Role of Media Literacy of Reporters and Editors in Promoting Qualityof News Products

Reporters are producers and publishers of news stories in a broad dimension and maybe in various corners of the world. Reporters produce and put on line thousands of news stories as they like, while taking into consideration the interests of their owners. Under such competitive circumstances, the amount and quality of stories can both attract more audience and establish the realities. Promotion of media literacy of reporters and editors -- as the main body of news production – not only can prevent their passiveness but also make them guide the news flow. This paper deals with review of media literacy of editors and reporters and their role in promoting the quality of news products. Information gained from 50 editors and reporters of one of the provincial centres of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) indicates 34 percent have media literacy level of average, 30 percent little and 16 percent very high. There is a meaningful relationship between media literacy and news production. In other words, the higher the media literacy level the higher the quality of news stories production will be.