Iran: Let’s get real about Twitter’s usefulnessBefore we all have a collective Twitter-gasm about the short-messaging service’s use in Iran, let’s breathe for a second. Yes, it’s useful, however…
Iran election
Robert Fisk: Truth and lies in Tehran
Filtering truth out of Tehran these days is as frustrating as it is dangerous, says Robert Fisk, writing from the centre of the action. Read this before you read any other article on Iran.
International media thins out in Iran
As press visas expire in Iran, professional journalists are increasingly leaving coverage of dissent to the citizens of Iran.
No such thing as a virtual revolution
New media is playing an important role in Iran, says David Rothkopf, but real revolutions require courage, physical confrontation and risk and “Twitter is Paul Revere on his horse.”
Political snippets: Evidence that agreement is hard
Richard Farmer talks climate change, Iran, reckless cycling and secrecy laws.
Reporting Tehran: suddenly we were all in this together
In Iran, when the proverbial hit the fan and journalists were under attack, they banded together and showed a cooperative spirit not usually on display, writes Austin Mackell.
The Russian media’s reaction to Iran
Unlike other countries, the mainstream Russian press has taken the official Iranian election results largely at face value; could they be feeling a touch of familiarity?
Will Khamenei throw Ahmadinejad under the bus?
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei may have to dump the unpopular Ahmadinejad in order to save himself.
Iran’s protests turn from green to black
Gone were the faux Hermès headscarves of Tehran’s fashionistas, writes Ella Flaye. Amid 100,000 Iranians marching across Tehran, the women wore black to mark the seven young men killed on Monday night.
Lessons in History: What Iran can teach us about church and state
The nation we know today as Iran arose out of squabbling Aryan tribespeople (hence the name, ‘Iran’), into a series of empires and regimes, writes Mike Stuchbery.
We’re all wearing green for Iran now, apparently
Never heard of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or Mir Hossein Mousavi? Who cares! Thanks to Twitter, we’re all instant experts on Iranian electoral politics, writes Stilgherrian.
Ahmadinejad sucks at Photoshop
Iranian Government-controlled newspaper Kayhan has been caught-out doctoring a photo of a pro-Ahmedinejad rally to look bigger. But who cares? asks Gawker: you don’t need a clumsily manipulated photo to know that the Iranian regime engages in propaganda.
A Twitter revolution? Hardly
Hold your horses, social media experts: some Iranian protesters have used Twitter to get people on the streets, but according to Business Week, most of the organising is happening the old-fashioned way.
Senior Ayatollah calls shenanigans on election
Iran’s most senior cleric, Ali Montazeri, has backed claims that the election was rigged, stating “No one in their right mind” could believe the official results.
Iran’s soccer team back Mousavi?
Members of Iran’s soccer team wore green armbands during their World Cup qualifying match against South Korea, in an apparent display of support for Mir Hussein Mousavi.
Iran’s blogging revolution
A prescient infographic about Iranian bloggers from 2008. Iran’s bloggers represent “nothing less than a revolution within a revolution.”
What if Twitter is wrong about Iran?
The Internet is the medium for a lot of unfounded rumors by a lot of passionate people in Iran, says Joshua Kucera. What if everything we’re reading is based on a Twitter-fueled, mass delusion of a lie?
CNN respond to #CNNFail criticism
CNN have responded to widespread criticism on Twitter that they failed to adequately cover the post-election riots in Iran with a highlights package of exactly what they did cover.
Iran election: Oil, unrest and some very nervous Saudis
Middle East analyst Rachel Bronson puts on her Saudi hat and speaks about Iran’s relationship with its neighbours.
Iran’s digital warzone gets bloody
While the real-time blood conflict in Tehran seems to have settled down, the cyberwar is becoming bigger, more furious and, as always, more confusing, writes Crikey intern Bhakthi Puvanenthiran.
VIDEO: the geek revolution
MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow calls Iranian citizen journalism “intoxicating” and interviews NBC News reporter Richard Engel who just returned from Iran: it’s a “very, if you will, 1980s, 1990s” media crackdown.
Iranian election news: a Crikey wrap
Elections, riots, government crackdowns, media censorship, social networking, Iran — Crikey has the details.
ABC forced out of Iran
The ABC’s Middle East correspondent Ben Knight reports on the censorship facing journalists in Iran, with the government revoking all press cards and refusing to let the press onto the streets.
Being “pretty” is the protest in Iran
Many commentators have made a big deal about all the photos coming out of Iran that feature young and attractive women. But that’s the whole point, says Jezebel: many are risking a lot for their right to look “pretty”.
