A Study of National Media Policy in the Field of Health Communication With focus on health oriented television programmes in 1395

This article examines the policy of the national media in the field of health. To this end, and in order to answer the questions of: “What are the policies of health TV-programs (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting)?"; "Which aspect of health (physical, mental, social, and spiritual) are the programs focused on?"; and "Is the focus of health programs prevention and improvement of health or treatment of the disease?", mixed-method research will be used in two parts, quantitative (content analysis) and qualitative (comparative analysis). Moreover, theories of persuasive communication, cultivation theory and agenda setting will be used and applied to a random selection of television programs with health-related titles, out of which 10 episodes have been reviewed, and in total 100 shows has been analysed. In the quantitative part, through the use of the quantitative analysis software program SPSS, several tables have been extracted and analysed, and then compared to indicators derived from the Health Professional Council of the National Media, and will examine the extent to which the Council’s television health program guidelines are implemented. The results of this research show that the largest volume of health-related programs is concerned with physical health and most of these programs are primarily focused on both prevention and treatment. Additionally, in some instances one does not witness any consistency between the strategies of the council and the programs being produced.