Characteristics and Components of Radio Documentaries Aimed at Developing Cultural Diplomacy and Tourism in the IRIB World Service’s Radios (Case Study: Tabriz)
 
Abstract:
Radio documentaries, through the auditory narration of culture, history, and tourist attractions, have the potential to construct a positive and appealing image of a country in the minds of foreign audiences. This study aims to identify the content and formal characteristics of radio documentaries produced within the IRIB World Service for the effective introduction of the city of Tabriz -a city that has played a significant role in the historical transformations of the Caucasus, Anatolia, and Iran. Data were collected through library-based research and semi-structured interviews with expert professionals, and were subsequently examined, systematized, and interpreted using thematic analysis. Based on the criterion of theoretical saturation, nineteen experts participated in the study. The findings indicate that eleven overarching themes play a central role in the production of radio documentaries across two interrelated dimensions: content and form. The content-related themes include history; archaeological heritage, architecture, and tourism; literature; art; climate and environment; food and cuisine; medicine and health; industry, technology, and agriculture; religious tourism; and sports tourism. In addition, a hybrid narrative–dialogue structure, the integration of music with narration, and the narrator’s presence in historical settings constitute the organized themes that define the overarching formal and structural characteristics of radio documentaries. The application of these content and formal components can enhance the attraction of tourists from the Republic of Azerbaijan to Tabriz—as a comprehensive and multifaceted tourist city—and facilitate the development of cultural diplomacy.