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Media war
Reporting the crimes of the Iranian regime is important for the sake of truth, accuracy in decision making, support for the protesters (morale) and encouragement for world sanctions. The main stream media must be kept to the story. To do this we provide incentive through encouraging demand and through supplying news.
Iranians participating in rallies should cover their faces and refrain from filming other protesters's faces, as the photos can be used by Iranian intelligence to identify, detain and attack protesters. Quickly empty the camera at a safe location, transfer to memory stick, upload from a secure connection. Use newspaper frontpages to accurately time stamp documentation, as media and propagandists raise doubt about authenticity.
People in the West can support the movement by reporting events in Iran and disseminate knowledge to Iranians, who are under media black-out and starved of independent reports.
REPORTING
How to spot legitimate sources:
1) Visit Search.twitter.com and enter #iranelection or #gr88 - those are the only legitimate hashtags for Sea of Green
2) Follow the streams and identify those who break news, reviewing also the consistency and quality of news (see vetting sources)
3) Choose to follow, then investigate timeline and who they follow to detect better sources, sources closer to the live events
4) Dismiss propaganda. Use the twitterspam function to detect the worst. If you are discerning, it won't be difficult to filter out the noise.
1) Visit Search.twitter.com and enter #iranelection or #gr88 - those are the only legitimate hashtags for Sea of Green
2) Follow the streams and identify those who break news, reviewing also the consistency and quality of news (see vetting sources)
3) Choose to follow, then investigate timeline and who they follow to detect better sources, sources closer to the live events
4) Dismiss propaganda. Use the twitterspam function to detect the worst. If you are discerning, it won't be difficult to filter out the noise.
How to vet your sources:
1) Check their timeline and make sure they go all the way back to June 12. "Confirmed" is usually applied to eyewitness report from an Iranian on the ground. Look for original eyewitness reporting, particularly those attending rallies.
2) Look for Farsi (Persian) speaking users. Many Iranians speak brilliant English, but they usually have some Persian messages in their stream.
3) Some of them are Iranian expats, but these also have direct line to Iranians on the ground. Don't dismiss them.
4) Always check sources for reliability and consistency - usually reports will be corroborated by others. In those cases it is important to determine whether it is a re-tweet (RT) or an independent confirmation
1) Check their timeline and make sure they go all the way back to June 12. "Confirmed" is usually applied to eyewitness report from an Iranian on the ground. Look for original eyewitness reporting, particularly those attending rallies.
2) Look for Farsi (Persian) speaking users. Many Iranians speak brilliant English, but they usually have some Persian messages in their stream.
3) Some of them are Iranian expats, but these also have direct line to Iranians on the ground. Don't dismiss them.
4) Always check sources for reliability and consistency - usually reports will be corroborated by others. In those cases it is important to determine whether it is a re-tweet (RT) or an independent confirmation
How to report on Twitter:
1) On Twitter use "unconfirmed" for important topics caught in the #iranelection or "gr88 stream, but not corroborated by direct sources.
2) Use "RT" if you pass on information - only pass on valid information from vetted and trusted sources. Use "confirmed" if certified. Add links to mainstream media (MSM) when possible.
3) Add #iranelection or #gr88 to make your message appear in the public streams.
4) Never compromise original sources, users in Iran. Secret police is trying to pin point them and even giving out their user name in public streams makes it easier. Do not add hashtags, if you reply (@someone).
1) On Twitter use "unconfirmed" for important topics caught in the #iranelection or "gr88 stream, but not corroborated by direct sources.
2) Use "RT" if you pass on information - only pass on valid information from vetted and trusted sources. Use "confirmed" if certified. Add links to mainstream media (MSM) when possible.
3) Add #iranelection or #gr88 to make your message appear in the public streams.
4) Never compromise original sources, users in Iran. Secret police is trying to pin point them and even giving out their user name in public streams makes it easier. Do not add hashtags, if you reply (@someone).
How to report elsewhere:
1) Set up a blog and dedicate it to #iranelection
2) Comment on articles on mainstream media (MSM) and photos, for instance collections on Flickr, and on videos on YouTube.
3) Inform mainstream media by sending them links and notifications via e-mail or online forms
4) Write letters to the editor.
People outside Iran can e-mail, call or send letters to media outlets in the West, asking them to stop using Iranian state controlled media like PressTV and Farsnews as their sources.
1) Set up a blog and dedicate it to #iranelection
2) Comment on articles on mainstream media (MSM) and photos, for instance collections on Flickr, and on videos on YouTube.
3) Inform mainstream media by sending them links and notifications via e-mail or online forms
4) Write letters to the editor.
People outside Iran can e-mail, call or send letters to media outlets in the West, asking them to stop using Iranian state controlled media like PressTV and Farsnews as their sources.
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