Iran's minister urges media to avoid political bias

Beijing, April 22, IRNA – Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hosseini said in a message on Thursday that the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly believes that freedom and avoidance of political bias is necessary for the mass media.

His message was issued to the Summit Congress of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) which opened in Seoul, South Korea, this morning.

The full text of the Hosseini’s message is as follows:

“Honourable Chairman,
“Distinguished Delegates,
“Respected Ladies and Gentlemen,

“It is my honour and indeed a privilege to address esteemed participants of the OANA Summit Conference in the beautiful city of Seoul. I am grateful to the OANA chair-news agency, Antara, and the host, Yonhap, for allocating a few minutes for presentation of my message which is read out by IRNA Managing Director, Mr. Ali Akbar Javanfekr.

“Dear Colleagues,

“The Seoul conference is an opportunity to reflect on the international order of communications, the challenges and remedies for the media including our news agencies.

“We are living in a modern age that some communication and news networks are influenced by hegemonic governments which cooperate together targeting the public opinion in various countries across the world by distorted and biased news. In this way they gain their illegitimate objectives. One of these targets is to overthrow democratic governments by manipulating information and imposing an administration that would serve the aims and interests of their own governments.

“Currently, we are witnessing an undeclared war by the hegemonic governments against independent states. By monopolizing news and information, by craftily managing news, and by utilizing advanced and sophisticated methods to disseminate information, they are posing a threat to independent and free nations.

“We sternly oppose the misuse of power and wealth in the international communication system which distorts realities and disseminates prejudiced baseless misinformation. I believe that media coalitions such as OANA has the capacity to firmly stand before such disorders created by domineering powers.

“As a responsible and independent nation, Iran is sincere, open, united and cordial and treats others as equals, while playing a positive role in international relations. It also has cordial relations and cooperates with other countries based on logic, justice and benevolence.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly believes that freedom and avoidance of political bias is necessary for the mass media. We also oppose the influence of parties and power-seeker groups in media fields which contradict the interests and the rights of nations and the principles of media freedom.

“The mass media should be made to keep away from misuse of anti-cultural elements until they can accomplish the important mission in gathering and disseminating of news based on truth, transparency and correctness. Nations have a right to be informed, but we believe that hegemonic powers prevent this by trying to disseminate news to the international public opinion from their own viewpoint and interests.

“The world will be a much better place if the media follow the principles of impartiality and justice and devotion to mankind.

“We therefore call for a free and fair international order of news communications. If the world is based on justice and neutrality, we will witness a new world order that will include an economic, political, cultural and healthy communications.

“Respect for truth, traditions, cultures and values are the basis for all communications.

“Thank you OANA! Thank you Seoul! Thank you Yonhap!”/end