Broadcasting in the Persian language via Internet, satellite and short-wave, Radio Zamaneh brings news and analysis, educational programs as well as music and entertainment.
Internet broadcasting started on the 4th of August 2006 while satellite broadcasting started on the following 7th of September and short-wave broadcasting starts today on the 11th of September 2006. Radio Zamaneh broadcasts 24 hours in its satellite edition. The core of its current affairs and cultural program is broadcasted 4 hours a day through short wave. Daily short-wave broadcasts start at 19:00 Amsterdam time (20:30 Tehran time).
Radio Zamaneh’s main target group is young Iranians. This young generation represents the overwhelming majority in contemporary : more than 70% of the Iranians are under the age of 28. Yet Iranian media inside and outside this country for various reasons has systematically ignored the voice of this huge majority, which is colorfully diverse. Radio Zamaneh’s mission, therefore, is to be the voice of young .
Radio Zamaneh is an independent foundation and its programming policy is based on its own editorial vision, which is based on an interactive media-making philosophy.
Financial support for establishing Radio Zamaneh comes from various private and public sources including the Dutch Government. On the basis of an amendment by the Dutch Parliament for substantial support of free media for Iranians in 2004, the Dutch government agreed to fund a selection of new media initiatives by Iranian journalists. Radio Zamaneh was one of these initiatives.
Press Now is the co-initiator of Radio Zamaneh and supports the radio station financially and technically, by way of training and advice. Press Now is an international NGO supporting independent media in regions of conflict and countries in transition.
Radio Zamaneh operates on the basis of professional and independent journalism. Human rights and freedom of speech are the basic values of all programs. Radio Zamaneh wants to provide a window of the wider world to the young Iranian generation and bring them closer to their fellow world citizens.
The director of Radio Zamaneh is a well-known former senior BBC producer, Mehdi Jami. He is a blogger and multi-media journalist working both for radio and online interactive. Mr. Jami works mainly with young writers, journalists, bloggers and program editors, such as Massoume Naseri. She was a former journalist in Tehran working for the popular youth magazine Chelcheragh until two months ago joining Radio Zamaneh.
Radio Zamaneh is a highly interactive medium with listeners being commissioned to make reports and reviews. Technical facilities on the Internet make it possible for listeners to record their own programs and send them to Radio Zamaneh. This radio station is the first Persian radio station with a leading idea in Citizen Journalism.
Radio Zamaneh intends to increase and intensify working relations with online bloggers. The Iranian blog sphere is representing one of the largest web communities in the world. They are considered the preserve of young urban Iranians both inside and outside the country. Their voices are not heard by the mainstream media, neither in itself nor in West-based Iranian media. Radio Zamaneh will serve as a platform for Iranian bloggers and reflect their grassroots opinions and views.
