Central Asian and Southern Caucasus Freedom of Expression Network
(CASCFEN), Azerbaijan
June 11 2004

Am: ICT in Armenian media

YPC, Yerevan, 11 Jun 2004 — A brochure by a graduate student of
Yerevan State University, YPC member Aram Mkrtchian “New Information
and Communication Technologies in the Armenian Media” was published.
It reflects the findings of a sociological survey administered
by the author and the YSU journalism students in cooperation with
“Advanced Social Technologies” research center. The poll was held in
March-April, 2004 among 45 respondent-media heads (editors, directors,
executive secretaries). In the selection of the media for the research
the Armenian Media resource of Yerevan Press Club (placed in “Address
Book” section on YPC web site, ) was used.

The survey was to find out what are the resources owned by Armenian
media; how and where they use information and communication
technologies (ICT) and how necessary they think their practical
application is; what are the expected changes and fears of the greater
development of ICT. Using the data obtained the brochure author
proposes recommendations on the use of ICT in the media activities. As
of today, as the research findings show, while the Armenian media
are active users of ICT, the level of the qualitative use of these,
due to a number of objective and subjective reasons, remains low.

Such research was administered in Armenia for the first time; however,
the journalism department of the YSU plans to study the situation of
the ICT use on annual basis.

Aram Mkrtchian’s brochure “New Information and Communication
Technologies in Armenian Media” (in the Armenian language) can be
viewed at YPC web site: in the “Studies” section.