FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (June 10, 2011) – PBS NEWSHOUR marks the two-year anniversary of Iran’s “Green Movement” with an exclusive report about the government crackdown that followed the disputed presidential election. A collaboration with the Center for Investigative Reporting, the report airs tonight, Friday, June 10, 2011 and features the courageous work of an Iranian journalist and the first, heart-wrenching account of a female demonstrator who says after she was arrested, she was raped, beaten and tortured by the Iranian government.

Coverage continues online at pbs.org/newshour, with a web exclusive featuring “Samira”, a young Irani rap singer who uses her music to give voice to those who cannot speak out.

At centerforinvestigativereporting.org find an extended interview with “Leila”, a young woman who was tortured and raped while in detention for participating in the 2009 protests.

PBS NEWSHOUR is seen five nights a week on more than 315 PBS stations across the country and is also available online, via public radio in select markets and via podcast. The program is produced by MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, in association with WETA Washington, DC, and WNET.org in New York. Major corporate funding for the PBS NEWSHOUR is provided by Chevron, BNSF Railway, Pacific Life and Intel, with additional support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and public television viewers.

The Center for Investigative Reporting is the nation’s oldest nonprofit investigative news organization. CIR reports have reached the public through television, print, radio and the web, appearing in outlets such as 60 Minutes, PBS Frontline, NPR, The Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Politico and U.S. News & World Report. CIR stories have received numerous journalism awards including the Alfred I. du Pont-Columbia University Silver Baton, George Polk Award, Emmy Award, Investigative Reporters and Editors Award, and a National Magazine Award for Reporting Excellence. More importantly, its reports have sparked congressional hearings and legislation, United Nations resolutions, public interest lawsuits and change in corporate policies. For more information, visit www.cironline.org.

Media Contacts:

Anne Bell
PBS NEWSHOUR
703-998-2175

Marlene Saritzky
Center for Investigative Reporting
415-713-1241.