Media Veterans Deserve to Be Seen: From Vahdat Weekly to a Warm Meeting in Boroujen

A simple phone call can sometimes spark memories of decades of media work. The meeting with Seyed Ahmad Afzali Boroujeni, a veteran journalist from Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, was just such a warm encounter, made possible through the efforts of media professionals and the support of the provincial Director General of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

Sometimes a simple call can be an excuse to revive the memories of several decades of media activity. The meeting with Seyyed Ahmad Afzali Borojni, one of the veterans of the press of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, was of the same kind; A sincere meeting that took place with the efforts of media people and the support of the Director General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of the province.

The story started with the call of Mr. Musaibi from the media veterans. When I heard the news of meeting with Mr. Afzali Borojni, I got a lot of enthusiasm. For a journalist who has worked in this profession for many years, it is a valuable opportunity to meet old colleagues and veterans who have spent an important part of their lives in providing information.

For this reason, I left for Buruj earlier than the appointed time. The province's land of culture and art hosted a group of activists and media veterans this time.

The presence of journalist friends and long-standing press figures together created a pleasant atmosphere. This meeting was formed not with heavy ceremonies but with love and intimacy, and this feature gave it more value.

One of the interesting parts of this meeting was Seyyed Ahmad Afzali Borojni's account of the beginning of his press career. He said about the launch of Vahdat weekly in 1358; There was a time when the possibilities of printing and publishing publications were limited and press activity required a lot of motivation, perseverance and effort.

It was an honor for me to hear these memories. When it was talked about the days when veterans tried to publish the magazine with limited means, I realized more about the difficulties of that path and the value of their experiences.

Later, Afzali Borujani launched Armaghane weekly. A publication that was published relying on the power of the same collection and internal content production and tried to respond to the information needs of the society.

Perhaps today, in the age of digital media, publishing a four-page publication seems simple, but in those years, the same work required constant will and effort. The value of these experiences becomes more clear when we know that many veterans of the media carried out their work with much less facilities than today.

Media for the people, not for flattery

What was interesting to me in the narrative of Afzali Borujani's activities was the attention to the mission of the media and the expression of people's problems. The media gains credibility when it can reflect the society's issues and convey people's demands to the authorities instead of fruitless compliments.

This is the same responsibility that journalists have today. Communication tools have changed and the speed of news dissemination has increased, but the essence of the story remains the same; The media should be with the people and follow their issues with honesty and responsibility.

Reviewing the memories of the veterans reminds us that the credibility of the media is not only dependent on the technical facilities and the speed of news dissemination, but also the trust of the people and the quality of the produced content.

A family with media memories

Another interesting part of this meeting was the effort and companionship of Seyyed Ahmad Afzali Borojni's children. This companionship showed a manifestation of the family's role in supporting years of cultural and media activities.

Press activity was not an easy path, especially in the years when the possibilities were limited, and family support could be effective in continuing this path. Seeing this empathy next to a media veteran formed another part of the memories of this meeting.

Preserving the experiences of the elders and passing it on to the next generations is a valuable cultural asset. Such meetings can be an opportunity to familiarize the new generation with the difficulties, experiences and vicissitudes of press activity in the past years.

Faraji and attention to the veterans of culture and art

Another part of this program was dedicated to the words of Shahram Faraji, Director General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. Paying attention to the introduction and protection of the veterans of culture and art of the province was one of the important issues that were mentioned in this meeting.

In response to the proposal to hold a ceremony to introduce media activists, Faraji emphasized the need to pay more attention to the long-standing and influential figures of this field and said that the introduction and honoring of media activists should be followed with planning and continuity.

According to him, media veterans are part of the cultural capital of the province and their experiences can be a guide for the new generation.

Holding programs to introduce long-standing cultural and artistic figures is an opportunity to see people who have worked in this field for years. Veterans are part of the historical memory of society and their experiences should not remain only in personal memories.

I believe that the director general of culture and Islamic guidance of the province is following programs to introduce and appreciate the veterans of culture and art, it is a valuable action. Mr. Faraji should be thanked for paying attention to this issue and providing the basis for such meetings.

Of course, the value of these programs will increase when they continue and the introduction of veterans is not limited to a ceremony. I hope that this path will continue and that veteran media figures will have their rightful place in these programs along with other cultural and art activists.

Meanwhile, the efforts of Mr. Musaibi and Mr. Fayazi should not be neglected. The effort and follow-up of these dear ones to form a meeting and gathering of media veterans deserves appreciation.

Sometimes a simple call and a friendly offer can lead to a meeting that revives past memories and brings old colleagues together again. The value of such actions is in their simplicity and intimacy; Where interest in the media and respect for the elders of this field is the main focus of the program.