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An interesting story from the Associated Press about Iran's censorship of blogging, with good detail on specific examples, here.
They're not all being censored, though - in an interesting final note, Belgium-based blogger Farid Pouya notes that the Government is organising a competition for the best blog, on the subject of the Iranian revolution and the Quran.
"The Daily Mail and the Spectator are appalled that I have compromised my feminist principles. I feel a full confession is in order," writes Lindsey Hilsum in this week's New Statesman.
"I cannot tell a lie, not least because those who watch Channel 4 News saw my infraction. I wore a headscarf, live on air, while reporting from Iran."
"Let me tell you about the dirty business of covering the news, as opposed to commenting from afar. First, the facts. Yes, the Islamic Republic of Iran has a law saying women must cover their heads, so if female correspondents refuse to do so, only men will report from Iran. Oh dear, it's already getting complex - you compromise one principle to defend another."
See also: I predict Iranian cloned sheep
As a naturally anarchic medium, the internet has become a top priority of Iranian censors.
The state already controls the television, and exercises a good deal of influence over newspapers too. The internet, however, is much harder to keep in check. A new deputy office within the Iranian government will attempt to do so.
In a talk at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London last week Iranian blogger Hossein Derakhshan, aka Hoder, spoke about how the Iranian government is trying to keep the Blogosphere under control.
By and large, the blogosphere is tolerated. “They are not cracking down on the whole blogging community, otherwise they would shut down blogging servers,” says Mr Derakhshan.
In fact, the government is embracing blogging. Trainee clerics are even being taught to blog for themselves. “They say that blogs can fulfil the promise of the revolution,” he says.
We count down the most watched News from Iran films from 20 to one.
During the six days Channel 4 News broadcast live out of Iran we showed dozens and dozens of films - from the stories of every day life to political brinkmanship.
But which did you and fellow viewers and bloggers watch? Find out now.
More4 News has reunited three Iranian brothers who fled after their father's murder
We hear their story of why they are here and why they say they can't go back.
Channel 4 News asked Iranian blogger, Mahfarid Masoorian, to explain the traditions of Iranian New Year.
"The Iranian New Year – “Now ruz” – is on its way. It's not just people who clean away the dust and the rubbish, it’s also Nature – pushing back the cold winter days, welcoming in the Spring.
The capital city’s ugly, frowning face is changing into a tolerable smile as it welcomes milder weather. The snow-peaked Alborz Mountain is no longer hidden behind the thick curtain of smoke, the birds have dared to come out and sing.
For Now Ruz, a very old tradition dating back thousands of years, Iranian families gather in the biggest room of the house.
Hossein Derakhshan, profilic blogger and astute observer of the Iranian blogosphere, is probably better known to his readers as Hoder. He was in London on Thursday to talk politics, human rights and daily life. Ben King was there to listen in.
Even in the land of Jerry Springer, it's hard to imagine a Vice President blogging about his diet problems. But in Iran, it happened years ago
Mohammed Ali Abtahi, a former VP under the regime of Mohammed Khatami, keeps a weblog in English, Persian and Arabic.
Even when he was in power, he started blogging, at first discussing a range of intimate and even rather embarrassing personal issues, including the war with his waistline.
He may have jeopardised his dignity, but he's blogged his way to considerable popularity among the young people of Iran, who like teenagers everywhere, are a largely apathetic breed, says Hossein Derakhshan.
“That has worked for him very well and it has enabled him to show a very human picture of himself and other people in the Iranian government. Even young people are reading his blog. He would be one of the most famous politicians among that group,” he said.
Like their Iranian counterparts, Chinese bloggers face censorship and sanctions. And like in Iran, they go blogging on...
China's blogging community will soon be bigger than America's, and not even the world's most sophisticated system of web censorship can silence the chatter.
Bloggers like Wang Xiao Feng (pictured above) are armed with a keyboard and a lot of attitude.
When ancient Iranian artefacts from Persepolis went on display for the first time in the UK, Channel 4 News' Nicholas Glass was there.
The 2005 exhibition, on loan from modern-Iran, revealed the spleandour of Persepolis and the empire ruled by the Persians two and a half thousand years ago.
From the sumptuous gold to sophisticated architecture - it was the first time many of the objects had been seen outside Iran.
See also: Iran's hidden treasures
Jon Snow: Extraordinary trip and extraordinary timing. Iran was right in the eye of the storm and it was quite amazing to be there without any real media competition.
Amazing access and yet, of course, the same very strange restrictions. It's hard to define - especially writing this from my desk in London - but you know when you've hit them.
Beautiful country, bright people with lots of potential and a real feeling that the western community just hasn't begun to understand Iran. It was probably one of the most challenging things that I've ever had to report upon.
Continue reading "Blogging mullahs? It never happened to Graham Greene" »
