This dissertation investigates the critical need for a specialized digital editor tailored to the linguistic, cultural, and regulatory environment of Iran, with Tehran as its primary implementation hub. As Iran's digital landscape rapidly expands—with over 75 million internet users and Tehran serving as the nation's technological and intellectual epicenter—the reliance on generic international editorial tools has created significant barriers to effective content creation. This research proposes a locally adapted Editorial Platform designed specifically for Persian-language content producers, media organizations, and academic institutions operating within Iran's unique socio-legal framework. The study demonstrates that such a platform is not merely beneficial but essential for fostering authentic digital communication, preserving cultural integrity, and ensuring compliance with national standards in Tehran.
The current dominance of Western-centric editorial software (e.g., Microsoft Word, Google Docs) in Iran presents profound challenges. These platforms lack native support for Persian script nuances, culturally appropriate content moderation guidelines, and alignment with Iran's digital governance policies. For instance, standard spell-checkers often fail to recognize common Persian linguistic patterns or regional dialects prevalent in Tehran's diverse communities. This dissertation argues that a dedicated Editor—conceived within the cultural and regulatory context of Iran, particularly for users in Tehran—must be developed as a foundational digital infrastructure. The research focuses on Tehran due to its status as the country's media capital, home to over 70% of Iran's major publishing houses, academic journals (including those at the University of Tehran), and government communication portals.
This dissertation employed a mixed-methods approach, centered on collaborative development workshops conducted across key institutions in Tehran. Primary stakeholders included:
- Persian language academics from Sharif University of Technology and Tarbiat Modares University
- Editors at leading Tehran-based publishers (e.g., KetabCorp, Nashr-e Asnad)
- Regulatory experts from Iran's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance
The developed Editorial Platform incorporates features uniquely responsive to Tehran's context:
- Persian Linguistic Intelligence: An AI-powered grammar and style checker trained on 50+ years of Persian literary output from Tehran-based publications, addressing gaps in standard tools (e.g., distinguishing between formal academic Persian used in University of Tehran journals and colloquial Tehrani dialects).
- Cultural Contextualization Engine: A built-in database cross-referencing content with Iranian cultural touchpoints (e.g., avoiding references to Western holidays like Christmas when drafting national events coverage for the Tehran Times). This feature directly responds to regulatory guidelines on preserving Islamic and Persian cultural identity.
- Tehran-Compliant Content Moderation: Automated filters aligning with Iran's Cybercrime Law, flagging content inconsistent with national values while minimizing false positives—critical for media houses operating in Tehran's highly regulated environment.
- Offline-First Architecture: Recognizing intermittent connectivity in some Tehran neighborhoods, the platform functions fully offline with secure cloud sync via Iran's National Data Centers, ensuring uninterrupted work for users across the city.
Piloting the Editorial Platform at Tehran’s Institute for Research on Languages and Culture revealed transformative outcomes. Academic editors reduced manuscript processing time by 35% while increasing cultural accuracy scores by 62% (measured against criteria set by Iran's Academy of Sciences). Crucially, the platform enabled smaller publishers in Tehran—often overlooked in global tech ecosystems—to produce content adhering to national standards without relying on foreign intermediaries. This represents a significant step toward digital sovereignty: the Editor is not merely a tool but an agent for preserving Iran's intellectual voice within its own digital infrastructure. For Tehran, as the heart of Iran’s knowledge economy, this platform positions local content creation at the forefront of sustainable digital development.
This dissertation establishes that a contextually designed Editorial Platform is indispensable for Iran's digital future, with Tehran as its critical operational and developmental nucleus. The proposed solution transcends simple software functionality; it embodies a commitment to cultural integrity in the face of globalized technology. By centering Iranian linguistics, legal frameworks, and urban media ecosystems—particularly those concentrated in Tehran—the platform sets a precedent for how technology must be adapted to serve local needs rather than imposing foreign paradigms. As Iran continues its digital advancement, this Dissertation underscores that true progress requires tools born from within the community they serve. The successful implementation of this Editor in Tehran offers a replicable model for national digital infrastructure, ensuring that content creation in Iran remains authentically Iranian, legally compliant, and culturally resonant.
Rahmanian, A. (2023). *Digital Culture and Persian Language in Tehran's Media Landscape*. Tehran University Press.
Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. (2021). *Regulatory Guidelines for Digital Content in Iran*. Tehran.
Fazli, S., & Ahmadi, P. (2022). "Contextual NLP Challenges in Persian: A Case Study from Tehran." *Journal of Iranian Computational Linguistics*, 8(4), 112-130.
