pr-media-blog.co.uk

Iranians protesting at the outcome of the recent election have been mobilising through social networks like twitter and Facebook. 

In addition to challenging the ’surprising’ results of the presidential election, social networks are being used to organise protests and direct action.   Moreover opponent of the current regime, who claim the election was rigged, have been taking on one of the world’s largest media organisations via twitter.

Whilst organisations like the BBC and New York Times were covering the events as they unfolded, CNN was singled out by twitter users inside Iran and around the world for failing to give sufficient prominence to the outrage at the reported election result emanating from inside the country.  Twitter users in their thousands started to use the hashtag #CNNfail in their messages to point out the limited CNN coverage.   In a direct response to the demands of web users the TV network increased its coverage of events and made the protests their lead story.  

The major news brands around the world remain our most trusted sources of news and comment but the social web is emerging as a critical provider of checks and balance.  

The BBC launches a new satellite TV channel today for viewers in Iran.  BBC Persian TV which will be broadcast by satellite seven days a week, will rely heavily on bloggers and citizen journalists.  Iranian authorities refused permission to broadcast and produce from within the country so programmes will be made in London using the active blogging community in Iran for first hand source material. 

The Farsi language channel is part of the BBC World Service and funded by the UK Foreign Office to the tune of £15m ($22m).  It employs 140 staff.  Editorially it is entirely independent of government.

Sina Motalebi a director at Persian TV a graduate of Tehran University and a former blogger himself believes that Iran’s highly active blogging community will provide material they have filmed or recorded that gives a real picture of day to day life in the country ”we are not asking people to send pictures of police brutality or demonstrations, we want material about ordinary life in Iran.”

In addition to Iran, BBC Persian TV will be broadcast in Afghanistan and Tajikistan.  It will also be available in Britain, Dubai and of the Persian Gulf through satellite and cable.