A Comparative Study on the Performance of two Mainstream and Rival Media Spectrum in Managing News Flow Related to Acid Attacks in Isfahan

The aim of this article is analyzing the performance of two mainstream and rival media spectrum (ISNA news agency, Shargh daily newspaper and BBC Persian channel against Fars news agency, Keyhan Newspaper and IRIB newscast) in managing the news flow related to Isfahan Acid attacks on women during October 16 to October 31, 2014. In this article, purposive sampling was done and for analyzing data, two methods of thematic analysis and quantitative content analysis were used. The results indicated that ISNA news agency was heading news streaming, while Persian BBC and Shargh daily newspaper were both trying to keep the news alive. Meanwhile, Fars news agency, Keyhan newspaper and IRIB news at the initial stages tried to keep silent and blackout the news and just after forming the news flow, they began to cover it. Such a delay in covering the news, besides passive and pro- government approaches as well as formal language were considered as the main reasons why this media spectrum failed to impact properly on managing this news stream.