Kayhan (“The Cosmos”) is a newspaper in Iran. It was first published in 1943.
Media assets
Newspaper: Kayhan Al Arabi
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
Kayhan is published by the Keyhan Institute, an institution in which the Supreme Leader of Iran is said to have a significant role. The editor-in-chief of the newspaper is appointed by the Supreme Leader, according to local experts.
Source of funding and budget
There is no publicly available financial information about Kayhan. According to local experts, the newspaper is able to operate mainly thanks to a government subsidy.
Editorial independence
The editorial coverage of Kayhan is tightly controlled by the Supreme Leader’s office. The newspaper is known for its incendiary coverage that targets a conservative, religious audience. The newspaper repeatedly attacks politicians and journalists who do not agree with its hard line on policy issues. It is considered the most conservative publication in Iran.
In an editorial published in February 2022, Kayhan’s editor, Hossein Shariatmadari boasted that the newspaper’s views were shared by the Supreme Leader Khamenei.
No domestic statute independent assessment or oversight mechanism that that establishes Kayhan’s editorial independence have been identified.
August 2023