Maryam Ansari – December 12, 2007, Deutsche Welle Persian
Yousef Azizi Benitorof, a writer and researcher on the ethnic issues of Iran's Arabs, believes that Iranian society is composed of diverse social classes and ethnic groups, leading to varied expectations from media outlets.
Deutsche Welle: Mr. Banitaraf, each of the different social groups in Iran has specific expectations of Persian-language media outside the country. As a researcher on ethnic issues in Iran, what do you think ethnic groups expect from Persian-language media abroad?
Yousef Azizi Benitorof: Iranian society has various social movements, such as student movements, women's movements, labor movements, ethnic movements, and so on. Each of these movements and social groups has specific expectations that differ slightly from one another. For instance, ethnic groups, which make up more than half of Iran's population, have distinct expectations. Among non-Persian ethnic groups, including Arabs, there is a perception that Persian-language media outside Iran give less attention to their issues—be they political, cultural, or social. Media outlets should cover all these social and ethnic layers comprehensively. For example, I’ve often heard intellectuals from ethnic groups, including Arab intellectuals in Khuzestan, say that some Persian-language media are overshadowed by Persian chauvinism, which leads to neglect or insufficient attention to the cultural, social, intellectual, and political issues of these groups.
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| Yousef Azizi Benitorof |
Deutsche Welle: Besides what you mentioned—special attention to the diverse issues of different social groups—what other features should Persian-language media abroad have to gain attention and trust? Conversely, what characteristics might lead to reduced audience interest?
Yousef Azizi Benitorof: There are other important factors, such as professionalism and impartiality. Issues like a lack of neutrality, inaccuracy in reporting and analyses, and ethnic biases can alienate audiences.
Deutsche Welle: In your opinion, have Persian-language media outside Iran managed to meet these expectations to some extent?
Yousef Azizi Benitorof: When I compare them with media in the Arab world, unfortunately, I must say they have not. More work needs to be done. There is also a need for evolution; for instance, some radio outlets should now transition to television because this is the direction the world is heading. Radio audiences have declined, although websites maintain their readership. But I believe this is the age of visuals, and any media outlet wishing to stay relevant must align itself with this era of imagery.
Deutsche Welle: Despite differences in focus among social groups, is there a common denominator in what Iranian audiences are most interested in? If so, what are these common interests?
Yousef Azizi Benitorof: Undoubtedly, political issues are the most significant for Iranian audiences across all classes, ethnicities, and social layers. Political developments, societal transformations, governance, international relations—especially now with the nuclear issue being a global topic—are areas where Iranian audiences share a common interest. Additionally, cultural issues, cultural research, and discussions on culture and social issues are also important. From my perspective as a writer and researcher, these subjects are significant both in Tehran and among intellectuals from various ethnicities in provincial areas.
Deutsche Welle: Do Iranian audiences also show interest in issues beyond Iran’s borders? If so, what topics?
Yousef Azizi Benitorof: The oldest issue that has consistently been significant to Iranian audiences is Palestine, dating back to 1948. In recent years, they have followed Iraq’s issues or, during the 1950s, matters concerning Egypt. The Iranian public has always been attentive to revolutionary, nationalist, and political developments in the region. Currently, relations between the U.S. and the West, particularly concerning the nuclear issue, are preoccupying many Iranian media audiences. People follow all these topics through various domestic and international media outlets.
Deutsche Welle: What is your opinion of Deutsche Welle? What draws you to its website or radio programs?
Yousef Azizi Benitorof: I rarely listen to your radio because I don’t have the time, but I do visit your website. Over the past few years—perhaps because there wasn’t internet access before—I’ve noticed that your website is catching up with older outlets like the BBC. Your political interviews with various groups, whether opposition or government, interest me, as do some of your political reports, which I find substantive. However, your Arabic website surpasses the Persian one. I say this frankly. The Arabic site, Qantara, which you sometimes promote, is much broader and engages deeply with intellectual and cultural matters, often featuring discussions with Arab and Turkish thinkers. I’ve even read content about Iranian cinema or profound cultural and intellectual debates on the Arabic Deutsche Welle site. By contrast, Deutsche Welle Persian focuses more on political content. I don’t know the reasons for this—perhaps the Arabic site has a larger audience, as the Arab world is more populous, or perhaps there are other reasons. I’m not judging, but Deutsche Welle Persian has significantly improved over the past few years.
The link to the original article in Farsi on DW:
یوسف عزیز بنیطرف: مسائل اقوام نیز باید در رسانهها بازتاب یابند