YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 28 – OCTOBER 4, 2007
HIGHLIGHTS:
"PRESS CLUB" SHOWS TO DEAL WITH UPCOMING ELECTIONS FROM NOW ON
ARMENIA AND ITS NEIGHBORS: INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION IN ODZUN
PHOTOFIT OF AN ASSAULTER OF "ISKAKAN IRAVUNK" EDITOR PUBLISHED
ANOTHER NEWSPAPER FAILED TO REACH READERS – THIS TIME IN ARARAT REGION
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CENTER NAMED THE BEARERS OF GOLD KEYS AND A RUSTY
LOCK
"PRESS CLUB" SHOWS TO DEAL WITH UPCOMING ELECTIONS FROM NOW ON
On October 3 on the evening air of "Yerkir Media" TV another "Press Club"
was aired. Ahead of the presidential elections of 2008 the format of the
program has undergone certain changes: now, apart from its guests,
politicians and public figures, the possible presidency candidates and the
parties that support them, the discussions would also include studio
audience, representing students of Yerevan universities and NGOs. The debate
subject would be the upcoming elections.
On October 3 the guest of the program host, the President of Yerevan Press
Club Boris Navasardian, was the Chairman of Armenian Sociological
Association Gevorg Poghosian. The participants of "Press Club" discussed, in
particular, such issues as the importance of upcoming presidential
elections, the specifics of the current domestic political situation, the
sentiments of voters.
The next program of "Press Club" cycle will be aired by "Yerkir Media" on
October 10 at 21.40.
The "Press Club" cycle is produced under a project of Media Diversity
Institute, supported by Open Society Institute Assistance
Foundation-Armenia.
ARMENIA AND ITS NEIGHBORS: INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION IN ODZUN
On September 28-30 in Odzun (Lori region) "Reflection of the Relations of
Armenia with Its Neighbor Countries in Armenian Media" seminar was held. The
event was organized by Yerevan Press Club under the project "Karabagh Issue
and Armenian-Turkish Relations in the Pre-Election Rhetoric of Armenian
Political Figures", supported by Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The seminar
brought together the representatives of the leading print and broadcast
media of the country.
The interactive discussion developed around three major subjects:
parliamentary elections in Turkey and their influence on the situation in
the region; prospects of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and the resolution
of Mountainous Karabagh problem; possible scenarios of regional development
and the place of Armenia in them. The journalists presented the situation in
each of their media: how frequently it addresses the given issue, whether it
has distinct policy for its coverage, to what extent journalists/authors
have a right to express a viewpoint, different from the editorial stance.
The discussions were wrapped up respectively by the YPC project coordinator
Anna Simonian, the head of the Analytical Center of Globalization and
Regional Cooperation Stepan Grigorian and the observer of "Golos Armenii"
newspaper Ruben Margarian.
PHOTOFIT OF AN ASSAULTER OF "ISKAKAN IRAVUNK" EDITOR PUBLISHED
On September 29 a number of Armenian media published a photofit of one of
the two strangers that assaulted the Chief Editor of "Iskakan Iravunk"
newspaper Hovhannes Galajian on September 15. As it has been reported, the
incident occurred in the building of the editorial office. The head of
"Iskakan Iravunk" was beaten by iron rods and hospitalized with a brain
concussion and bruises (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, September
14-20, 2007).
As YPC was told by Hovhannes Galajian, he did not remember the second
offender, because he attacked from behind. On September 24 Hovhannes
Galajian left hospital and is currently back to his work as an editor.
ANOTHER NEWSPAPER FAILED TO REACH READERS – THIS TIME IN ARARAT REGION
The issues of "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun" newspaper of September 26 and 28, 2007
did not reach the readers of Artashat city and the neighboring villages of
Ararat region. This was stated to YPC by the Chief Editor of the newspaper
Shogher Matevosian. According to her, the distribution of these issues was
prevented through the effort of the head of the local branch of "Haymamul"
press dissemination agency. In the opinion of "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun", the
reason for the action was the article "With Much Gratitude and Best Regards
– Henrik Abrahamian", published on September 26, and the subsequent report
of the editorial staff about the disappearance of the previous issue from
the newspaper stalls of Artashat. The publication was dealing with RA
National Assembly deputy from Ararat region Henrik Abrahamian, the brother
of the Deputy Prime Minister, the RA Minister for Territorial Governance
Hovik Abrahamian. The article described the background of the deputy and his
current entrepreneurial and parliamentary activities. "(…) Newspapers can
always be collected, yet this will certainly not change the moral image of
Henrik Abrahamian. Do not have doubts", "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun" noted, in
particular, in its communication of September 28.
Similar incidents, when readers were deprived of a chance to buy the
newspaper, occurred earlier, too – both with other outlets and with the same
"Chorrord Ishkhanutiun". Thus, on September 11 the print run of
"Zhamanak-Yerevan" was bought out from the stalls – as the daily believes,
on the initiative of NA Deputy Karen Karapetian (see details in YPC Weekly
Newsletter, September 7-13, 2007).
Actually, as "Azg" daily reports on September 29, 2007, the rumors about the
possible sale of "Haymamul" stalls to a private person that had been around
for a long time have come true – the deal has been struck. "Azg" writes that
according to reliable sources the new owner of 221 newspaper stalls of
"Haymamul" in Yerevan and regions, as well as the delivery vehicles is now
"Press Stand" company. "Haymamul" currently holds only the administrative
facilities and the subscription sales of press, "Azg" informs. Whether this
will benefit the print media or harm them remains to be seen.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CENTER NAMED THE BEARERS OF GOLD KEYS AND A RUSTY
LOCK
On September 28 at "Regine" hotel in Yerevan the Freedom of Information
Center announced the results of its annual competition. The event was
dedicated to the International Right to Know Day (established in 2002) and
organized with the assistance of OSCE Office in Yerevan.
The most open institution in 2007 was recognized to be the Charentsavan
municipality.
The Yerevan municipality was awarded for the introduction of the most
effective electronic system, intended for the citizens’ address to
administrative agencies.
The public organization that is most active and efficient in using its right
to information was named to be "Asparez" Journalist’s Club of Gyumri.
The journalist who is most consistent in covering the freedom of information
issues and using the RA Law "On Freedom of Information" was announced to be
Angela Stepanian ("ALT" TV company of Armavir).
The most active defenders of their right to information among students were
named the students of the Yerevan State University Journalism Department.
By tradition all persons and organizations, listed above, received prizes of
a gold key – as a symbol of openness.
The most closed local self-government body was recognized to be Armavir
municipality, who was awarded a rusty lock – a symbol of secrecy.
When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.
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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
_____________________________________ _______
Yerevan Press Club
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0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
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