University of Tehran Global Media Journal-Persian Edition 2008-0468 6 2 2011 09 23 66596 FA Journal Article 1970 01 01 This research studies IRIB, BBC Persian and VOA functions and analyzes women news in these sites in 2009. Combining agenda setting and feminist theories, we attempt to study and explore main causes of using these techniques to cover different news. Content analysis is the method which has been used in this article to evaluate how I.R.I.B, BBC and VOA web sites highlight and process women news. The findings indicate that there is a meaningful difference among these news sites in using persuasion method, regarding news objectivity and feminist perspective. Also, findings indicate that there are significant differences in representing women problems. BBC and VOA sites more than I.R.I.B have noticed to political, religious, social and juridical difficulties and have attempted to exaggerate women's problems. This research studies IRIB, BBC Persian and VOA functions and analyzes women news in these sites in 2009. Combining agenda setting and feminist theories, we attempt to study and explore main causes of using these techniques to cover different news. Content analysis is the method which has been used in this article to evaluate how I.R.I.B, BBC and VOA web sites highlight and process women news. The findings indicate that there is a meaningful difference among these news sites in using persuasion method, regarding news objectivity and feminist perspective. Also, findings indicate that there are significant differences in representing women problems. BBC and VOA sites more than I.R.I.B have noticed to political, religious, social and juridical difficulties and have attempted to exaggerate women's problems.

University of Tehran Global Media Journal-Persian Edition 2008-0468 6 2 2011 09 23 The Development of Communication Tools in 2010 and 2011 and their Future The Development of Communication Tools in 2010 and 2011 and their Future 66597 FA Amir Masoud Amir Mazaheri Maryam Salimi Journal Article 1970 01 01 The main purpose of this study is to identify factors and conditions affecting the development of modern communication tools and to study their future based on viewpoints of communication experts. It is focused on the relationship between social events and movements in 2010 and 2011 and development of communication technologies. There are six key questions about factors and conditions influencing the development of communication tools, their extent of importance in affecting the developments, the future of old communication tools, news gate-keeping, the future society and its features, and challenges and opportunities facing human beings. We tried to answer these questions by launching an internet-based survey, plus interviews, and library research. It analyzes the opinions of experts both at home and abroad. One of its findings is that special conditions and technological developments have had greater impact on the developments of communication tools and creation of movements in 2010 and 2011. It seems that developments in technology and communication tools will bring human beings into a new society, possibly called meta-networked, free, pure human-machine society, and virtual space. It is a society which is characterized by convergence of old and new communication tools, a fundamental change in the concept of news gate-keeping, increased participation of sender in information sharing and social changes, and development of virtual communication. With a positive view to this future, which can be called Third Media Age, we can say that prerequisites to this future include long-term planning, improvement in media knowledge and literacy, and synchronizing culture and law with technological developments. The main purpose of this study is to identify factors and conditions affecting the development of modern communication tools and to study their future based on viewpoints of communication experts. It is focused on the relationship between social events and movements in 2010 and 2011 and development of communication technologies. There are six key questions about factors and conditions influencing the development of communication tools, their extent of importance in affecting the developments, the future of old communication tools, news gate-keeping, the future society and its features, and challenges and opportunities facing human beings. We tried to answer these questions by launching an internet-based survey, plus interviews, and library research. It analyzes the opinions of experts both at home and abroad. One of its findings is that special conditions and technological developments have had greater impact on the developments of communication tools and creation of movements in 2010 and 2011. It seems that developments in technology and communication tools will bring human beings into a new society, possibly called meta-networked, free, pure human-machine society, and virtual space. It is a society which is characterized by convergence of old and new communication tools, a fundamental change in the concept of news gate-keeping, increased participation of sender in information sharing and social changes, and development of virtual communication. With a positive view to this future, which can be called Third Media Age, we can say that prerequisites to this future include long-term planning, improvement in media knowledge and literacy, and synchronizing culture and law with technological developments.

University of Tehran Global Media Journal-Persian Edition 2008-0468 6 2 2011 09 23 An Assessment and Application of five-fold Level Model of Media Literacy: A Case Study of IRIBU Students An Assessment and Application of five-fold Level Model of Media Literacy: A Case Study of IRIBU Students 66598 FA Hamed Hajiheydari Amir Yazdian Journal Article 1970 01 01 In this paper it is argued that improving media literacy competences is one of the most important tools to protect citizens and avoiding harmful effects of media contents. The paper uses critical media literacy theory – a theory which particularly is focused on critical aspect of media literacy- to add new findings in this field. Based on "Crash" movie, six MA students of mass communication were interviewed. Students were all studying at IRIB University. A questionnaire was designed based on the concepts of critical media literacy (non-transparency, rules and codes, audience decoding, content and message, motivation) and "Crash" movie. According to the findings, lack of cohesion and consistency in teaching critical competences, and as, a result, students' unbalanced critical competences while exposing to media content, are of importance and can be emphasized. In this paper it is argued that improving media literacy competences is one of the most important tools to protect citizens and avoiding harmful effects of media contents. The paper uses critical media literacy theory – a theory which particularly is focused on critical aspect of media literacy- to add new findings in this field. Based on "Crash" movie, six MA students of mass communication were interviewed. Students were all studying at IRIB University. A questionnaire was designed based on the concepts of critical media literacy (non-transparency, rules and codes, audience decoding, content and message, motivation) and "Crash" movie. According to the findings, lack of cohesion and consistency in teaching critical competences, and as, a result, students' unbalanced critical competences while exposing to media content, are of importance and can be emphasized.

University of Tehran Global Media Journal-Persian Edition 2008-0468 6 2 2011 09 23 An Assessment of the Performance of National Medium by the Clergymen in Islamshahr, Tehran An Assessment of the Performance of National Medium by the Clergymen in Islamshahr, Tehran 66599 FA Firouz Dindar Shahnaz Hashemi Davoud Mohammadi Journal Article 1970 01 01 National medium (state television) has a very important position as a religious medium in the political sphere of Iran. Increasing influence of religion, promoting religious tenets, reproducing religious messages in new formats, providing grounds for expression of religious sentiments and experiences, and providing grounds for spiritual development of people are among main missions of the national medium which have been included in the model of the religious medium. The present research uses a survey to assess religious performance of the national medium by posing questions to 124 clerics as experts on religion. The main tool used here is a questionnaire which assesses religious content and performance of the national medium on the basis of defined variables. The results show that the clergy respondents consider improper make-up of actresses (4.37), depicting relations between boys and girls which defy religious norms (4.19), and inattention to negative impact of gossip and lying as the main flaws of the national medium’s programs. They also argued that the performance of the national medium has been satisfactory with regard to the airing of Quran recitation by famous reciters (3.74), Friday Prayers ceremonies (3.73), airing mourning programs for holy Imams (3.45), and broadcasting various religious ceremonies (3.41). Respondents also maintained that the national medium has been more successful in airing mourning ceremonies (3.45) compared to ceremonies held to mark birthday of Imams and religious festivities (3.11). National medium (state television) has a very important position as a religious medium in the political sphere of Iran. Increasing influence of religion, promoting religious tenets, reproducing religious messages in new formats, providing grounds for expression of religious sentiments and experiences, and providing grounds for spiritual development of people are among main missions of the national medium which have been included in the model of the religious medium. The present research uses a survey to assess religious performance of the national medium by posing questions to 124 clerics as experts on religion. The main tool used here is a questionnaire which assesses religious content and performance of the national medium on the basis of defined variables. The results show that the clergy respondents consider improper make-up of actresses (4.37), depicting relations between boys and girls which defy religious norms (4.19), and inattention to negative impact of gossip and lying as the main flaws of the national medium’s programs. They also argued that the performance of the national medium has been satisfactory with regard to the airing of Quran recitation by famous reciters (3.74), Friday Prayers ceremonies (3.73), airing mourning programs for holy Imams (3.45), and broadcasting various religious ceremonies (3.41). Respondents also maintained that the national medium has been more successful in airing mourning ceremonies (3.45) compared to ceremonies held to mark birthday of Imams and religious festivities (3.11).

University of Tehran Global Media Journal-Persian Edition 2008-0468 6 2 2011 09 23 A Content Analysis of the Introductory Sociology Text Books in Iran A Content Analysis of the Introductory Sociology Text Books in Iran 66600 FA Alireza Mohseni Tabrizi Journal Article 1970 01 01 The objective of this paper is to use the data collected from a content analysis of the domestic and foreign introductory sociology text books focuses so to describe the relative importance of the foreign texts vs. domestic texts in the context of Iranian academia. Methodologically speaking, I used content analysis as the method to study the introductory sociology text books as the units of analysis. Also, a simple random sampling was adopted as sampling technique in order to collect the necessary data for my analysis. In establishing the units of observation to be sampled from, 20 most commonly used introductory sociology texts (domestic and foreign) were selected. Once it become clear what the units of observation are, we numbered all the text books based on two categories of domestic and foreign books. Then, we selected a random sample of 5 domestic books and 5 foreign books. By assuming content analysis as essentially a coding operation, we coded both the manifest and content of the selected books through conceptualization and the creation of 40 code categories. Some of the findings indicate that nine main categories can be outlined from such a content analysis and from the coding process as follows: 1- subject matter of sociology, 2- paradigms and schools of thought in sociology, 3- methodology of sociology, 4- sociology and its relationship with other sciences, 5- current status of sociology, 6- domains and area of specialties in sociology, 7- sociological practice and strengths, 8- weaknesses, 9- opportunities and threats of the field. According to these categories, the results depict a relatively major deficiency of domestic introductory sociology texts in comparison with foreign texts. Accordingly and with regard to the relative importance of foreign texts to the domestic texts, research results suggest the necessity of revision and reconstruction of domestic introductory sociology text books. The objective of this paper is to use the data collected from a content analysis of the domestic and foreign introductory sociology text books focuses so to describe the relative importance of the foreign texts vs. domestic texts in the context of Iranian academia. Methodologically speaking, I used content analysis as the method to study the introductory sociology text books as the units of analysis. Also, a simple random sampling was adopted as sampling technique in order to collect the necessary data for my analysis. In establishing the units of observation to be sampled from, 20 most commonly used introductory sociology texts (domestic and foreign) were selected. Once it become clear what the units of observation are, we numbered all the text books based on two categories of domestic and foreign books. Then, we selected a random sample of 5 domestic books and 5 foreign books. By assuming content analysis as essentially a coding operation, we coded both the manifest and content of the selected books through conceptualization and the creation of 40 code categories. Some of the findings indicate that nine main categories can be outlined from such a content analysis and from the coding process as follows: 1- subject matter of sociology, 2- paradigms and schools of thought in sociology, 3- methodology of sociology, 4- sociology and its relationship with other sciences, 5- current status of sociology, 6- domains and area of specialties in sociology, 7- sociological practice and strengths, 8- weaknesses, 9- opportunities and threats of the field. According to these categories, the results depict a relatively major deficiency of domestic introductory sociology texts in comparison with foreign texts. Accordingly and with regard to the relative importance of foreign texts to the domestic texts, research results suggest the necessity of revision and reconstruction of domestic introductory sociology text books.

University of Tehran Global Media Journal-Persian Edition 2008-0468 6 2 2011 09 23 A Comparative Analysis of Social Capital in Real and Virtual Worlds, with an Emphasis on 15 - 24 Year-old Net-caffe Users in Isfahan A Comparative Analysis of Social Capital in Real and Virtual Worlds, with an Emphasis on 15 - 24 Year-old Net-caffe Users in Isfahan 66601 FA Seyed Kamaleddin Mousavi Farideh Haddadi Journal Article 1970 01 01 This paper attempts to answer two questions: 1- is there a relationship between individuals’ social capital in the real and virtual worlds? ; And, 2- if yes, what is the nature of such relationship? Is it of reflexive type or of that of complementary? In recent years a good bulk of research has turned its focus on the content of social capital and sociologists have investigated various dimensions of this issue. On the other hand, virtual world, has facilitated communication, and bloomed drastically. Some researchers believe that individuals’ social capital in real and virtual worlds are mutually related and such a relationship is at times complementary and at others is in odds with the other. In other words, there is a reflexive relationship and those individuals who enjoy a high social capital in their ordinary everyday lives regarding the volume of communicative network, the degree of social trust, support, etc., also enjoy the same and high level of social capital in their virtual network. This is as if their virtual world is reflexive of their real world. On the contrary, some believe that this relationship is a complementary one in the sense that those individuals who, for whatever reasons, enjoy a low social capital in their everyday lives, attempt to acquire a high social capital in their virtual world. This means the virtual world would compensate for and/or is complementary of their weaknesses and shortcomings in their real world. To answer the preceding questions, we have used the theories of sociologists such as those of Barry Wellman, David Nood, Jele Attema, and Howard Rheingold to create a theoretical framework that would better address our problematic. Also, we used a social survey using a sample of 384 individuals from Esfahan city selected through two stages sampling i.e. random and stratified sampling. The sample was selected from individuals of 15 to 24 years of age using net-caffes in Isfahan in 2011. Our findings indicate that: social capital of the participants in both real and virtual worlds is low (below the average); the extent of their social capital in real world and that of the virtual one are proportionally related; there is a direct and significant relationship between their social capital in the real world and that of the virtual one though this relationship is not robust; the direct and positive relationship between the individuals’ social capital in the real world and that of the virtual world is indicative of a type of reflexive relationship and therefore the findings support the theories of Rheingold and Attema. This paper attempts to answer two questions: 1- is there a relationship between individuals’ social capital in the real and virtual worlds? ; And, 2- if yes, what is the nature of such relationship? Is it of reflexive type or of that of complementary? In recent years a good bulk of research has turned its focus on the content of social capital and sociologists have investigated various dimensions of this issue. On the other hand, virtual world, has facilitated communication, and bloomed drastically. Some researchers believe that individuals’ social capital in real and virtual worlds are mutually related and such a relationship is at times complementary and at others is in odds with the other. In other words, there is a reflexive relationship and those individuals who enjoy a high social capital in their ordinary everyday lives regarding the volume of communicative network, the degree of social trust, support, etc., also enjoy the same and high level of social capital in their virtual network. This is as if their virtual world is reflexive of their real world. On the contrary, some believe that this relationship is a complementary one in the sense that those individuals who, for whatever reasons, enjoy a low social capital in their everyday lives, attempt to acquire a high social capital in their virtual world. This means the virtual world would compensate for and/or is complementary of their weaknesses and shortcomings in their real world. To answer the preceding questions, we have used the theories of sociologists such as those of Barry Wellman, David Nood, Jele Attema, and Howard Rheingold to create a theoretical framework that would better address our problematic. Also, we used a social survey using a sample of 384 individuals from Esfahan city selected through two stages sampling i.e. random and stratified sampling. The sample was selected from individuals of 15 to 24 years of age using net-caffes in Isfahan in 2011. Our findings indicate that: social capital of the participants in both real and virtual worlds is low (below the average); the extent of their social capital in real world and that of the virtual one are proportionally related; there is a direct and significant relationship between their social capital in the real world and that of the virtual one though this relationship is not robust; the direct and positive relationship between the individuals’ social capital in the real world and that of the virtual world is indicative of a type of reflexive relationship and therefore the findings support the theories of Rheingold and Attema.

University of Tehran Global Media Journal-Persian Edition 2008-0468 6 2 2011 09 23 A Comparative Study of Women News in IRIB Central News Agency, BBC Persian and VOA in 2009 A Comparative Study of Women News in IRIB Central News Agency, BBC Persian and VOA in 2009 66602 FA Saeed Faramarziani Davood Nemati Anaraki Hasan Bastami Journal Article 1970 01 01 This research studies IRIB, BBC Persian and VOA functions and analyzes women news in these sites in 2009. Combining agenda setting and feminist theories, we attempt to study and explore main causes of using these techniques to cover different news. Content analysis is the method which has been used in this article to evaluate how I.R.I.B, BBC and VOA web sites highlight and process women news. The findings indicate that there is a meaningful difference among these news sites in using persuasion method, regarding news objectivity and feminist perspective. Also, findings indicate that there are significant differences in representing women problems. BBC and VOA sites more than I.R.I.B have noticed to political, religious, social and juridical difficulties and have attempted to exaggerate women's problems. This research studies IRIB, BBC Persian and VOA functions and analyzes women news in these sites in 2009. Combining agenda setting and feminist theories, we attempt to study and explore main causes of using these techniques to cover different news. Content analysis is the method which has been used in this article to evaluate how I.R.I.B, BBC and VOA web sites highlight and process women news. The findings indicate that there is a meaningful difference among these news sites in using persuasion method, regarding news objectivity and feminist perspective. Also, findings indicate that there are significant differences in representing women problems. BBC and VOA sites more than I.R.I.B have noticed to political, religious, social and juridical difficulties and have attempted to exaggerate women's problems.