YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
JANUARY 11-17, 2008
HIGHLIGHTS:
UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN "PRESS CLUB" CYCLE
ANOTHER "PRESS CLUB" SUPPLEMENT
PROBLEMS OF REGIONS ON THE AIR OF FIVE TV CHANNELS
MEDIA ETHICS OBSERVATORY CALLED ON "ARAVOT" AND "ARMENIA" TO SOLVE THE
CONFLICT OUT OF COURT
UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN "PRESS CLUB" CYCLE
On January 16 another "Press Club" show went on the evening air of "Yerkir
Media" TV company. The guest of the program host, the President of Yerevan
Press Club Boris Navasardian, was Arman Melikian. The subject for discussion
was the upcoming presidential elections, in particular, the stance of Arman
Melikian as RA presidency candidate.
The next, final program of this "Press Club" cycle will be aired by "Yerkir
Media" on January 18, at 21.40.
The "Press Club" cycle is produced under a project of Media Diversity
Institute, supported by Open Society Institute Assistance
Foundation-Armenia.
ANOTHER "PRESS CLUB" SUPPLEMENT
On January 12 on the air of "Yerkir Media" TV company the third supplement
to "Press Club" program cycle was aired. The supplement deals with the
problems of media coverage of election campaign. In the supplements
journalists and public take part. The program is produced under the project
of Media Diversity Institute with the financial assistance of the US
Department of State Public Affairs Section.
PROBLEMS OF REGIONS ON THE AIR OF FIVE TV CHANNELS
This week on the air of five regional TV channels a final program cycle,
dealing with presidential elections in Armenia, was broadcast. As it has
been reported, this project of Yerevan Press Club, supported by the UNDP,
involved the following TV companies: "Tsayg" (Gyumri, Shirak region), STV1
(Sevan, Gavar region), "Sosi" (Kapan, Syunik region), "Lori" (Vanadzor, Lori
region), "Ankyun+3" (Alaverdi, Lori region). Each of the TV channels listed
produced a talk show, broadcast also by all the others. All the programs
have the same subject: how adequately the problems of regions are raised in
the beginning of the election campaign and how they are reflected in the
rhetoric of the election process participants. The second subject of
discussion centered on various aspects of the process, too. Three talk shows
were aired in December 2007 (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, December 14-20,
2007). The last two talk shows were prepared by "Lori" and "Ankyun+3" TV
channels. The second subject for discussion on "Lori" was the awareness of
the voters regarding the platforms of the candidates, on "Ankyun+3" –
whether democratic procedures and freedoms are observed in the regions, in
particular, the freedom of expression, freedom of assembly.
The problems raised in talk shows will become subjects for debates between
presidential candidates, their representatives. The debates under this YPC
project will be aired since January 23 on "Yerkir Media" TV channel.
MEDIA ETHICS OBSERVATORY CALLED ON "ARAVOT" AND "ARMENIA" TO SOLVE THE
CONFLICT OUT OF COURT
In the issue of "Aravot" daily of January 11, 2008 an article "Has the
‘Alliance’ of the Gafesjians and the Sargsians Failed?" (by Gayaneh
Sahakian) was published. The article told about the controversy between the
co-owners of "Armenia" TV company, the Sargsian family and the American
multi-millionaire of Armenian descent Gerard Gafesjian, about the rumors of
a sale of share in the TV company, the alleged problems of salary
allocations and payments, as well as projects implemented.
On January 12 on the air of "Armenia" the co-owner of the TV company Bagrat
Sargsian spoke and refuted the information, published by "Aravot",
announcing he would sue the daily.
On January 15 the Media Ethics Observatory urged "Armenia" TV company and
"Aravot" daily to solve the conflict out of court. Expressing its concern
with the incident between the two media and noting that taking the problem
to court may seriously harm the reputation of the media, the MEO appealed on
"Armenia" TV to solve the issue through negotiations and on "Aravot" daily –
to be ready to engage in them. MEO also stated its readiness to become a
mediator in the out-of-court solution of the matter, if necessary.
Currently the heads of "Armenia" TV and "Aravot" daily hold negotiations and
discuss the possibilities for solving the conflict out of court.
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
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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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