| | This week on The Listening Post we take an in-depth look at Iran and its relationship with the media - past and present. In part one, Meenakshi Ravi looks stateside to witness how the media is keeping its eye on US foreign policy towards Iran. We ask: Is the Iran story a pretext for US politicians to talk tough in the eyes of a public whose votes they are chasing?
In part two, Sinead O'Shea reports on the way the CIA and its cohorts used the Iranian media during the coup of August 1953. It was, arguably, the world's first media coup, utilising mass communication and so-called 'grey' propaganda for mercenary and geopolitical ends. Now, with Iran ever-present on the US and global news agenda, Sinead asks if any of the techniques of 1953 are resurfacing in the media coverage of contemporary Iran.
Also on this week's show - the five things you need to know about the media in Iran. We learn what Mahmoud Ahmadinejad blogs about in his spare time, how the Republican Guard got creative with Photoshop and why Iran languishes near the bottom of the press freedoms chart.
Our video of the week is a ballet featuring that dynamic Republican duo: John McCain and George Bush. Enjoy! |
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