Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah discusses media's role in governance

Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah, the Executive Vice President and acting head of the Presidency, addressed the importance of media in governance during a meeting to commemorate Journalists' Day. He emphasized that the media is an inseparable part of governing a country and that the government must engage in dialogue with society, explain its decisions, and listen to the people to build social trust.

Ghaempanah stated that the "fourteenth government" does not view the media merely as an extension of the public relations departments of executive bodies, nor does it expect media outlets to provide daily affirmations of government actions. He noted that a media outlet that only reflects the voices of officials abandons part of its mission, just as a government that only listens to its supporters will lose touch with social reality.

He further described professional and fair critical media as a vital "warning system" for governance, noting that accurate reporting can highlight flaws that official administrative reports might miss. However, he also stressed that media responsibility is twofold, warning that misinformation or rushed narratives can negatively impact millions of people and undermine social capital.