[close] Massoud Behnoud, (مسعود بهنود in Persian) a prominent Iranian journalist and writer, was born on July 27, 1947 in Tehran. He started his work as a journalist in 1964. During his long career he worked as an investigating journalist for different newspapers. He founded more than 20 newspapers and magazines, none of them are currently in publication.

Between 1971-79 he was the chief editor of the most influential and popular daily in Iran "Ayandegan". This newspaper was closed in 1979 on the orders of Ayatollah Khomeini and its editor and senior staff were all imprisoned. During 1972-79 he also worked as a producer, writer and speaker for the "National Iranian Radio and Television". In 1979 Massoud Behnoud became the chief editor of the weekly "Tehran-e Mosavvar", which was shut down by the Islamic government after 30 issues during the crackdown of all non-governmental and independent newspapers.

Between 1972 and 1979 Massoud Behnoud was one of the most important and active figures of the trade union of Iranian journalists.
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