To wonder why the mainstream media is not reporting the massive anti-regime protests in Iran?

[supernaturalmilkshake]

There are currently massive anti-Islamic regime protests all over Iran by civilians, many of them chanting for the return of the Shah.

These protestors are incredibly brave, many of them have been killed, shot or taken away by the regime police.

The protests, some of them hundreds of thousands strong, all over Iran have been widely reported and documented by exiled Iranians on places like Twitter/X but the mainstream news has been strangely silent, especially the BBC that would normally have non-stop, headline reporting if this was about happening anywhere else.

AIBU to hope the regime falls and that the Iranians finally taste freedom after 47 years (and that the BBC should be reporting on this)?

It’s being picked up more now. Very brave people

On bbc1 right now.

UK law draws a crucial distinction between criticising a religion (which is lawful) and targeting or harassing individuals because of their religious identity (which is unlawful).

As it should.

Best wishes to them, so much hope that they will overthrow the regime and prosper

Not read the incoming Islamophobia legislation then?

Not English. Don’t live in the UK.

2nd item on itv news at 10 last night after storm news

I agree with you OP. I am surprised at the low coverage. If it wasn't for people sharing videos on X it would be hard to try to find out what is happening.

The better way to have framed this thread would be why it took so long for the mainstream media to report the Iran protests. Because it is happening now, but it took some time. If you look at social media from the 1st and 2nd, before there was much on the BBC, you'll see discussion about this. Before Maduro was removed. John Simpson took quite the ratioing.

Good job the Starmerbot wants to ban X isn't it?

If it wasnt for X and wider internet in general, I wonder if UK citizens would ever be told about this.

God really. For its faults we really don’t need to ban X. That’s full on behaviour.

Well, its what this disaster of a government is planning, and the EU isn't far behind wanting X gone either.

Does anyone else find that most news coverage fails to properly explain things in a way that helps you understand the context and impact of an issue?

I've yet to see anything that explains the water issues (Tehran in the middle of a shortage so bad the city is sinking and they were considering evacuating), how the regime works (and therefore what is needed to make it fall, both in regards to the government and civilian support), and how Iran's collapse would potentially impact the rest of the world (some coverage of its support for proxies but not much on the relationship with Saudi/Qatar etc. and oil/trade).

I don't know if journalists are incurious (and therefore not really doing their jobs) as mentioned by another poster, or I'm looking at the wrong sources.

This isn't just limited to Iran, its most topics.

Obviously the poster who made that comment was not being serious.

@ErroltheSwampDragon I think most journalists seem incurious and just repeat information now rather than actually investigating it or even thinking deeply about it or wondering about context.

Sometimes it’s difficult to gauge. Especially in your second language. But thanks for the help.

The IRGC military has been called in by the regime, or what's left of it, to try to stop the revolt. Tousi TV on YT is a good place to see clips of what's going on there. It helps that Mayhar Tousi is Iranian and can interpret what's being said.

Yes I do think it's risky when people say sarcastic or ironic things on MN because some might not get the nuance, especially if English is not their first language.

British people use sarcasm a lot but it can be risky when discussing sensitive subjects in case it's taken literally.

I dont think there are many "journalists" left anymore, at least in mainstream media.

You have to cast a wider net.

X is probably best for immediate coverage. Everyone has a camera phone and is a journalist now, and bess breaks on X first.
Check your sources however. Lots of misinformation and older footage reposted as a current event, and of course, plenty of AI slop.

YouTube is a great resource if you can outsmart the algorithm to find what you are looking for. If you are willing to listen to 2 or 3 hour longform discussions on current affairs or more nuanced topics like Iran and Venezuela, then there is a huge amount of content from all parts of the political spectrum.

Substack is another great resource of thoughtful, in depth articles about current affairs.

The likes of the BBC used to be able to do serious in depth documentaries and news items, now it can barely manage 2 minute soundbites about something you saw on X 3 days ago. It's the last place I go to for news or analysis.

I mean - they are. It was the second headline on BBC news at ten last night and there was a big piece on BBC Breakfast this morning about the growing protests across Iran. Radio 4 has been covering it for days now.

The Guardian were reporting the internet black out in Iran yesterday.

Usually when some one posts "why are the MSM ignoring X?" It just reveals their lack of curiousity and low news consumption.

There is also the issue than many western journalists are not allowed to report from Iran any more.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/ng-interactive/2026/jan/09/in-isolation-well-never-flourish-what-iranians-think-about-the-protests-and-an-end-to-the-islamic-republic

Only a couple of weeks late to the party then. Not bad for legacy media.

Can't have people talking...

Meh, let them ban it. People organised and overthrew tyrants before the internet.

I’ve been seeing more coverage of this recently but half the problem is for the Iranian people to be able to get news stories out of the country.
I am in awe of the bravery of these protesters and feel sick at the thought of all the young lives taken needlessly by the disgusting regime in Iran.