No medium seeks unconditional freedom: Deputy Minister

Hossein Entezami, the Deputy Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance in charge of the Press Department, told journalists Saturday introduction of new sections is what sets out this year’s Exhibition of Press and News Agencies from those held in the past. The following is the translation of part of a report on Entezami’s comments Mehr News Agency posted online after the opening ceremony of the 20th Exhibition of Press and News Agencies on November 8:

“No medium in our country seeks unconditional freedom,” said Hossein Entezami, the deputy minister.

He went on to say, “This year the exhibition has seen the debut of some publications like those focused on religion, thinking, and children in the event.”

As for the motto of “Responsible Freedom” – picked for this year’s exhibition – he reiterated that “This motto was crafted in the Policymaking Council with the help of The Coordination Council of the Media Management Organization. This year, we have tried to make decisions in the exhibition in cooperation with relevant guilds active in this line of work. In doing so, this motto was brought up which in fact reflects the approach of media toward the freedom of speech.”

“Undoubtedly, none of our fellow colleagues in media demands unconditional freedom in expressing opinions, releasing news and information. As a matter of fact, such claims are falsely associated with media by those who do not want media to work well. However, our media mostly believe in complying with the law,” he stated.

“One of the other distinctions between this year’s event with those of the past is that in order to lend support to private media, there is a relatively huge difference between the fees charged for exhibition booths from private and public media,” he concluded.