Ahmadinejad launches Iran's first English-language news network

Middle East News

Jul 2, 2007, 19:57 GMT

Tehran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday inaugurated Iran's first 24-hour English-language news network called Press TV which is affiliated to IRIB state television. 'We have to enter the world media scene for confronting the today's Western media which serves as a tool for global imperialism,' Ahmadinejad said during the inauguration ceremony. 'The newly born Press TV should be besides the oppressed nations of the world and defend them and at the same time be a symbol for reliable news coverage,' the president added. The Press TV network with a total of 400 reporters, including 26 correspondents abroad as well as a number of freelancers, aims to break the influence of Western media by offering a different and 'unbiased' view of the news. IRIB has already launched the 24-hour network Khabar in Farsi, and Press TV is supposed to become an alternative to the Western press and media. Iranian officials frequently blame Western media and press for allegedly carrying distorted news about Iran and accuse them of being a tool for Western powers. The main offices of Press TV are located in London, New York, Washington and Damascus, but the network will also have coverage in the Palestinian territories and the United States. The programmes are to be broadcast via satellite but cannot be viewed by Iranians themselves as satellite dishes are banned in Iran. Most Iranians ignore the ban. Press TV head Mohammad Sarafraz said that the network is state- run, but not state-managed and claimed it had its own guidelines. © 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Your Talkback on this Story

Note posts made on our older Talkback system will still show below. However, new posts can only be made via the new system (above). We will export the old comments to the new shortly. You can still comment as a guest on the new system but it also allows you to login using various social network and other accounts.

Other features coming soon.

Talkback

page: 1

Dave ThomasJul 3rd, 2007 - 07:42:42

Now the President of Iran can give play-by-play of the stoning of women in public squares in English. What progress!

Report this comment

brianJul 4th, 2007 - 21:20:32

well the americans were very quick to show the execution of a president before he got a chance to drop them in it for supplying him the wmd he used to kill the kurds. Who is more civilised? America I dont think so.

Report this comment

page: 1

Middle East

Ahmadinejad launches Iran's first English-language news network

Middle East News

Your Talkback on this Story

Talkback

Similar articles

Latest Headlines in Middle East

From Sites We Like

Latest PopEater News

Latest Cinema Blend News

Latest Tech Herald News

In Monsters and Critics

Corporate

The Fine Print