Iran urged to loosen hold on BBC Persia

According to Iran's own broadcaster, Press TV, Iran's Majlis Research Center has proposed loosening the restrictions on foreign media outlets "working against the interests of the Islamic Republic."

Following an analysis of the tactics employed by the British Broadcasting Corporation's Persian-language channel, the Institute for Political Studies in Iran's Parliament Research Center tipped off the government about its critical approach toward such channels.

Iran has claimed the channel is attempting to recruit Iranians for "espionage and psychological warfare".

"The public is concerned that the establishment of BBC Persian is in line with the intervening and opportunist policies of the British government in domestic affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran," said an Iranian official before the launch of the channel in October.

The report given by the institute proposed that launching such networks would be a large step in undertaking "soft overthrow projects", stating that BBC Persian is more subtle in this endeavor than the US-backed VOA.

The report went on to discuss the recent advances in global technology throughout the world today including the wide prominence of the Internet usage among Iran's youth "in an effort to caution the Iranian government."

"In today's world, a full-scale media war is taking place between Iran and the West," read the report.

The report urged the Islamic Republic to use this opportunity to fight "foreign movements aimed at toppling the government."

Pointing to countless Internet websites and web proxies, the report said, "Preventing the establishment of satellite channels is not an effective method to break the Iranian audience's connection with such media."

The Majlis report called for "the launch of rival channels and incorporation of as much information content as possible" to neutralize the effect of anti-Islamic Republic media.

"The government should not conceive NGO's and Persian-language channels as a threat."

The report put forward a proposal to the Iranian government to grant such channels as BBC Persian the permission to work in Iran, within the guidelines of the country's constitution.

The institute further demanded the government maintains vigilance in an effort to prevent the cited media from carrying out their "soft toppling projects" in the country.

Virtual Tour of Iran

Always wanted to travel to Iran but not so sure your ready to brave the actual trip? Take a virtual tour of the country with online three-dimensional and panoramic photographs of Iran’s cultural and scenic attractions with 360cities.net. The site includes photographs taken by prominent Iranian artists such as Ramin Dehdashti. Visitors can see full-screen images of scenes, change the perspective, see them in detail and copy the pictures to their personal websites. Persepolis, Pasargadae, the tomb of Cyrus, Naqsh-e-Jahan Square (Isfahan), Eram Garden (Shiraz) and Dizin ski resort in Tehran are among the countless Iranian sites available on the website. See the article on Press TV.

Piracy justifies US activities abroad?

In its newest reader poll, Press TV asked "What has led to the increased activity of Somali pirates?"

And the viewers answers.....

• 1. The problem will not be solved unless a powerful government comes to power in Somalia(28%)
• 2. The US needs such activities to justify its presence outside its borders(33%)
• 3. Both factors contribute to the problem(14%)
• 4. There are other reasons for this increased activity(25%)

Answer #2 isn't really a cause of an increase in piracy, unless they are implying to US promotes piracy... but we all know Press TV had to throw an anti-American answer in there. Any thoughts? Go to the PressTV.com site and vote your opinion.

PressTV Poll: Britains outreach means Hezbollah victory

A two week Press TV reader poll asked "What is your opinion about UK officials signaling willingness to hold talks with Hezbollah?" The reader's response suggested that viewers felt that Britain's willingness to hold talks with Hezbollah is an indication of the resistance's success in the region.

Of the 5991 respondents, 34.47 percent said it show Hezbollah success; 30.21 percent said that the talks would be in the interests of the UK and Hezbollah; 19.21 percent said that the UK is seeking to convince Hezbollah to abandon its policy of resistance and 16.11 percent said that such talks would bear no fruit.

On March 7, UK Foreign Office minister Bill Rammell told MPs that the government would authorize "carefully selected" contacts with the political wing of Hezbollah, which is represented in the Lebanese parliament.

Hezbollah welcomed the change in Britain's tone and its interest in holding talks with the resistance group saying, "This policy revision is a step in the right direction and we shall see how it translates in practical terms."

The decision marks a significant change in Britain's policy, which has shunned contact with Hezbollah since 2005 due to its anti-Israeli stance. The policy shift will also distance London from Washington's position toward the Islamic group, which it has listed as a terrorist organization.

The elusive CIA report predicts Israels demise.

According to a PressTV report, the CIA conducted a study that "cast doubt over Israel's survival beyond the next 20 years."

The CIA report predicts "an inexorable movement away from a two-state to a one-state solution, as the most viable model based on democratic principles of full equality that sheds the looming specter of colonial Apartheid while allowing for the return of the 1947/1948 and 1967 refugees. The latter being the precondition for sustainable peace in the region."

After having searched for this report online, I have found nothing except for blogs citing this Press TV article and others attacking it's supposed author, international lawyer Franklin Lamb who is one of the few who has seen the actual report.

The study, which has been made available only to a certain number of individuals, further forecasts the return of all Palestinian refugees to the occupied territories, and the exodus of two million Israeli - who would move to the US in the next fifteen years.

According to Lamb, the CIA report "alludes to the unexpectedly quick fall of the apartheid government in South Africa and recalls the disintegration of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, suggesting the end to the dream of an 'Israeli land' would happen 'way sooner' than later."

The study further predicts the return of over one and a half million Israelis to Russia and other parts of Europe, and denotes a decline in Israeli births whereas a rise in the Palestinian population.

And apparently, "some members of the US Senate Intelligence Committee have been informed of the report." Interesting that PressTV is the only media that picked up this story. No word of it on NYT or any other media source. What is Jewish Chronicle's Oliver Kamm (a former PressTV guest) have to say about this?

Press TV has excelled itself by running a story that no reputable news outlet had reported: a supposed CIA study predicting the collapse of Israel within 20 years. The only authority cited for this study was “international lawyer Franklin Lamb”. Lamb is a political activist described by Hizbollah’s TV station in Lebanon as “persistent in his support for the just cause of the Lebanese people’s resistance”.

YOU@Press TV

Along with its new look, Presstv.com has a new Me@PressTV features. With the MyVoice page that poses topics to viewers such;

"On the first day of the new Iranian year, US President Barack Obama sent a massage to the Iranian nation and leaders as a gesture of reconciliation. Iran, however, said it would modify its policies toward the United States based on Washington's practical steps not talks. Are the two countries on the path to thawing their relations after nearly three decades? Is Obama's overture to Iran genuine or is it a tactic to exert more pressure on the Islamic Republic"

Allowing visitors to comment. Another feature Thru My Eyes will allow viewers to most photos on the site.

Press TV is planning to make its web site more interactive and provide an opportunity for the audience to contribute to its contents. The My Voice (Press TV forums) and Thru My Eyes sections which have been designed to allow the web site's visitors to engage in debates and share their news photos will be launched in a near future.

So far it seems more like a soap box for a few enthusiastic contributors but it is clear PressTV.com is hoping that its more 2.0 image will invite more traffic. I guess this remains to be seen.

Leader pardons 905 prisoners

A top story in the Iran section of Press TV the "leader of the Islamic Revolution" Ayatollah Kamenei has pardoned "nearly 1,000" prisoners sentenced by Iranian courts. The story doesn't say much more than that. With the Iranian Presidential election coming up, it will be wise to keep a lookout for stories on Press TV trying to play up good things happening in the country so that conservative incumbent Ahmadinijad gets reelected. This tactic is used in the US as well, such as when gas prices go down around reelection time. Speaking of the Iranian election, a new section can be found on Press TV entitled Iran's Election 2009. Not as catchy as the catch phrases US international broadcasters came up with during the US elections but it looks like Press TV is trying to drawn in more world wide attention to the campaign.

PressTV: Obama scores points with Iran message

In a video released today, President Obama sent a message to Iranians wishing them "Eideh shoma mobarak" or happy Persian new year. Friday marked Nowruz which is the Persian New Year.

"I would like to speak directly to the people and leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Nowruz is just one part of your great and celebrated culture. Over many centuries your art, your music, literature and innovation have made the world a better and more beautiful place," he said.

Calling Nowruz a time of 'new beginnings', President Obama charged Iran with a new beginning of its own, revamping the relationship between it and Iran. Obama said his administration was committed to 'diplomacy' with Iran, promising to pursue 'constructive ties' with the Islamic Republic. He mentioned that the US policy 'will not be advanced by threats', insisting Washington seeks 'engagement that is honest and grounded in mutual respect'.

PressTV's report on the message stated that "Obama's direct message to Iran, however, reverberated with the rhetoric of the Bush era." Citing Obamas statement;

"You too have a choice. The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right -- but it comes with real responsibilities, and that place cannot be reached through terror or arms, but rather through peaceful actions that demonstrate the true greatness of the Iranian people and civilization."

According to Press TV, "Iranian officials say they welcome the idea of talks based on 'mutual respect', urging a 'real' shift of policy in the US administration and not a change in tactics." Then the story mentions that "last week, President Obama extended for another year sanctions imposed against Iran under Bill Clinton in 1995."

Another front page story announces that Obama's remarks are "a significant departure from the tone of the previous administration, were well-received around the globe."

"European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he hoped the Obama initiative would "open a new chapter in relations with Iran." France and Germany both welcomed the offer of an olive branch.
'We have been waiting for years for the Americans to re-engage in the Iranian issue,' French President Nicolas Sarkozy said. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the message 'reflects exactly the message the Europeans have been trying to send to Iran. 'Russia also welcomed Obama's decision to renew dialogue with Tehran. "

"Although Iranian leaders are yet to respond to the message, an aide to President Ahmadinejad welcomed 'the wish of the president of the United States to put away the past differences. If Mr. Obama takes concrete action and makes fundamental changes in US foreign policy towards other nations, including Iran, the Iranian government and people won't turn their back on him,' Ali-Akbar Javanfekr told Press TV."

Iran's Top Story is John Stewart

Millions of Americans watched the The Daily Show's Jon Stewart's showdown with CNBC's Jim Cramer but apparently Iran was tuning in as well... or at least the PressTV foreign corespondents. One of the Press TV top stories was reporting just that.

In a series of pointed verbal barbs, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart's funnyman has taken Cramer and his cable network employer, CNBC, to task by claiming they were "in bed" with Wall Street executives and former government officials.

"I understand you want to make finance entertaining, but it's not a fu**ing game," Stewart said during a recorded interview, segments of which aired on Thursday night.

During the face-off with Stewart, however, Cramer appeared contrite.

Stewart accused analysts -- including Cramer -- of betraying average people who trusted financial advisors and poured money into market-oriented accounts for the long term only to lose their money and allow Wall Street to use those savings to generate short-term profits.

If you missed the episode, feel free to watch it here. I wonder why they didn't pick up the story on the Colbert Report, which comes on right after, about Iranian New Year, and Ahmadinijad's involuntary endorsement of American-Jewish products.

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Mahmoud's Non-Consensual Endorsement Deal

Colbert Report Full Episodes
Political Humor

Rap Battle
NASA Name Contest

Chavez invites Obama to 'path of socialism'

Press TV reports that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has called upon the US President Barack Obama to follow the path to socialism, which he termed as "the only way."

The Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez

"Come with us, align yourself, come with us on the road to socialism. This is the only path. Imagine a socialist revolution in the United States," Chavez told a group of workers in the southern Venezuelan state of Bolivar on Friday.

This is just one of many stories PressTV publishes about Chavez, devoting an entire section of news to Venezuela. Not surprising as Iran sees Chavez as an ally in the region.

"That murderous, genocidal empire has to end, and some day there has to come a leader ... who interprets the best of a people who also include human beings who suffer, endure, weep and laugh," the outspoken Chavez said.

Mossad linked to 9/11 attacks

According to a recent Press TV article, there is new "proof" that Israel's Mossad was linked to the September 11th attacks on the US. In citing American Free Press, Press TV reports that the cousin of alleged 9/11 hijacker Ziad al-Jarrah was in fact working as a longtime Mossad agent, which according to Press TV "is proof that Israel had a hand in the terror attacks on US soil."

"Al-Jarrah reportedly admitted that he had been conducting covert espionage activities against Palestinian groups and the Lebanese Hezbollah since 1983."

"Israeli connections to 9/11, according to the New York Times, can be traced back to the five 'dancing Israelis' who were witnessed jumping and high-fiving with shouts of 'joy and mockery' as Flight 11 and Flight 175 slammed into the World Trade Center in New York."

I couldn't find such an article that talked about these "joyous Jews" but did find an NYT article from Sept. 13th that said the following;

The New York Times reported Thursday that a group of five men had set up video cameras aimed at the Twin Towers prior to the attack on Tuesday, and were seen congratulating one another afterwards.

I did, however, find a Harretz article to corroborated this claim. The Press TV article went on to say;

All the [intelligence services] of America and Europe ... now know well that the disastrous attack has been planned by the CIA and the Mossad in order to put under accusation the Arabic countries and in order to induce the western powers to take part ... in Iraq [and] Afghanistan," the Italian ex-premier was quoted by Corriere della Sera as saying.

"Jewish personnel working at the center were reportedly advised to skip work on September 11, 2001." (Press TV)

His argument was further strengthened by leaked reports that employees of Israeli telecom firm Odigo -- which provides instant messaging services -- received a warning two hours before the attacks on the World Trade Towers and forewarned Jews to stay away from work that day.

Accepting the fact that the CIA and Israel was behind the Sept. 11th attacks on the U.S. may seem like a far fetched idea to many westerners, but apparently this is not an uncommon belief in the Arab world. A recent study conducted by World Public Opinion.org demonstrates the prominence of this idea. In this study, respondents in Arab countries were asked “Who do you think was behind the 9/11 attacks?” and responded in open-ended fashion, without options being provided. The second most frequent answer was that the US government was behind the attacks: Turkey (36%), followed by the Palestinian territories (27%), Jordan (17%), Egypt (13%), Indonesia (11%) and Azerbaijan (5%). And the third most common answer was Israel, cited by Jordanians (31%), Palestinians (19%), Egyptians (17%), and small numbers of Azerbaijanis (6%), Pakistanis (4%), Indonesians (3%), and Turks (3%).

Among seven nations, only in Azerbaijan did the majority of respondents name al Qaeda or "Islamic extremists or militants" and many respondents did not give an answer to this question.

Iran 'safe and sound for world tourists'... and their money

Apparently Press TV is being used to gain tourism investors for the country. In typical international broadcasting, public diplomacy fashion, Iran opens its arms to tourism investors by posting a slew of tourism related stories in order to let people know that Iran is safe and sound for world tourists'... and their money.

“Besides the financial revenue stemming from the industry, tourism can fundamentally change the perspective of humankind from a tribal to a global view," says Iran's president.

The deputy head of Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization announced that Iran is one of the most secure places in the world for tourists.

"Unfortunately, the Western media publishes negative propaganda against Iran and works to present an untrue image of the country," said Hamid Baqaei.

He called on tourists to travel to Iran so that they may "personally witness the level of security."

What caught my eye, was a story about the number of South Koreans applying for tourist visas to Iran has quadrupled following The Glory of Persia traveling exhibit in Seoul. Another story stated that Iran experienced a 100-percent growth in foreign tourist arrivals until 2007.
It seems that at least Iran's cultural diplomacy is working.

Another Persian Language International Broadcaster

Press TV reported that Afghan President Hamid Karzai offered Iran a joint media satellite.

“The Afghan president called for the development of cooperation between the two countries' media to exchange experiences.”

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Tajikistan's Emomali Rahmon, and Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai are said to join on March 21st in a meeting of “Persian speaking countries.” The three countries are said to be working on the launch of a television channel dedicated to the broadcast of programs in Persian, “providing an authentic source of information for all interested in the culture.”

“One of the most important duties of the independent regional media is to confront western media for censoring real news in eastern countries" explained head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Ezzatollah Zarghami.

The three also agreed to "increase reciprocal economic, security, and political ties, and to further discuss the creation of a Persian-speaking union."

Not so subtle: Iran's International Urban Film Festival to Screen TWENTY Katrina films

Press TV is reporting that Iran's third International Urban Film Festival, which runs from March 2 to March 7, will include 20 films on Hurricane Katrina, including Spike Lee's When the Levees Broke, Ashley Hunt's I Won't Drown on the Levees and "controversial filmmaker Scott Ritter's Bush Crimes: Hurricane Katrina, which is about the Bush Crimes Commission Hearings and the testimony by experts on the abandonment of New Orleans before, during, and after Hurricane Katrina."

We all know that Hurricane Katrina was not a high-point for America's image abroad (also, see here), but 20 films on how bad the Bush administration goofed up seems a bit, I don't know, obsessive? Also, very depressing.

I like to take moments like this and think about what would happen if the reverse were to take place. What if an American film festival decided to showcase 20 or so documentaries on how, according to the UN, Iran is the "sixth most disaster-prone country in the world," and that, "for the past 10 years, an average of 4,000 people have been killed and 55,000 affected annually by disaster?" Ouch. Now that I think about it, maybe there should be a few films produced on how there is the equivalent of a humanitarian 9/11 in Iran every year and nobody is really talking about it. Given Javad Shamaqdari's (Special Adviser to President Ahmadinejad) recent demand for an apology for the way films like 300 (where "Persians are depicted as decadent, sexually flamboyant and evil") and The Wrestler (where Mickey Rourke battles another wrestler named--also not so subtly--The Ayatollah) are "insulting to Iranians," I can only imagine the outcry that would take place if American filmmakers shined their collective spotlights on humanitarian failures of the Iranian government.

PressTV Viewers have Suprising Opinions and Surprising Nationalities.

In this week's PressTV.com "Quick Vote" visitors are asked the following;

QUICK VOTE

What will be the most likely scenario for the aftermath of the US economic crisis?
It will lead to the collapse of capitalism The capitalistic system will modify itself and survive the crisis Obama will defuse the crisis without any major modifications in the capitalistic system
	Results

The results are interesting in that the majority of respondents feel that it will lead to the collapse of capitalism though a close second goes to those who believe the system will adjust and survive.

Results
It will lead to the collapse of capitalism (46%)
The capitalistic system will modify itself and survive the crisis (41%)
Obama will defuse the crisis without any major modifications in the capitalistic system (13%)

What makes this poll even more interesting is looking at who these respondents are. I referred to Alexa which tracks website traffic to see who PressTV's audience is. According to Alexa..

Presstv.com users come from these countries:

United States22.0%

Iran21.0%

United Kingdom14.6%

Canada10.2%

Indonesia7.5%

Switzerland6.7%

South Africa2.0%

Trinidad and Tobago1.8%

Norway1.6%

Cyprus1.3%

India1.2%

Netherlands0.8%

Bulgaria0.8%

Poland0.7%

Australia0.7%

Turkey0.7%

United Arab Emirates0.6%

Other countries5.7%

Regardless of their largely UK-oriented programming, the Brit's aren't their largest audience.. the United States is, with Iran coming in at a close 2nd. It looks as if Press TV has both a domestic and international audience. In looking at past poles, such as the one a few weeks ago which stated that 78% of Press TV poll respondents (15,575 respondents) felt that Israel threatens stability and security in the volatile Middle East. Only 15% of the respondents to the poll said that Iran is the main source of concern for the stability of the region, while a mere 3% said Egypt should be feared, and another 3 percent believed none of the choices threatened the stability of the region. Knowing the large US following, it puts a different spin on those numbers.

London's PressTV?

In watching the PressTV programming, I notice more and more of the shows are not only based in London but focus on British issues. One program called "Comment" is hosted by British MP George Galloway and allows viewers to email and call into the show and pretty much talk about whatever they want. Viewers comment from Spain, the UK, Nigeria, Cyprus and other corners of the world. One caller brought up the torture of Guantanamo Bay prisoner, Binyam Mohamed. Galloway criticized Britain for its role in the situation. The show had its fair share of Israel criticism as is common on PressTV, but one viewer email from Nigeria stated that its author was glad to see Netanyahu elected but stated that Palestinians should have a state and that Israel needs to stop the indiscriminant killing of Palestinians "because it's better than that." Galloway replied that Israeli’s have overwhelmingly chosen war by electing Netanyahu. Which is not exactly true because Livni actually won the popular vote. Anyway, the program that followed dedicated its entire 50 minutes to Britain's laws regarding the custody of children in divorce. The show took to the streets of London interviewing Brits about how they felt about these laws. Clearly this means PressTV is catering to a largely British audience. I find myself wondering how this program topic furthers Iran's mission with PressTV. On that note, let's look at this clip from PressTV's "Comment" in which Galloway defends an email accusation that Iran is a dictatorship. Maybe this is Iran's mission with PressTV...

All you need to know.... PressTV

Apparently PressTV feels that Obama picked an anti-Iran man for Iran post. Veteran US diplomat's Dennis Ross was appointed as special advisor on the Persian Gulf and southwest Asia.

"In light of its supposed "policy U-turn" toward Iran, the Obama administration has managed to raise eyebrows by giving the post to Ross as he seeks a tough anti-Iran approach.In the heat of the presidential race, Ross co-chaired a group called United Against Nuclear Iran -- an organization working to 'stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons'."

Ross also supported further sanctions against the country for its nuclear program.

"The report by think tanks [is] believed to be an integral part of the so-called Israel Lobby in the US. 'Only if Israeli policymakers believe that US and European policymakers will ensure that the Islamic Republic does not gain nuclear weapons will the Israelis be unlikely to strike Iran independently,' added the report."

Among the reader comments, most of which were angry and not constructive, "Morteza" showed what seemed to sum up the reader sentiment:

"As this person is a zionist and his loyality is first to the zionist entity, there will be no good coming out of meeting with him. The Supreme Leader should publicly ban our gov to deal with him and openly say to the whole world that he is a zionist terrorist and Irn welcomes talking to USA but not with this man."

In other important PressTV news.... a riveting story about nail care hits the pages of PressTV.

"If the eyes are the windows to the soul, the nails hold clues to one's health and even personality."

Seems even PressTV wants to show its readers that it is one-stop shopping for everything you need to know: Updates about Iran's nuclear program and how to grow strong, healthy nails.

Iran's PressTV plays up the threat of Israel

Last week, PressTV.com visitors saw a line up of headlines discussing Israel's supposedly eminent attack on Iran. One headline even stated that Israeli warlord vows face-off with Iran: meaning Israeli PM candidate, Benjamin Netanyahu who stated that "[Iran] will not be armed with a nuclear weapon… It includes everything that is necessary to make this statement come true." PressTV states that Netanyahu "is currently facing war crime charges in Gaza," citing Israel's use of white phosphorous and also Netanyahu's promise to spread Israeli settlements. The story is sure to mention Iran's party line that it is not trying to obtain nuke's:

"Israel, the sole nuclear power in the Middle East, accuses Tehran of seeking nuclear weaponry while the UN nuclear watchdog, in its Sept. 15 report on Iran, declared that it could not find any 'components of a nuclear weapon' or 'related nuclear physics studies' in the country. Western powers accuse Iran, a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), of attempting to develop nuclear weaponry. Iran, however, says its nuclear program is for peaceful energy purposes and that it has the right to the technology already in the hands of many other nations including Israel - which is not a signatory NPT and yet houses the Middle East's sole nuclear arsenal."

Another related article that week quotes Aaron David Miller, the US State Department's top analyst in the 1980s, in saying that "Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu will be able to convince President Barack Obama that a military attack is the only solution to the Iranian nuclear issue."

"The Israelis will be pushing [Washington] to ensure that Iran never gets to that point and failing that, they will consider a military strike. It need not be conclusive or threatening, but it will be very serious and ... scare the daylights out of the president that unless the international community mobilizes to address the situation, the Israelis will," says Miller.

And yet another article entitled New Obama challenge: Rise of Israeli hawks threatens that a Netanyahu victory could hinder Obama's Middle East plans;

"Analysts fear that a possible power shift in the Israeli government in favor of hawks would foil US plans for the Middle East peace."

All these articles attempt to persuade American readers that a Netanyahu victory would be detrimental to Obama's mid-east peace plan. In fact, PressTV posted an article on Saturday that a Gallup poll released on Friday shows that 56% of Americans are of the opinion that the United States should engage in direct diplomacy with Iran. It seems that PressTV is trying to play to the opinions of this 56% and persude them that Israel is not acting in their best interest. A definite agenda can be seen in the headlines of the week.

Ahmadinejad: 'Obama unlikely to succeed with his changes'

From Iran's PressTV:

"Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says it is unlikely that US President Barack Obama will be allowed to bring change to the US." In a telephone conversation with his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez on Wednesday, Ahmadinejad said 'change' has been the motto of the new US President but it is unlikely that Zionist leaders and the main players in the world power structure would allow Obama to bring any change to the United States.

Does this mean PressTV does not think Obama is a main player in the world power structure?

NHK World? Not so much....

Recently re-launched NHK World (of the Japanese Broadcasting Corporation) may want to reconsider the "World" part of its name. While we had previously speculated about what NHK World niche would be, after spending some time on their website, I'm not sure if they know either.

I assumed that NHK World would try to focus on news related to the global economy given Japan's heightened interest and strength in economic issues. Think again. There is not a single story about the Congressional Bailout, which is making headlines on all other broadcasters (even Press TV thinks this is news worthy). Nor is their a reference to the state of the global economy more broadly, something that is of heightened relevance given the continued global economic decline.

The top story listed on the homepage, and I couldn't even make this stuff up if I wanted to, is an announcement for a European conference on protectionism that will take place in March. So much for "opening a new window on the world's most exciting region, Asia" (via the press release announcing the relaunching of NHK World).

Notably lacking from the top stories is any mention of anything going on the Middle East. Nothing. News of the Israeli election results is at least among the top stories at Russia Today, AJE, Press Tv, and everywhere else I've looked. Most broadcasters also are still keeping close tabs on Gaza (like the resumption of UN aid, BBC), general Arab reactions to the Israeli elections (VOA), and the possible warming of ties between the US and Iran (Russia Today), not too mention today's attacks in Iraq (AJE). NHK World? Not interested. Even after a thorough exploration of all of the articles posted on the website (don't give me too much credit, there really aren't that many), there is little mention of the Middle East, and when there is, the stories are less informative that a Reuters newswire. There certainly is not a unique Japanese perspective offered on global events, or a window opened to Japanese culture or society. Also lacking, sans a very short story about Sudan, is NHK World's coverage of the entire African continent. This is despite today's swearing in of Zimbabwe's new Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, which even the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation found interesting. Also, the website is about as high-tech as this blog (no offense intended to Blogger).


I'm not writing this to trash NHK World, or at least that wasn't my initial intent. NHK World claims to want to compete with global news giants such as CNN and the BBC, and I was thus genuinely intrigued to see what they would bring to the broadcasting table. It may be the case that the actual broadcasting is far superior to the content on the website, though that seems to beg some larger questions of NHK's understanding of today's media environment.