Objective: This study aims to articulate the media's responsibilities concerning ritual events and to provide practical recommendations for optimizing the strategies and policies governing ritual media productions of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). These recommendations are grounded in the perspectives of the leaders of the Islamic Revolution, with the ultimate goal of enhancing audience engagement and maximizing the impact of ritual event coverage.
Method: The research employs a content analysis method, subsequently integrated with a research implication approach and a model of media content impact on audiences. This integrated framework was derived from the meaningful intersection of two domains: the views of the leaders of the Islamic Revolution regarding ritual events, and the established model of media influence, encompassing the approaches, policies, and objectives underlying ritual media productions.
Results: Through systematic coding, the findings yielded over fifty comprehensive and basic themes, alongside an equivalent number of organizing themes. These were subsequently categorized within the framework of a media pyramid for religious content, delineating the essential requirements for the IRIB's engagement with ritual subjects.
Conclusions: Based on the research findings, the foremost objectives of ritual media productions-viewed through the lens of the leaders of the Islamic Revolution-include cultivating a religiously informed audience, fostering the development of the complete human being, reviving religious knowledge, and constructing a moral identity. It is imperative that the message conveyed in these productions is not neutral but rather deliberate, robust, and logically grounded, as this approach serves to reinforce both national and religious identity. The content must address critical issues such as the accurate introduction of Islam, the avoidance of excess and extremism, the cultivation of cultural values within society, and the refutation of doubts and misconceptions. Furthermore, such content should be presented in a diverse and artistic format, while remaining fully compliant with religious principles and sensitivities.