Beyond applause lies what journalism in Iran really needs
By Hamideh Hosseini
Staff writer
Every year on August 8, Iran marks Journalist Day in memory of Mahmoud Saremi, the Iranian reporter killed in Mazar-i-Sharif in 1998 during a Taliban attack on the Iranian consulate. His death, alongside eight diplomats, was not only a national tragedy but a defining moment that carved out a day of recognition for those who pursue truth with a pen.
Yet 27 years later, one wonders: do we truly honor Saremi’s legacy, or merely celebrate a date?
Too often, Journalist Day has turned into a shallow ceremony. Messages of congratulations pour in from officials who, for the rest of the year, treat journalists as mouthpieces for institutional public relations. Gift baskets, handouts, and neatly staged photo ops replace meaningful dialogue about press freedom, media independence, or safety for reporters in the field.
Even worse, some reporters are expected to earn their place at the table through loyalty, not integrity. In some provinces, journalists who ask uncomfortable questions risk being labeled “outsiders,” while compliant ones are called “conservative” or “trustworthy.” This dichotomy, subtle yet corrosive, erodes the foundation of any functioning media system.
Journalism is not public relations. And journalists are not crisis managers for government image. Yet many PR departments send out templated, low-value content, routine meetings, ribbon cuttings, vague declarations, with the expectation that reporters will publish them without question. These materials often lack news value: No data, no context, no consequence. Still, the pressure to keep institutional relationships intact leads some media outlets to compromise editorial standards for access or favors.
This dynamic drains energy and resources from the real work of journalism, reporting on policy, probing public funds, and giving voice to those unheard. It also blurs the public’s understanding of what journalism should be: A watchdog, not a mouthpiece.
If we want to honor journalists, we must do more than name a day after them. We must protect their independence, respect their role, and push back against the creeping culture of transactional news. We need media-literate institutions that understand the difference between coverage and control. And we need a journalism ecosystem where truth matters more than favor.
Saremi didn’t die for ceremonial praise. He died doing his job. The least we can do is let others do theirs with freedom, dignity, and purpose.