From the thoughts of the martyred leader
5 days ago
-Culture الثقافة
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## Chapter Three
### The Printed Press
– The Role of the Press in Society
– The Basic Tasks of the Press
– The Press and Hostile Analyses
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## The Printed Press
### Introduction
At the beginning of discussing the printed press, it is necessary to point out the great importance it holds among other media outlets. Through its continuous and daily communication with its readers, it is able to provide them with influential material on an ongoing basis. Herein lies the importance of the press and its work.
Imam Khamenei (may his shadow endure) says:
> “Suppose there is a newspaper—whether daily, weekly, or otherwise—that is published in a very small number of copies, for example five thousand copies. If that newspaper has regular readers who consistently follow its topics and are influenced by them, then this continuous influence on a group of people—even if that group is small—will create an ongoing current in the minds of the members of society.
> If those responsible for managing a newspaper truly think carefully and continuously about their audience and genuinely intend to guide them in a certain direction, the best way to achieve that goal is to create such a continuous current in the minds of the people.
> From here we understand the importance and value of newspapers that have a large number of readers who regularly and consistently follow their topics and articles.
> If we compare the work of journalism with the work of a teacher, professor, or preacher, we will see that the scope of journalism is broader, more extensive, and more influential than all of those roles combined. This alone is enough for us to give journalism a special place in our thinking and to expect from it great and significant achievements.
> On this basis, those engaged in journalism must realize the importance of their work and the extent of its influence within society.” (1)
Because of the importance of the press, Imam Khamenei has given it special attention through his continuous guidance, drawing the attention of those working in this field to matters that strengthen its role among other media tools so that it may contribute to building a sound and organized society. In this chapter, we will highlight the most important points he emphasized in this regard.
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## The Role of the Press in Society
Imam Khamenei (may his shadow endure) emphasizes that journalism is not merely a profession used to earn money to secure the necessities of life like other trades. Rather, journalism plays a major role in shaping the culture of society, and it must fulfill this role in order to truly deserve the name “press.”
He says:
> “Because of the profound influence that journalism leaves on minds—and consequently on the behavior and morals of large segments of society—it cannot be considered merely a profession aimed at earning a livelihood.
> Journalism has objectives that correspond to its responsibilities. If it abandons those responsibilities, it becomes like a physician who abandons treating his patients.
> No one should say that a physician should not earn his livelihood through the practice of medicine. Doctors have always earned their living through their profession. However, it is said that he must first fulfill his responsibility before earning his livelihood.
> It is completely unacceptable for a doctor to seek the material privileges of his profession while neglecting his responsibility to treat patients.
> No rational person would accept that a doctor receives money, fame, and social status while abandoning his medical responsibilities. Indeed, even calling such a person a doctor would be unacceptable among reasonable people.
> The same applies exactly to journalism. If journalism in any society abandons its fundamental responsibilities—the very reason for its existence—it does not even deserve to be called journalism, and its defective existence cannot be tolerated in any way.” (2)
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## The Basic Tasks of the Press
The fundamental duties of the printed press can be summarized in three main tasks:
1. Raising awareness among the people of society.
2. Elevating the level of knowledge among the public.
3. Politicizing the masses.
The Leader explains these three points in detail:
### The First Task: Raising Public Awareness
> “The first task is raising awareness among the people of society. As for the type of awareness and the methods used, these come in later stages. But the necessity for journalism to raise public awareness, spread intellectual consciousness, and cultivate insight among the masses is something upon which there is no disagreement.
> Those working in journalism should possess broader knowledge of the issues of life and their society compared with others, along with clearer vision and deeper understanding, so that they can perform this responsibility in the best possible way.”
### The Second Task: Raising the Level of Knowledge
> “The second task is elevating the level of knowledge among the people, which is different from the issue of awareness mentioned earlier.
> There are specialized newspapers and magazines—such as those dealing with arts, science, politics, or literature—and each of them plays its role in this regard. However, all of them must strive to raise the intellectual level of the masses within their respective fields.
> The press should be like a classroom in which the public learns. This is different from merely spreading awareness.
> Students who attend school begin from the first day of the academic year to gain new knowledge according to the lessons they attend. The one who attends a religious lesson gains religious knowledge; the one who attends an economics class gains economic knowledge; and so on in other fields.
> Thus, the characteristic of a classroom is that it provides new information to students in an organized and continuous manner.
> The responsibility of journalism in this regard is similar to that of the classroom in delivering new knowledge to people. It cannot be said to people: go and obtain new knowledge from another source. This is the responsibility of the press itself.
> One of the goals for which journalism exists is to expand and spread human knowledge and sciences in various fields.”
### The Third Task: Politicizing the Masses
> “The third task is to politicize the masses and instill political awareness and interest in political matters among the people.
> The more political awareness a society possesses, the more independent it becomes and the less vulnerable it is to threats from its enemies.
> Conversely, the more distant a people are from politics, and the less capable they are of political understanding, analysis, and awareness, the more they will suffer the fate that some nations face under the influence of the major news centers of the world.
> Such a nation becomes unable to make its own decisions and instead merely implements the ideas and theories dictated by its enemies.
> Providing the people with the ability to analyze politics and understand political currents and trends is among the principal tasks of journalism.
> Therefore, the press must present its own political analysis and teach the people the method of political analysis. There is no problem with publishing differing or even contradictory analyses, because together they help the reader develop the ability for political analysis and a deeper political understanding of events.”
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## The Press and Hostile Analyses
Imam Khamenei warns the press about ready‑made news and analyses promoted by international media outlets, especially analyses produced by hostile institutions that are cleverly designed to advance their own political agendas.
He emphasizes that dealing with such analyses innocently and publishing them exactly as they arrive is a mistake. Instead, they must be carefully examined to determine their hidden purposes.
He says:
> “One of the activities carried out by news agencies affiliated with Zionist centers is the formulation of their analyses and opinions in the form of specially crafted news reports and spreading them throughout the world.
> Unfortunately, our newspapers and magazines sometimes publish those reports and analyses exactly as they are. In doing so, they unknowingly become tools in the hands of those who plan the dissemination of such news in order to achieve specific malicious goals.
> What is expected from our press is to recognize the authentic news, select it carefully, distinguish it from the false news and analyses mixed with it, and then present it in its true form.” (3)
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## Conclusion
Media plays a fundamental role in guiding societies, raising their awareness, and spreading Islamic culture and religious beliefs, as well as emphasizing the value that Islam places on the human being. This is the central line from which all other roles and functions of media—whether written, audio, or visual—branch out.
For this reason, Imam Khamenei (may his shadow endure) says:
> “The general factor in preserving the soundness of Muslim societies and the correctness of their thinking is the effort undertaken by scholars, intellectuals, writers, artists, and the conscious and active youth in the field of awareness and guidance.” (4)
He also says:
> “You must explain to the people the virtues and truths of Islam: the monotheism that Islam proclaims, the lofty meaning of prophethood, justice in Islam, the concept of government according to Islamic law, and the importance of the human being in the Islamic view.” (5)
If Muslims adhere to such wise guidance and follow this path, it will be possible to establish truthful, pure, and strong media—one that stands as a clear alternative to the media of enemies, which constantly engages in various forms of falsehood, deception, and fabricated analyses.
We ask God Almighty to grant us success in following the guidance of the people of authority and guardianship, and to remain steadfast on the path of guidance. Indeed, He is the One who hears prayers.
WILAYAH NEWS VOICE OF THE GLOBAL AWAKENING
