Category talk:BBC Persian
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Why is this categorised in Category:British propaganda in Iran?
[edit]Hello, @HeminKurdistan, I was just browsing through categories about political propaganda, when I saw this come up. Why is this in Category:British propaganda in Iran? I wouldn't classify BBC Persian as blatant propaganda, since the BBC isn't fully government owned. Though if you can find an example, I'll accept the category. Matr1x-101 {user - talk? - useless contributions} 21:03, 29 May 2023 (UTC)
- Hi @Matr1x-101. I know that BBC Persian is not funded (completely) by the Foreign Office since 2015, but BBC Persian has a long history. There are documented instances of acknowledgment of BBC Persian as a propaganda outlet by the BBC or the British government, for instance here some of them are named:
- BBC Written Archives Centre's bulletin entitled "Broadcast Propaganda to Iran" (1941)
- Foreign Office memo asking BBC Persian "to take direct action in the way of power propaganda" (1946)
- Foreign Office document entitled Publicity in Persia calling BBC Persian "our propaganda machine" (1947)
- In addition, the role of BBC Persian during the 1953 Iranian coup d'état has been made much publicized in academic sources. I remember reading about Foreign Office documents instructing BBC Persian to change its radio presenter or determining propaganda lines (these documents are kept in The National Archives and discussed by Ervand Abrahamian, I can find them for you if you want). So, I think including this category does not mean BBC Persian is classified as "blatant propaganda", it rather suggests part of its history. HeminKurdistan (talk) 15:47, 30 May 2023 (UTC)