Hossein Shahidi is Assistant Professor of communication at the American University of Beirut and Iranian Studies’ Assistant Editor, Social Sciences. He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy from Oxford University and his dissertation, Journalism in Iran, has been published by Routledge. He was a journalist and journalist trainer (1979-2001), mostly at the BBC World Service, and Gender and Media Specialist with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in Afghanistan (2003-2004). In addition to writing extensively for the broadcast and print media on Iran, Central Asia and the Arab world, Hossein Shahidi has also written a detailed account of the establishment of the BBC’s Persian Service and its conduct during the conflict between Iran and Britain over the nationalization of Iranian oil. He studied Electrical Engineering at the American University of Beirut (1977) and Economics at the University of London (1988).

Iranian journalism and the law and in the 20th century

Although the first Persian language newspaper was published in Iran 170 years ago, Iranian journalism is a twentieth century creation, indeed a product of the 1906 Constitutional Revolution. The press played a significant part in the revolution, especially by promoting the idea of legislation by a parliament, rather than by the king or the religious leaders. Newspaper publishers felt relieved of all restrictions once a constitution had been decalred and opposed a press law that was passed soon after the revolution, arguing that it was meant to suppress their newly-gained freedom. Five more press laws have been passed in Iran since then, but the debate over press freedom and the rule of law is nowhere near resolution.  .