YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 6-12, 2009
HIGHLIGHTS:
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: ARMENIAN PUBLIC RESPONSE TO PACE RESOLUTION
COURT REGISTRARS TORE THE JACKET OF PHOTO JOURNALIST
OMBUDSMAN STATES HIS CONCERN WITH THE QUALITY AND THE CONTENT OF TV SERIES
AND ADVERTISING
CPJ REPORT-2008: FREEDOM OF PRESS ENDANGERED BY INTENTION TO INDUCE A
CLIMATE OF FEAR AND SELF-CENSORSHIP
21 CANDIDATES FOR 2 VACANCIES IN THE COUNCIL OF PUBLIC TV AND RADIO COMPANY
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: ARMENIAN PUBLIC RESPONSE TO PACE RESOLUTION
On February 7 on the air of "Yerkir Media" TV company another "Press Club"
show was aired. The cycle is produced under Yerevan Press Club project,
supported by the Human Rights and Governance Grants Program of Open Society
Institute. The guests of the program host, YPC President Boris Navasardian
were Tigran Matosian (Center of Culture and Civilization Research of Yerevan
State University), Sona Manusian ("Socioscope" NGO), Gegham Vardanian
("Internews" Media Support NGO). The discussion centered on the response of
Armenian public to the discussion of Resolution 1643 (2009) at the January
plenary session of PACE.
The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on Saturday,
February 14, at 17.40.
COURT REGISTRARS TORE THE JACKET OF PHOTO JOURNALIST
On February 11 at the court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and
Nork-Marash of Yerevan during the court session on the case of the former RA
General Prosecutor Gagik Jangirian (charged with violence against
representative and attempted seizure of power) an incident between court
registrars and journalists occurred. According to the free-lance journalist
Gagik Shamshian, upon the instruction of Judge Zhora Vardanian the court
registrars suggested that the journalists leave the courtroom. As Gagik
Shamshian said, during the argument that arose between journalists and court
registrars, the head of the latter ones Artur Pilosian tore Shamshian’s
jacket. As YPC was informed by Gagik Shamshian, on the same day, he gave
written explanations on the incident at the police of Kentron community, and
his jacket was admitted for technical assessment to determine the damage
made.
OMBUDSMAN STATES HIS CONCERN WITH THE QUALITY AND THE CONTENT OF TV SERIES
AND ADVERTISING
On February 10 the statement of the RA Human Rights Defender Armen
Harutiunian was released that expressed his concern with the quality of TV
series and advertising, aired by the Public Television of Armenia and the
private broadcasters. The Ombudsman is particularly concerned with "their
negative influence on the adolescents in the stage of formation". The
statement of Armen Harutiunian notes that the low-class soap operas promote
life by criminal laws, do not observe the language standards and moral
norms, use street jargon and swearwords. The Ombudsman was equally worried
about the "TV films abundant in violence that are accompanied by
psychological terror, disrupt the value system, based on human dignity". In
the opinion of Armen Harutiunian such films and low-quality commercials
instead of a positive moral impact make a contrary effect on the
adolescents. The RA Human Rights Defender concluded the statement by making
an appeal to the broadcasters and the National Commission on Television and
Radio as a regulatory body to take steps to improve the situation on air.
CPJ REPORT-2008: FREEDOM OF PRESS ENDANGERED BY INTENTION TO INDUCE A
CLIMATE OF FEAR AND SELF-CENSORSHIP
On February 10 the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
publicized its annual report on attacks on press in different countries of
the world in 2008.
The CPJ report notes a number of tendencies, restricting freedom of
expression. According to the report, currently the greatest threats to
freedom of the press are more insidious than a generation ago because they
are intended to induce a climate of fear and self-censorship through
systematic violence and emblematic arrest aimed at those who would practice
real, independent journalism. Other world trends are violence against
journalists and censorship on the Internet.
In the report section, dealing with Armenia, the situation during
presidential elections of February 19 2008 and the post electoral period is
described. In particular, the CPJ report says that on March 1 an emergency
situation was introduced and the independent news coverage was factually
prohibited, and it also lists incidents with media representatives. Of other
incidents the report notes the unpunished attacks on the correspondent of
"Haikakan Zhamanak" daily Lusineh Barseghian on August 11, 2008 and on the
head of "Investigative Journalists" NGO Edik Baghdasarian on November 17,
2008. CPJ also noted the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights of
June 17, 2008, ruling that Article 10 of European Convention of Human Rights
and Fundamental Freedoms was violated with regard to "A1+" TV company,
deprived of air since April 2008, and the reaction of the Armenian
authorities who, in particular, adopted an amendment to the Law "On
Television and Radio", suspending the conductance of broadcast licensing
competitions till July 20, 2010.
In the section on Armenia other information is quoted as well, which however
is inaccurate or not duly confirmed. The report can be seen in full on the
web-site of the Committee to Protect Journalists at
21 CANDIDATES FOR 2 VACANCIES IN THE COUNCIL OF PUBLIC TV AND RADIO COMPANY
February 9 was the deadline for application submission for vacancies in the
Council of Public TV and Radio Company. As the competition jury reported,
applications are received from 21 candidates. The competition for filling in
vacancies in PTRC Council was announced due to the expiration of term of
service of the Council Vice Chairman Vardan Kopyan and the Council member
Arthur Grigorian (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, January 23-29, 2009).
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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
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Yerevan Press Club
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0002, Yerevan, Armenia
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress