The predicaments of independent cultural work inside the playground

The predicaments of independent cultural work inside the playground

Manager of the Sedanet cultural website

* Image: Yaser Arab in the Jomhoor TV studio

It was 2011 when I seriously launched Sedanet. I didn't know then where this endeavor would lead. The future of Sedanet appeared vague and foggy in my eyes. Perhaps today, after years of activity, the formation of several expert teams, and an increase of several thousand audience members, there is still no clear and certain prospect ahead. Promoting a spirit of truth-seeking and the level of public awareness, increasing and expanding tolerance and mutual acceptance, reducing violence in society, strengthening and broadening the space for healthy dialogue, raising ethical sensitivities toward animal rights and the environment, and so on... these were the goals that have formed the basis of the Sedanet team's work over these years. The deep belief of Sedanet's staff in these foundations and goals led to ever greater structural cohesion, unity of approach, and the exemplary, empathetic activity of its members.

I was a student, and most of my friends and colleagues are also students. Throughout all these years, we ourselves have borne the costs of the site, although occasionally small amounts of public support have also helped.

In these years, advancing the work with quality was not easy or free of worries and peripheral issues. We grappled with numerous mental conflicts, preoccupations, and practical follow-ups. Matters such as: lack of time, efforts to obtain necessary licenses, the anxiety that a posted article might lack the requisite quality, rectifying editorial shortcomings in the texts, coordinating with professors and writers, responding to emails, reviewing comments, receiving and searching for useful content and continuous coordination with expert groups, technical upgrades to the site, and many other issues have been among the preoccupations and difficulties of the path.

It has often happened that a delay in responding to an email or approving/disapproving a comment has caused intense anger in an audience member. Instances like these have compelled me to write and explain. My concern is the mutual understanding between the audience and independent media. Media that do not want to become sensationalist, do not want to become dependent, and the few audience members who are aware of these differences.

A few months ago, we issued a call to attract collaboration and support for producing video programs for "Sedanet TV", but in the dire situation caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, this request was not posted on Telegram and was only visible on the site. Unfortunately, the support received for "Sedanet TV" over these past few months was not even sufficient, in total, to cover the cost of a few hours in a decent filming studio.

A few days ago, I noticed that my dear friend Mr. Yaser Arab has started publishing a new series called "Jomhoor TV". (Watch the teaser) Yaser Arab is one of the few media figures who works independently in this space, and by any means possible, with the collaboration of a few friends (the compassionate Seyed Mohammad Fatemi, the warm-hearted Ebrahim Ghahvechizadeh, dear Aban Ebrahimpour, and his kind wife Roya Mohammadbagheri), he presents many useful documentaries and programs for public viewing. If it weren't for his personal drive and concern, it seems unlikely he would have continued on this rough path.

You know? Everything in this playground is monopolized. It's enough to turn on our television and watch, for free, the films, series, and programs that domestic and foreign super-media have produced for us with the best quality. Super-media that, with the best cameras, the most skilled editors, and the best studios, provide us with productions for free, each of which requires the expenditure of enormous budgets. Enormous budgets that are funded either from our own taxes or from the budgets of other countries to achieve those same countries' goals.

«Sedanet TV» might be able to wait a few more months to begin its activities, but not «Jomhour TV»! Yesterday, Yaser Arab posted a request for public support on his Telegram channel, and after 5,000 people had seen it, I asked him over the phone: «How much help came in?» He said: «Six people deposited amounts.» I asked: «How much in total?» The figure he mentioned, in a rough calculation, could only cover the round-trip taxi fare for the program's guests.

I ask discerning audiences and readers who wish to effectively and responsibly contribute to the advancement of national culture and the expansion of independent media to follow the social media pages of «Jomhour TV» and, through their financial support, aid in the better advancement of this auspicious media endeavor.

Financial support for «Jomhour TV»:

6104337763773460

Jomhour TV on Aparat

Jomhour TV on Telegram

Yaser Arab's Telegram channel

In 2016, Yaser Arab produced the educational series «A Simple Suggestion» for the sexual development of children and uploaded it to Aparat. Following the multi-million-view feedback on that series, with public help and support, he created the series «Sexual Wisdom», which has been published in forty episodes so far and is available to watch for free.