OSCE OFFICE FACILITATES DISCUSSION ON MEDIA SELF-REGULATION IN ARMENIA

Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE)

Sept 26 2006

YEREVAN, 25 September 2006 – Media accountability and best practices
regarding self-regulation mechanisms, particularly for public
broadcasters, were discussed at a meeting that took place in Yerevan
over the weekend.

It brought together journalists and managers of the Public TV and Radio
Company of Armenia (PTRC) and other Armenian media, representatives
of international and non-governmental organizations.

They discussed the possibility of introducing an internal
ombudsperson’s institution for the public broadcaster, professional
ethics and the need to develop a professional Code of Conduct in
the PTRC.

"Journalistic ethics and self-regulation play a significant role
in the development of a professional, independent and accountable
media," said Blanka Hancilova, Democratization Programme Officer at
the OSCE Office in Yerevan. "We hope that this meeting helped to
identify mechanisms for institutionalizing media self-regulation,
which will enhance compliance with professional ethics."

Boris Navasardian, President of the Yerevan Press Club, added: "Media
self-regulation in Armenia will not only raise accountability of the
different news outlets, but will also strengthen their independence."

The two-day event, "Introduction of self-regulatory mechanisms in
Armenian media," was organized by the OSCE Office, the Yerevan Press
Club, PTRC, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization’s Office in Moscow.

Jeffrey Dvorkin, the first ombudsman of the U.S. National Public Radio
and executive director of the Committee of Concerned Journalists,
and Ian Mayes, president of the international Organization of News
Ombudsmen and the Guardian newspaper ombudsman shared their experience.