fine Print - A thrice-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 political, economic and social Iranian issues in the presence of a panel of guests. The show was called-out by digital-ed.com^[24] 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 various views on hottest issues impacting the region, hosted by Nadine Mazloum and Serena Shim in Beirut.
• Outside the Box - A weekly 25-minute show, accentuating voices usually unheard of in the West. The show is hosted by Tina Richards.
• The Real Deal - A wide-ranging weekly show by George Galloway, the British member of parliament, and head of the Respect party.
• Remember the Children of Palestine - A weekly 1-hour show hosted by Lauren Booth and Amina Taylor covering the 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.
• 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.
• 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.

References

External links

• Press TV
• PressTV free streaming
• Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)
• Press TV tackles the media monsters by launching on Sky FullScreen
• PressTV streamed on MuslimCo
• How to watch Press TV for free via Satellite in North America
• Press TV profile on USC Center on Public Diplomacy wikipedia
• The Iranian Press - Iranian RSS News Feed

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