Dr. Najib Paikan: In the Digital Age, Every Citizen is a Medium; the People Judge for Themselves

Dr. Najib Paikan: The Evolution of Media from Smoke to the Digital Age

In his speech, Dr. Najib Paikan offered a historical perspective on the evolution of media, stating: “Media must consider precision, seriousness, speed, balance, and accuracy. You see, since the dawn of humanity, media has appeared in some form. Don’t you think that for the first time, media appeared as smoke? And when people wanted to send messages to each other, they would use smoke. Smoke would turn into fire. They would say, ‘So-and-so said such-and-such in such-and-such a place? So-and-so conquered the fort, so-and-so was defeated.’ They communicated through smoke.”

He continued: “Then messaging evolved into letters, entrusted to pigeons. As we progressed, it eventually took the form of ‘couriers,’ ‘messengers,’ and ‘informers,’ who today have become journalists and news providers. And gradually, when something becomes audible, it also becomes visible.”

Citizens as Media Beyond Censorship:

Dr. Paikan emphasized the fundamental transformation in the current era, stating: “Currently, the world is a virtual world. Every citizen is a medium. No one can censor media, by no means. By no means, each of you who has a mobile phone in your pocket can be a messenger with full power based on your own decision. Who can stop you? Personal pages, virtual pages [exist].”

Media: A Messenger, Judgment Belongs to the People

The political analyst highlighted the distinction between national media and personal platforms, stating: “But national media are responsible. A Facebook cannot undertake collective responsibility, but a media outlet that undertakes collective responsibility means you have collective responsibility.” He then delved into the discussion of “neutrality,” and referring to the words of Muslim Shirzad, he clarified: “In media, the principle of neutrality does not mean that the media should not judge. It is the people who decide. The media is a messenger; it transmits the message. The people decide whether ‘this is black, this is white.’ The people themselves judge which one they want.”

Dr. Paikan concluded by asserting that “not judging” is not the “essence of democracy” and emphasized that in a democratic society, judgment rests with the people themselves, and the media’s role is to transmit information.