Clarifying the Current Situation; Perspectives of the Oral History Website
Maryam Asadi Jafari
Translated by Mandana Karimi
2025-8-28
The definition of a “journalist” and the profession of “journalism” is not limited to simply “gathering,” “editing,” and “publishing breaking news.” Such an approach aligns more with the work done in news agencies and news websites. But now, after years of working in the field of books for various news agencies, newspapers, and magazines, when I look back, I realize that producing and compiling content for the “Oral History website” has been a deeper and more professional step for me in the world of publishing.
When a journalist is supposed to take a broad view of the body of literature—although oral history, according to some experts, is not considered part of literature—they have more freedom of action. However, when the task is to develop and expand just one brick of the vast structure of knowledge and publishing—such as oral history—within the framework of a specialized website, a very difficult job lies ahead. This is because the circle of people who can be interviewed narrows, and consequently, the scientific and content weight of the subjects and materials must be heavier and more substantial. As seen in recent years, by addressing topics such as “the moral and material rights of oral history works,” we have put effort into clarifying this issue.
Analyzing and challenging the fundamental principles of oral history from the perspective of Iranian experts, discovering unseen talents in the field of oral history, scientifically and accurately introducing oral history to practitioners, professionally reviewing and critiquing published works on the subject, and ultimately striving to strengthen the correct and scientific relationship between oral history and universities—these have been only some of the efforts of the team behind the “Oral History website” over the years. On the verge of the 700th issue of the Oral History weekly journal, I hope these efforts will continue with the ongoing support and cooperation of experts.
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100 Questions / 43
How can narrators and interviewers reach a common understanding?We asked several researchers and activists in the field of oral history to express their views on oral history questions. The names of each participant are listed at the beginning of their answers, and the text of all answers will be published on this portal by the end of the week.
Documentary Pathology of the US Embassy Documents
The Necessity of Scientific Rereading and Content Analysis of DocumentsMore than four decades have passed since the publication of the first collections of documents from the US Embassy in Tehran. However, despite the relatively easy access to this treasure trove of documents, systematic research exploitation of it has not been adequate. We still do not have a “comprehensive picture” of the content of these 11,000 documents.
100 Questions / 42
What is the importance of the narrator and interviewers shared understanding of the past in oral history?We asked several researchers and activists in the field of oral history to express their views on oral history questions. The names of each participant are listed at the beginning of their answers, and the text of all the answers will be published on this portal by the end of the week.
Validation: Challenges and Necessities
Where does truth stand in oral history? How can the correctness of a narrative be recognized? Does fact-checking matter? If there is exaggeration in the reporting of some accounts, how can it be detected? Is it possible to record an event accurately through the recording of a narrative? Readers and users of oral history works are often faced with these questions, and sometimes encounter doubts about some oral history works.
