Media play a crucial role in clarifying the slogan of this year, named by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei as ‘The Year of the People-Gov’t Empathy, the spokesman of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance Hussein Nooshabadi said.
He made the remarks in his first press conference in the Iranian New Year (starting March 21) on Tuesday (April 7) adding that the media can strengthen the relationship between the government and the people, as today they are the most powerful and effective tool to create empathy and compassion, public relations office of the ministry reported.
During the session he gave a brief report of the ministry’s activities last year in different areas. “The ministry has taken serious steps toward implementing the resistance economy in the country,” Nooshabadi said.
“For the first time last year, in addition to journals, law-abiding private news agencies and websites received subsidies,” he stressed adding “all media are required to insure their reporters according to the press law as they are involved in a difficult job; therefore we have provided all the journals with their needed cash subsidies.”
The spokesman said a total of 113 thousand book titles were published last year adding “63 exhibitions were held, including 47 provincial and 16 international fairs.”
He pointed to 74 public libraries constructed across the country saying, “over one million book copies were added to the available libraries.”
Producing 251 video games, exempting booksellers from paying taxes, establishing Art Credit Fund for artists, and unveiling Tehran Cultural Ensemble were among other activities of the ministry as he said.
