The Representation of Science Production and Evaluation in Iranian Formal News Agencies

To identify how Iranian formal news agencies represent science production and evaluation using high level documents.
Using content analysis, Iranian high level documents on science and technology were analyzed and categorized into two groups of science production and science evaluation. The contents of four news agencies (Mehr, ISNA, IRNA and KHABAR ONLINE) during 2011 to 2014 were regarded.
There were 620 news about science and technology in four news agencies (61.8% on science production and 38.2% on science evaluation). The majority of science production news was around science production quantity and scientific journals and databases, while in science evaluation category, ranking of univerisites, countries and scientists were on top. The top most news contributors were The Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Ministry of Education and Islamic World Science Citation Center respectively. The Iranian Parliament had the most critical views toward science production. Humanities got the most critical reviews. The highest cooccurences were among countries ranking and publication, scientific outputs and publications also countries ranking and scientific outputs.
Due to vital role of media in shaping public opinion and publishing science production discourse, it seems necessary for news agencies to consider more about science production.