Political Media Literacy Survey

Age Range

Gender

Education Level

Connection to Iran

Current Residence

Living in Iran (never lived abroad) Living in Iran (previously lived abroad) Living outside Iran (diaspora) Living outside Iran (not Iranian)

Country of Current Residence

Years Outside Iran

1. Trust in Iran International

A breaking story appears on Iran International. You haven’t seen confirmation elsewhere yet. What do you do?

A. I don’t follow Iran International — I have no access, no interest, no familiarity with it, or I actively distrust it as a source.
B. I’m sceptical of Iran International’s editorial independence — I’d seek out the story from sources I consider more credible before engaging with it.
C. I take it seriously but wait for confirmation from at least one independent source before forming a view.
D. I’d share it cautiously — they have reporters on the ground and usually get the key facts right, even if they have a perspective.
E. I accept it fully — Iran International is the most reliable source on Iran.

2. Unverified Social Media Claims

A viral post claims Reza Pahlavi has secured major international support. It has 50,000 likes but no linked source. Your reaction?

A. Viral posts without sources are unreliable by definition — I’d ignore it or flag it as unverified.
B. It’s an interesting claim, but I need a verifiable source before I believe or share it.
C. I’d browse comments and reactions to gauge credibility, but I wouldn’t form an opinion without a real source.
D. The monarchist community wouldn’t rally behind something baseless — I’d lean towards believing it.
E. Viral engagement means it’s probably true — I’d share it with a hopeful comment.

3. Media Ecosystem — Manoto TV

How would you describe Manoto TV’s political coverage?

A. I don’t watch Manoto TV and have no basis to assess its political coverage.
B. It’s entertainment with a noticeable political slant — not a source I’d rely on for news.
C. It has good cultural programming but heavily one-sided political coverage — I watch critically when I watch at all.
D. Manoto is one of the more trustworthy Iranian media outlets, despite some editorial leanings.
E. Manoto is one of the most trustworthy Iranian media outlets available — I rely on it regularly.

4. Competing Military Claims

Western governments report a precision military strike with minimal casualties. Iranian sources report widespread civilian damage. How do you assess this?

A. I distrust both accounts equally — all governments weaponise information in conflict. I suspend judgement entirely until independent verification exists.
B. I consider both sceptically — governments on all sides distort information, and I withhold judgement until independent investigators verify the facts.
C. I lean towards Western accounts but acknowledge significant uncertainty until independent evidence emerges.
D. I trust Western accounts — their technology is precise and their media operates more freely than Iran’s.
E. I accept Western military accounts at face value — free-press democracies have no reason to fabricate such claims.

5. The Pahlavi Era

When someone says “life was better under the Shah,” which response is closest to yours? (If you are not Iranian, answer based on what you know of this period.)

A. This is a politically motivated myth — the Pahlavi era included severe repression that should not be whitewashed by selective nostalgia.
B. It’s complex — modernisation, economic growth, and SAVAK repression all coexisted and must be examined together, not selectively.
C. There’s economic truth to it, but the claim conveniently ignores serious human rights abuses and political suppression.
D. It’s largely true — Iran was modernising and prosperous, and problems have been exaggerated by the revolution’s beneficiaries.
E. The Pahlavi era was Iran’s golden age — anyone saying otherwise has an ideological agenda.

6. Substance vs. Charisma in Leadership

Figure A has millions of followers but no detailed policy platform. Figure B has published a comprehensive democratic transition plan but has a small following. Who should matter more?

A. Figure B without question — substance and policy detail are the only legitimate basis for leadership. Popularity without substance is dangerous.
B. Figure B — substance and policy detail matter more than popularity for genuine democratic leadership.
C. Both matter — visibility and substance are equally important in political movements.
D. Figure A — broad public support is essential for any real political change, even without detailed plans yet.
E. Figure A — someone with that much public support clearly has what it takes to lead.

7. Reza Pahlavi as Opposition Leader

How do you view Reza Pahlavi’s role in the Iranian opposition?

A. I’m not invested in the monarchist opposition — I either don’t follow it closely or don’t consider Reza Pahlavi particularly relevant to Iran’s democratic future.
B. He is one voice among many — his vision should be debated and scrutinised like anyone else’s.
C. He has symbolic importance and name recognition, but needs a concrete and inclusive policy platform.
D. He is the most credible unifying figure — the opposition should rally around his leadership.
E. He is the rightful unifying leader — questioning him only fragments the movement and helps the regime.

8. Critique Within the Opposition

An anti-regime activist argues the monarchist opposition lacks a clear policy platform. How do you react?

A. This is a legitimate and important observation — movements that cannot tolerate self-criticism are not credible democratic alternatives.
B. Internal critique is healthy — movements strengthen when they address weaknesses honestly.
C. The timing is questionable — unity against the regime should take priority, though the point has some merit.
D. Internal critique is unhelpful right now — unity against the regime matters more than policy details.
E. Criticising the opposition from within does the regime’s work — such voices should be marginalised.

9. Foreign Military Intervention

Some voices — within the diaspora and beyond — call for foreign military action as the only way to remove the regime. What’s your view?

A. Military intervention would devastate civilians and create chaos — I oppose it categorically, regardless of who is in power.
B. Foreign intervention rarely leads to democracy — I’m deeply sceptical based on historical precedent (Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan).
C. I’m conflicted — the regime is brutal, but military intervention carries enormous risks for ordinary Iranians and regional stability.
D. Targeted military strikes may be necessary if all diplomatic options are exhausted — the regime won’t leave willingly.
E. Full military intervention is necessary — nothing short of that will achieve regime change.

10. Sanctions & Civilian Suffering

Broad sanctions on Iran have contributed to medicine shortages and poverty. How do you feel?

A. Sanctions that harm civilians are morally unacceptable — target regime officials and assets, not the population.
B. The humanitarian cost deeply concerns me — sanctions should be restructured to minimise civilian harm while maintaining pressure on the regime.
C. Sanctions are painful but necessary — the regime leaves few other options, though I wish civilians were not affected.
D. Civilian suffering is regrettable but the regime bears full responsibility — sanctions must continue until it changes.
E. If sanctions bring regime collapse, civilian suffering is a necessary price worth paying.

11. Coherence & Intellectual Consistency

Pick the statement that best matches your overall outlook:

A. I can oppose the regime, criticise the opposition, question Western policy, and support Iranian self-determination — all at once, whether or not I am Iranian. Holding multiple critiques simultaneously is intellectual honesty, not contradiction.
B. I try to evaluate each issue independently, though I acknowledge my own biases and blind spots — no one is fully immune to tribal thinking.
C. I believe in supporting the most viable opposition, even if imperfect — pragmatism is more useful than ideological purity when facing a regime like this.
D. The monarchist movement is the best realistic hope for Iran — people should rally behind it while maintaining constructive dialogue.
E. Iran International, Manoto, and the Pahlavi-led opposition are essentially correct — anyone who disagrees is either naive or compromised.