On December 9, 1984, the Iranian press marked a historic milestone when then-President Ali Khamenei inaugurated the computer typesetting department of the Information Institute. This groundbreaking event not only introduced a new era for the Information newspaper but also revolutionized the Iranian press industry as a whole. The computer typesetting system implemented by the Information newspaper was the first use of computers in the production of newspapers in Iran, setting a precedent for technological integration in media.
Background of the Information Institute
The Information Institute, known for its flagship publication, the Information newspaper, has long been a prominent player in the Iranian media landscape. Established decades earlier, the institute had been instrumental in shaping public opinion and disseminating news across the country. By the early 1980s, the institute recognized the need to modernize its operations and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving media environment. The decision to adopt computer typesetting technology was a reflection of this forward-thinking approach.
Before the advent of computer typesetting, newspapers in Iran, like many around the world, relied on traditional methods of typesetting. This involved manually arranging metal type or using phototypesetting machines to prepare pages for printing. These processes were time-consuming, labor-intensive, and prone to human error. The shift to computer typesetting promised to streamline production, improve accuracy, and significantly reduce the time required to prepare a newspaper for print.
