Why it matters:
The media, like human, can sometimes suffer illnesses that impact their innate mission.
The big picture:
In today's world, where the media plays a fundamental role in shaping political and psychological realities, narrative-building is no longer just a tool for information dissemination. Some outlets, like Iran International, face criticism for prioritizing control over the narrative rather than delivering impartial news.
These concerns suggest that instead of fostering open dialogue, certain media platforms may be suppressing opposing viewpoints and selectively presenting information to reinforce a specific agenda.
Zoom in:
- What happened in Shaid Rajaee Port of Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, and the way it was reflected in Iran International can represent an example of such a media disease.
- Relying on distortion, disparagement, and the censoring of on-the-ground realities, sought to portray Iran as incapable of crisis management.
- The repeated use of keywords such as "revelation," "our sources," or "officials' secrecy" shows its attempt to monopolize the narrative and reinforce informational superiority.
But, many of Iran International's claims were in clear contradiction to official and field evidence.
Zoom out:
- Iran International relied on some figures who lacked field experience in crisis management.
- To fill the gap, it focused on instilling Iran's inefficiency and casting public distrust.
- Similarly, in the coverage of Iran-U.S. nuclear talks used experts who rejected the talks as futile and framed external pressure as the only way to overthrow the Islamic Republic.
Reality Check: Emotional manipulation and mocking headlines were still among other tactics Iran International employed to undermine real efforts to control the blaze: "extinguishing fire with a bucket of sand," or "a single-person helicopter against a massive blaze."
The UK-based media outlet even censored the selfless dedication of emergency personnel or addressed it with skepticism.
The bottom line:
The symptoms suggest that the U.K.-based Iran International seeks to impose a narrative superiority, that through belittling the efforts of Iranian rescue and relief teams and management crisis. It struggles to position itself as the ultimate authority in defining truth. Such a narcissistic complex!
From a note by Iranian Journalist Ardeshir Zabilozadeh
seyed mohammad kazemi
