Paknejad made the remarks Sunday, Aug. 9, during a visit to the media outlets affiliated with the Oil Ministry’s Public Relations Department, where he congratulated journalists and media professionals on Journalists’ Day.

“I am very pleased to have this opportunity to be with our colleagues at Shana,” he said, extending his congratulations to all those working in the media sector.

Referring to Shana’s international standing, Paknejad said its specialization in the oil and energy industries gives it a key role in reporting developments and makes it a reference source for industry news.

He cited OPEC Secretary-General Haitham Al Ghais as an example, saying he had repeatedly heard Al Ghais say that he consults Shana to verify news and information about Iran’s oil industry and regularly monitors its coverage.

“This demonstrates Shana’s international credibility,” Paknejad said, stressing that its English-language and international sections should be highly active, accurate and professional in covering developments in Iran’s oil industry.

When news is reported accurately and professionally, he said, it can help demonstrate Iran’s capabilities and standing in the global energy sector.

“The weaker the reflection of these developments, the less effectively that strength will be demonstrated,” he said.

Paknejad praised the work of Shana journalists despite existing challenges and called for news to be reported promptly, accurately and with appropriate terminology. He said there is considerable potential to further strengthen the organization.

The minister also stressed that Shana and the Oil Ministry’s public relations media outlets should give comprehensive coverage to efforts across the entire oil industry value chain.

He said information received from different parts of the industry sometimes requires verification and urged journalists to pay close attention to fact-checking.

Media should be an honest mirror

Paknejad called for greater professional independence at Shana, saying the outlet should be capable of generating its own news and narratives based on verified facts and actual developments in the oil industry.

He said even negative developments can be useful to audiences when accompanied by constructive analysis.

“If an error occurs in an operational area, it can be reported as a lesson learned, with analysis aimed at preventing its recurrence,” he said.

Shana should make greater use of its professional team while also drawing on the technical and professional expertise available throughout the oil industry, Paknejad said. This would allow it to address industry issues in greater depth and provide specialized analysis.

Describing the media as a transparent mirror, Paknejad said a mirror should reflect exactly what is placed before it — whether a young sapling or a mature tree.

“That is the transparency we should see in the media,” he said.

He added that the media should go beyond reporting facts by providing accurate and fair analysis.

“Media outlets can be messengers of development and progress when they assess and report performance realistically, including through fair criticism and without bias,” Paknejad said.

Fair criticism, he added, enables organizations to identify weaknesses through media feedback and take corrective action.

“That is a characteristic of an honorable and professional media outlet, and that is exactly what we expect from the media,” he said.

Paknejad praises oil industry journalists

Paknejad concluded by thanking journalists at all media outlets affiliated with the Oil Ministry’s Public Relations Department, including Shana, he Mashal and Iran Petroleum magazines, and the Ministry of Petroleum’s MOP information portal, as well as journalists and media professionals working for the four major oil companies and their subsidiaries.

He praised their efforts in covering developments and activities across Iran’s oil industry.