IRIB and Social Capital in the Islamic Republic of Iran (Abilities and Challenges

Concept of social capital and expanding the methods and strategies to preserve and strengthen the concept has widely attracted the attention of scholars of sociology and media economy in Iran in recent years. This concept is considered as a tool for performance assessment of success and popularity of institutions and social organizations and effort of social institutions or groups and associations. In fact, one of the strengths of institutions, associations, and groups is in accumulation and strengthening social capital, which in turn owes to several factors among which the media and especially IRIB have a special contribution. Hence, the present article seeks to review the position and influence of IRIB in the status of social capital in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Abilities, opportunities, and challenges of IRIB in this area are considered. Although measuring the scope and extent of social capital is very difficult according to some experimental data, evidence and judge witness elders in sociology and media, at least the national importance and influence of the media regarding this topic could be examined