Muṭāli̒āt-i tārīkh-i farhangī(Cultural History Studies)

Representation of Province of Khamseh in the Constitutional Era Press: A Comparative Study and Content Analysis of Habl al-Matin Tehran and Sobḥ-e Ṣādeq

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Hassan Rostami

Ph.D. in Post-Islamic Iranian History, Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22034/chs.2026.547440.1130
Abstract
Among the newspapers of the Constitutional era, Habl al-Matin Tehran and Sobḥ-e Ṣādeq played a significant role in reflecting provincial developments. Although Khamseh Province received limited attention in Constitutional historiography and its social movements remained shrouded in ambiguity, these two newspapers—alongside other sources—covered portions of Zanjan’s events. What matters here is the examination of their journalistic approach, political orientation, and narrative style regarding incidents in Khamseh Province—an area that has not yet been independently analyzed. This study addresses the question: What were the journalistic perspectives and content strategies of Habl al-Matin Tehran and Sobḥ-e Ṣādeq concerning the events in Khamseh Province, and what impact did they have on its developments? Based on the research hypothesis, despite their Constitutionalist leanings, both newspapers adopted a moderate stance in reporting Zanjan’s events. The publication of corrections, supplements, and public letters supports this approach. The presence of Zanjani contributors in the editorial board of Sobḥ-e Ṣādeq also led to increased focus on the province’s affairs. Despite the publication of grievance-laden petitions, the journalistic outcomes of these newspapers in areas such as confronting feudal oppression and curbing insecurity did not yield satisfactory results in Khamseh Province. This study, based on library-collected data and employing content analysis within a descriptive-analytical framework, seeks to address the questions and ambiguities raised in the research.

Keywords

Province of Khamseh
Newspaper
Habl al-Matin Tehran
Sobḥ-e Ṣādeq
Constitutionalism
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Muṭāli̒āt-i tārīkh-i farhangī(Cultural History Studies)
Volume 18, Issue 67 - Serial Number 67
Winter 2026
Spring 2026
Pages 159-200

  • Receive Date 17 September 2025
  • Revise Date 20 June 2026
  • Accept Date 21 July 2026
  • Publish Date 22 May 2026

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