"PLURALISM PASSED AWAY"

A1+
[07:07 pm] 30 October, 2007

"No pluralism exits in mass media in the pre-election period,
that is why I can say that today’s level of broadcasting media is
very low" said expert of Yerevan Press Club Mesrop Harutyunyan to
"A1+", estimating the situation of mass media in Armenia. This became
obvious when the First President announced of his intention to return
to politics.

"Even before he announced of his intention, the pluralism had died
in the broadcasting mass media. Of course their heads insist that
they broadcast the speeches of this or that opposition leader. But
this is an apparent pluralism only".

The expert ensures that if the fight is between two powers, they
should be broadcasted equally, so that the society will be able to
make a conscious decision.

As to the news broadcasted by the Public TV Channel, which criticizes
opposition leaders, the expert considers that according to the Article
28 of the RA Law "On TV and Radio", the TV Channel should provide
pluralism in its broadcast.

"The Law says that the prevalence of one viewpoint is forbidden in
the TV Channel which is frequently violated. Why do they always talk
about the right of journalists regarding the freedom of speech and
ignore others’ rights?", complained Mesrop Harutyunyan.

Astghik Gevorgyan, chairwoman of the Union of Journalists of Armenia
mentioned that she learnt about the same information from various
mass media.

"All mass media provide biased or unbiased information. The
problem is in the context of information,- she said, adding that
someone stood behind each mass media and carried out his policy,-
If editor-in-chiefs were independent financially we would have quite
a different picture". According to her, if press wants to enlarge
its audience it should follow certain principles and be a reliable
partner for each member of the society.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress