DIRECTOR OF NOYAN TAPAN: INSTANCES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST REPORTERS ARE
A RESULT OF LACK OF JOURNALISTIC SOLIDARITY

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. "The present-day press of Armenia
is a direct result of the independence, but it is more difficult to
work now," the chairwoman of the National Press Club Narine Mkrtchain
stated during a discussion at the club on September 7. According
to her, the recent years’ experience shows that the situation in
the country becomes strained before each election campaign, as a
result of which pressure on reporters grows as well. She noted the
the current situation requires making respective conclusions and
joint efforts of reporters. Hovhannes Galajian, editor-in-chief of
the newspaper "Iravunk" ("Law"), expressed an opinion that the fact
that problems may be solved in Armenia by applying "criminal pressure"
has caused the current situation. In his words, such pressure should be
counteracted by steadfastness of the journalistic corps. According to
Tigran Harutyunian, director of the Noyan Tapan News Agency, instances
of violence against resporters are a result of the lack of solidarity
among them and the split in the journalistic field.

"The field of journalism is now more split than ever. Many mass
media heads make their reporters present events in an incomplete,
even distorted form by violating the journalistic ethics and not to
address certain subjects or persons, which weakens the journalistic
field and prevents the people from implementing control over the
authorities based on impartiality of the mass media," he said. In his
words, as a result of the split in the journalistic field, violence
against reporters is becoming a usual phenomenon not receiving a
counterblow. T. Harutyunian sees the way out of the situation in
the unity and solidarity of reporters. He said that reporters should
put their professional interests above political and material ones,
which would make the general atmosphere in Armenia healthier.