Iran, as Told by Iranian Journalists and Writers

Global Voices co-founder Ethan Zuckerman defines “bridge figures” as people who are passionate about explaining their home cultures to people from other societies. The concept was developed through the deep roots it has in Global Voices, and defines much of the work and ethos of the community. Since our Iran coverage aims to ‘bridge’ the divide that exists between external perspectives on Iran and the actual country itself, Global Voices Iran has started a series of interviews with various Iranian journalists and writers who practice this role.

These interviews are done to understand how and why these figures, who make a career out of communicating the intricacies and complexities of a country riddled with contradictions, explain Iran to non-Iranians.

Golnaz Esfandiari: “I think the use of social media in Iran and its significance is increasing”
Golnaz Esfandiari is a senior correspondent at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and one of the few journalists based outside of Iran writing in English about the nuances and intricacies of Iranian society and politics.

Golnaz Esfandiari spoke to us about her experiences reporting Iran. Photo was taken at the Sixt Al Jazeera Forum in March, 2011. Used with permission from Golnaz.
Photo used with Golnaz Esfandiari's permission.

Read more: Talking to Golnaz Esfandiari, English-Language Journalism's ‘Bridge’ to Iran
In an interview with Global Voices, she said:

I think the use of social media in Iran and its significance is increasing. Government officials admit that and I also see more people inside the country using social media sites and apps. I actually think that since 2009, the use of social media has increased considerably. Some Iranians told me they joined Twitter after reading about the allegations about a “Twitter Revolution” in Iran. Social networking sites have facilitated conversation and the sharing of content that is banned or considered sensitive, people can discuss taboo subjects relatively openly. They also challenge state policies and stances on social media quite regularly.

Kelly Golnoush Niknejad: “You have to be a journalist, but a psychiatrist, professor, and mind reader as well”
Iranian media entrepreneur Kelly Golnoush Niknejad is the founder of ‘Tehran Bureau,’ a news agency hosted by The Guardian that covers Iran and the Iranian diaspora. Her project is one of the leading sources of coverage that gives a ‘dynamic’ view of the country’s culture, politics, and people.