Washington Post - Introduction

In some contrast to the Tehran Times is the Washington Post. Both are daily city papers located in their respective country's capital. The similarities largely end there.
The Washington Post is a traditional American-style newspaper, with an emphasis on objectivity and international, national, and local scope. Perhaps the definitive Post story was the investigation into the Watergate burglary in 1972 by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. This story, which attacked American conceptions about President Nixon's character and ultimately contributed to his resignation, is an example of media "freedom" - the Post's ability to print a story that confronted the President and institutions of this country.
The Post's commitment to objective journalism begins in 1935, when then-owner Eugene Meyer printed his principles of journalism on the front page:

• The newspaper shall tell ALL the truth so far as it can learn it, concerning the important affairs of America and the world.
• As a disseminator of news, the paper shall observe the decencies that are obligatory upon a private gentleman.
• What it prints shall be fit reading for the young as well as the old.
• The newspaper's duty is to its readers and to the public at large, and not to the private interests of its owners.
• In the pursuit of truth, the newspaper shall be prepared to make sacrifices of its material fortunes, if such a course be necessary for the public good.
• The newspaper shall not be the ally of any special interest, but shall be fair and free and wholesome in its outlook on public affairs and public men.

So, a western, liberal newspaper that claims to abide by journalistic standards, contrasted with a newspaper that is at best a rumor-monger and at worst part of a governmental propaganda machine. From now on I'll be putting the two head to head. Should be fun.

Today's Headline: White House Tape Recycling May Have Erased E-Mails

Tehran Times - Introduction

Tehran Times, "Iran's Leading International Daily" was founded in 1979 after the revolution, when "there was a need for an international media outlet to export the ideas of the revolution." It claims an online circulation of over 10,000 visitors per day, and publishes a 16-page English language newspaper daily, available throughout the capital city of Iran.
There are seven news sections (Politics, International, Social, Sports, Science, Economy, Culture) and an opinion page. Notable controversial positions taken by the Tehran Times opinion staff include that Al-Jazeera is a Zionist propaganda machine and that the Holocaust is a "religion of Zionism for gentiles."

It's fair to say that on the "ridiculous bias" scale, this state-run newspaper ranks somewhere just above advertisements and PETA. It's going to be fun keeping tabs on them.

Today's Headline: Bush throws tantrum after failing to hoodwink Arabs: Hosseini