News Science

News Science

The Role of Organizational Media in Representing Compensatory Justice: A Model for Iran's Oil Industry

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 PhD Candidate, Department of public administration, Shoushtar Branch, Islamic azad university, Shushtar, Iran. E-mail: kartalaei.a@gmail.com
2 Corresponding Author: Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Email: G.Amirnejad@srbiau.ac.ir
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Accounting, Izeh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Izeh, Iran. Email: mahbod88@iau.ac.ir
4 Assistant Professor, Department of Business Management, Arvand International Branch, Islamic Azad University, Abadan, Iran. Email: Fereydoun.omidi@iau.ac.ir
10.22034/lrsi.2026.522645.1364
Abstract
Objective: “In today's organizational landscape, internal media play a critical role in shaping employees' perceptions of compensation justice. However, limited research has explored how this representation is constructed within Iran's oil industry. This study aimed to analyze the role of organizational media in representing compensation justice and to develop a conceptual model to improve this process within the context of Iran's oil sector.
Method: The study followed a qualitative design employing a thematic analysis approach. Participants included 18 individuals comprising employees of the Iranian oil industry and academic experts in media and organizational behavior, all of whom were either directly or indirectly involved with organizational media and compensation systems. Participants were selected purposively based on criteria such as relevant professional experience, involvement in policy-making or implementation related to organizational communication or compensation, and a minimum of two academic or practical contributions in the fields of justice or organizational media. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and continued until theoretical saturation was reached. The main data collection tool was semi-structured interviews, and the validity of the instrument was confirmed through expert review and inter-coder agreement. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results: Based on the extracted conceptual framework, the final model comprised 7 axial codes and 44 initial codes. Findings indicated that information transparency, procedural justice, and distributive justice are interlinked. Organizational media, by promoting transparency and accurate communication regarding compensation, contribute to improving perceptions of both distributive and procedural justice. Media-based oversight, accountability, and trust-building-through monitoring organizational performance and disseminating credible information-enhance employees' trust in the compensation system. Employee participation and feedback play an indirect role in strengthening all dimensions, as internal media can integrate these inputs into organizational reforms.
Conclusions: The study concludes that organizational media, by accurately and transparently portraying compensation processes, can enhance employees' sense of justice within the oil industry. The proposed model provides a conceptual framework for strengthening trust, transparency, and social capital in oil organizations.
Keywords

 
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 31 October 2026