Ettela

Social newspaper Editor-in-Chief: Mohammad Hassan Sani oddowleh (Etemadossaltaneh) Mohammad Bagher Etemadoossaltaneh, Mojiroddowleh Mostowfi Date of publication: 1880 Palce of publication: Tehran Weekly Affiliated to Ministry of Intelligence

      Ettela was the semi-official organ of Iranian government and a twin to the Iranian Official newspaper. It was founded in the reign of Nadderaddin Shah and, under guidance of ministry of Information, its editor-in-chief being Mohammad Hassan Khan Saniuddowleh [Etemadussaltaneh] son of Haji Ali Khan Hajebuddowleh Moqqaddam Maraghei.

     In early 1288 Nasseraddin Shah invested the responsibility of the official newspapers into Hassan Khan’s hands, entitled as Sanioddowleh, removing it from AliQoli Mirza Etezadossaltaneh’s.

     The first issue was published on Monday in 28 March 1881, on four large sized pages, its font being Naskh and was lithographed in public printing house. It was free for those who had  subscribed for Iran newspaper. Yearly subscription for those in Tehran was 18 krans and in other provinces 20 krans, in Russia and Cacausus 4 Manats (a monitary unit), in Turkey 40 Piaster, in India, China seven Rupees.

     The title of newspaper was printed in Naskh and the number of the issue were put both in numbers and letters. The newspaper is introduced under the title as followings:

      This newspaper is totally unofficial. Anyone who finds any subject beneficial for public and popular knowledge, and not contradictory to the government and people, would be welcome to send that to be published in this newspaper.

     Each page consisted of three columns and each issue was from four to eight pages. The table of contents would appear at the beginning of first column of first page. Unlike Iran daily newspaper which on its last page the name of Etemaddossaltaneh, minister of Press and Foreign translation office was printed, in this paper, there was no name of Etemaddossalteneh.

     This newspaper was weekly and its second issue was published on Monday, 4, April, 1881, the authors, translators and those involved in preparation of this newspaper were:

      “ Mirza Seyyed Hassan, secretary, author and translator of Arabic; Mirza Mohammad Hossein Adib known as Foroughi; Mirza Abu Torab, editor, secretary and translator of Arabic and designer of printing house; Mirza Seyyed Vali: lithographer of persian and latin letters; Mirza Mehdi, clerk of printing house; Ostad Mohammad Ebrahim, especialist in the printing of papers; Ostad Mohammad Esmaeel, binder; Molla Gholam Hossein, illuminator.

      It is clear that during nearly twenty years of its publication, some people gave their place to others, but the principles and administration of the newspaper were the same as early days. The purpose of founding and publishing of Ettela newspaper was to acquaint Iranians with the situation of the other countries of the world. It is a good collection of political events of Europe, United States. As until that date this style of newspaper which specified a part of it to foreign events did not existed in Iran, it is incomparable to other newspapers of Iran. This newspaper is important because it included the governmental agreements and concessions. Civil employees, landlords and authories were obliged to buy it and the subscription fee was deducted from their salary.

     It should be mentioned that the only article on Iranian affairs published in this newspaper was the editorial on the occasion of the murder of Nasseraddin Shah, accompanied with sad phrases that showed the pain and sorrows of Iranians.

Available issues (1322-1325, 1308-1327, 1298-1306)