The Image of Iran as Reflected in the Jordanian Daily Press (Analytical Study)
Ali Al Qudah and M Khair Bani Doumi, Dept. of Media & Public Opinion, Al Ahlia University, Manama, Bahrain.
Abstract
Treating and press coverage of Iran issues increasing daily in mass media; Iranian Nuclear Program; its regional role, and its aims to be focal country in the region; and to achieve an old Persian hope to re-build the Persian imperial firstly; and hiding its aims behind religion. Through its relations with so-called oppositional countries and its support of some military groups in Arab countries. However, the Jordanian daily press did not treat Iran in this way, its coverage reflected a negative image presented by “Ad-Dustour” daily newspaper, in particular in the second period of research sample, despite the important regional role Jordan occupies due to its strategic location.
Thus, this study aims at assessing the degree to which the Jordanian daily newspapers have dealt with the image of Iran and its issues, namely after the occupation of Iraq as pointed out in the title. The researchers analysed the contents of the Jordanian press, relevant to Iran, “Ad-Dustour” daily newspaper 4 years before and 4 years after the occupation of Iraq, as Jordanian press coverage seems to be stable, and more balanced, not influenced by current events. So that the degree of changes of the image of Iran will be clear from content analysis related to Iran.
In regard to the Jordanian daily press coverage of the image of Iran, the theme of the research as pointed out in the title has raised a number of questions. First; what were the main issues that attracted the Jordanian daily press coverage towards Iran? Second, what was the stance of the Jordanian daily newspapers towards Iran; and third how did the Jordanian daily newspapers present Iran? The study concluded that:
1. The highest percentage (24.2%) was given to the coverage that was devoted to both the U.S.A, and Israel.
2. The Lowest percentage (9.2%) was given to the Oil and Economic issues.
3. There were huge and negative changes of the image of Iran as reflected in “Ad-Dustour” daily newspaper coverage, between the two periods of research, its percentage reached (57.4%).
Key words: Journalism, Image.