Political and Journalistic Translation Courses and the Market Demand in Iran

Abstract

Today world is the world of information exchange in a rapid manner. Keeping pace with such rapid world requires being informed of information. In addition, people need to be aware of international news. This is the task of translators to provide the countries with the latest news and information. Therefore, translation industry demands more attention in such environment. Its requirements are not satisfied just by experience; rather transjournalists should be equipped with translating knowledge and science so that they can meet demands of the market. Technical writing, editing, knowledge of information technology, writing summary and text analysis are among skills that now translators are suggested to be equipped with, especially in translating political and journalistic texts. Translator training programs at higher education should be in consistency with media market demands; as a result, such transjournalists would be trained in such a way that can survive in the market successfully. The aim of this paper was to investigate consistency between media market demand and courses related to translating political and journalistic texts in translator training programs at higher education level in Iran. By investigation of market demands and comparison of them with educational goals stated in related lesson plans for translator training classes it can be realized that whether there is consistency between what is needed by market and what is trained in reality in universities to translation students. Hypothesis of the research was as follows: courses related to translating political and journalistic texts in translator training program at higher education in Iran are not consistent with media market demands.