Content Analysis of Media Content in Control over and Counter against Narcotics in Iran (Ettelaat and Iran Newspapers)

This research aimed at analyzing the contents of newspapers in controlling and combatting narcotics in Iran.
The current research was conducted using descriptive-analytical method and content analysis. In the statistical population of the research (Ettelaat and Iran newspapers), 20 content items were used to analyze the content of articles and analytical reports of the newspapers. Each of these items was divided into several options.
The classification of the news items released in these newspapers indicates that the news coverage of newspapers about drugs is more related to drug trafficking, institutes involved in drug counter, drug prevention, addiction treatment, drug addiction, and victim groups. The representation of these two newspapers from narcotics and addiction issues in the society has not been that much consistent with the social realities of this domain.
The representation of narcotics was almost the same in Ettelaat and Iran. The differences are more related to the media objectives of each of these newspapers. Iran newspaper, as one of the government's official media, has focused mostly on official sites in reflecting drug-related news. In contrast, Ettelaat newspaper has covered some social dimensions, such as narcotics trafficking or punishment of traffickers.