JOURNALISTS FROM REGIONS SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN JOINT PROJECTS

KarabakhOpen
25-10-2007 11:36:46

In the framework of the project Journalism and Peace Building financed
by the International Alert discussions were held in the regions on
the topic of the meetings of Armenian and Azerbaijani journalists,
whether they are necessary and useful in the post-conflict period. The
journalists of the Hadrut-based Dizak Newspaper, Askeran-based Bert
and Martakert-based Jrabert had a conversation with the initiator of
the discussion Karine Ohanyan, reporter.

She told about joint projects involving cooperation between Karabakh
and Azerbaijani reporters, as well as the fact that the same reporters
participate in them and it is necessary to involve new people since
the more a journalist travels and the more people he meets, the better
informed he will be. Meanwhile, mostly the journalists of the capital
participate in the regional projects, and journalists working for
the regional newspapers should also be involved in these projects.

"We have little opportunities for contacts meanwhile they are
necessary, for only direct contact enables telling each other the
truth," said the reporter of the Dizak. The editor of the Bert also
approved cooperation.

"Our societies are different. In Azerbaijan, the opinion of journalists
is shaped by their propaganda. I track the Azerbaijani media, and
I see a lot of military rhetoric there, unlike our media. I think
we need to focus on ideology and propaganda." The reporters of the
Bert said in their region more Azerbaijani TV programs are received
than Armenian. "We track their speeches, their calls for war. In this
climate it is difficult to start a dialogue."

The reporters of the Jrabert also have a positive attitude towards
meetings of Armenian and Azerbaijani journalists. "What else if not
a dialogue?

We have nothing to lose – the Azerbaijani border is 15 km from here.

Better words than weapon…"

On the whole, the reporters of Askeran, Hadrut and Martakert want to
be involved in meetings of Armenian and Azerbaijani journalists. They
think it is one of the ways of resolving the conflict.