Do you consider yourself a journalist?

Share/Save/Bookmark

Jahanshah Javid
by Jahanshah Javid
12-Nov-2010
 

That's what a friend asked me a few days ago. She asked if I had read an article about Iran-US relations and at first, I lied. I said yes, I had. Half an hour later, after much discussion about the article, I admitted I hadn't read it. Not only that, I hardly read anything on iranian.com. I don't even read anything about Iran. I read headlines. Thank god for headlines! They make my life a lot easier. I get all the information I need (can handle) from those few words. News is bad news. I'm not going to read that nonsense. It drives me up the wall! You know what I read online? dlisted.com and the BBC's Business and Science section stories. That's it!

"So," she said as politely as she could possibly be: "Do you consider yourself a journalist?"

"A journalist? Absolutely not! I'm a publisher."

My journalism days have long passed. I was at a very important human rights conference in Maryland a couple of weeks ago. I didn't take one picture or write a single blog. I thought the program was great. The guests speakers were wonderful. And it is very significant that human rights has risen so high on our list of priorities. Still, I preferred to sit, listen and watch. Many bloggers and news outlets covered the event. There was no need for me to add my two cents, really.

You know what I like to do? Write about personal stuff. Why? I don't know. I just do. Once in a while I'll blurt out a blog about how disgusting the Islamic Republic is and preach about how great freedom and democracy are. But am I saying anything new? Am I saying anything different or more profound than what most Iranians are saying, writing and thinking?

As a publisher, I do the best to make sure the most important and interesting things related to Iran and Iranians are covered on this site. But personally, my interests are trivial. Nothing grand. My feet and how clean they are... that's what I think about. Love... what the hell is it? That's what I think about. Going through life with eyes wide open (whatever that means/is), that's what occupies my days. Especially now that I'm back in my cave in Budapest.

Share/Save/Bookmark

Recently by Jahanshah JavidCommentsDate
Hooman Samani: The Kissinger
4
Aug 31, 2012
Eric Bakhtiari: San Francisco 49er
6
Aug 26, 2012
You can help
16
Aug 23, 2012
more from Jahanshah Javid
 
13th Legion

Big Up’s J Shah, I love you man…

by 13th Legion on

I have always respected your candidness and honesty JJ, I have been an IC fan from the very early days, and you may remember me as my very first avatar “DASHAKOL”,

I seen IC evolve and come along way, I think our friend “Simorgh 5555” ses it all in his comment but I would also add that you have also been a great example of what it is to have no fear of being yourself and daring to jump the train, live life and experience it from your own true view and perspective without the fear of being judged by the rest of the for the most part closed minded Persian tribe.

One of the other admirable molds you broke and my most favorite one when you jumped the train on the conventional and cliché mode of life leaving SF about 4-5 years ago and daring to blaze a new path without any guaranties, I admire you for that, you have seemed to have pulled it off, I hope to do same one day.

I admire, love and respect you for the different bird that you are and daring to dance to your own beat :) you have been an inspiration, more power to you.

Also have to agree with RED LANJANI’s comment, its true and you should take the credit, credit or no credit, it doesn’t take away from the fact that it is so.

Cheers brother man, keep on keeping what you do ;))


Simorgh5555

Jahanshah Javid

by Simorgh5555 on

I have never spoken to you directly. You may not even want to. I am not sure where you and I stand politically and that is not important. Indeed, you may even hate my guts for all I know. I don't care.  However, you created something unique. This is a forum like no other. Let's face it Iranians are not the most tolerant of people. We like to boast about the Cyrus Cylinder and the declaration of human rights but we never seemed to have fully respected it. You broke the mould with your motto Nothing is Sacred. You forced Iranians to listen to each other even if means listening to radical and outrageous views. And those who resent you for it are still here and still coming back every day to visit your site e.g. Sargod. What does that tell you?

 

You deserve to be knighted! A hearty well done! 


Rad Lanjani

Expert in Modern Technology

by Rad Lanjani on

Considering the Online Journalism as one of the most practical and highly popular Modern Technologies, the founder and the chief-editor of the Online Journal of Iranian dot com (IC) Jahanshah Javid (JJ) must be also added to the present list, which is the subject of this article: First Iranian Experts in Modern Technology who are Famous Worldwide.


Monda

From one cave person to another

by Monda on

It takes a lot to keep balanced enough to publish so well. 

(keep your feet clean and yourself safe, you'd be amazed how soon Love will come your way too : ) 


Dirty Angel

PFFFT

by Dirty Angel on

 there are a few very smelly smells in here!

" Thank god for botox; my facial expressions are wearing rather thin...."


comrade

Thanks for sharing with us

by comrade on

I can relate to the difficulty of posing as an intellectual and failing like a clown. I always knew you were  a good businessman interested in setting up concerts, etc. Nothing more, nothing less.

And now I hope the potential partner who might be joining soon, will sort out those problems which you have tried to ignore so far.

Thanks again, for your honesty this time.

Never increase, beyond what is necessary, the number of entities required to explain anything.

 


Q

Wow... never thought I'd see the day

by Q on

that we get our own Iranian Andy Rooney! I guess you are getting to be about that age Javid!

Stay young!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFqiLGvZpVY


iroooni

Don't Worry

by iroooni on

i know a guy that reads 50 60 books a month and is all over Iranian articles and still sounds like an idiot.


Ari Siletz

It takes a lot to be a publisher

by Ari Siletz on

"I do the best to make sure the most important and interesting things related to Iran and Iranians are covered on this site."

You make it sound like anybody could do that.


Azarin Sadegh

What do you read?

by Azarin Sadegh on

Dear Jahanshah,

If you don't like to read all these political stuff, the social news, etc...and your only interest is to write about yourself..then maybe you dream of becoming a memoirist! Think about it! You could be more famous than Azar Nafisi if you write your own: Confessions of an Iranian publisher!

But besides all the flagged comments, what else do you read? Or what do you like to read?

Azarin

PS: i hope you wouldn't mind if I send you a few questions along my next story just to be sure that you have actually read it...before choosing its title?...:-) 


Sargord Pirouz

Judging by these candid

by Sargord Pirouz on

Judging by these candid admissions, you're not even a publisher. You're merely an internet site operator/owner, nothing more.