YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 12-18, 2010
HIGHLIGHTS:
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: MEASURES FOR EROTIC AND HORROR
NCTR APPROVED THE CRITERIA FOR "BAD" PROGRAMS
RADIO "HAY" SUIT VERSUS RA NA DEPUTY REVOKED
FOUNDER OF "HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK" REPAID THE FINE
CPJ REPORT 2009: "VIOLENT ATTACKS AGAINST JOURNALISTS CONTINUED AMID A
CLIMATE OF IMPUNITY"
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: MEASURES FOR EROTIC AND HORROR
On February 16, another "Press Club" show went on the air of "Yerkir Media"
TV company. The cycle is produced under Yerevan Press Club project,
supported by the Open Society Institute. The guests of the program host, YPC
President Boris Navasardian were Koryun Arakelian, member of National
Commission on Television and Radio (NCTR), and director Ara Shirinian. The
discussion centered on the criteria for erotic TV and radio programs, films,
containing horror and violence scenes, as well as programs which could have
negative influence on the health, mental, physical growth and education of
minors. The criteria were approved by NCTR on February 15 (see below).
The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on February 23,
at 21.15.
NCTR APPROVED THE CRITERIA FOR "BAD" PROGRAMS
On February 15 National Commission on Television and Radio approved the
criteria for erotic TV and radio programs, films, containing horror and
violence scenes, as well as programs which could have negative influence on
the health, mental, physical growth and education of minors. As it has been
reported, the document was developed by expert commission (established under
the NCTR) in compliance with the requirements of Article 24 of RA Law "On
Television and Radio", authorizing the broadcast of such programs only at
night (from 24.00 till 6.00). Some of these criteria raised doubt, first of
all for blurred wordings, assuming a broad and subjective interpretation
(see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, February 5-11, 2010).
Later on the document was revised. Yet its new, already approved version
raises quite a few questions. As before, a number of definitions, in
particular of what can negatively affect the minors invoke amazement. For
instance, who and how will define "the discredit and humiliation of national
figures, cultural heritage" or " the distortion of historical events"? The
reference to "general educational programs" as an indisputable credible
source is rather dubious – the latter are being seriously criticized, too.
And even if the quality of educational programs did not cast doubts,
couldn’t the TV, radio programs, including discussion programs, come up with
approaches, different from textbooks?
RADIO "HAY" SUIT VERSUS RA NA DEPUTY REVOKED
On February 15 court of general jurisdiction of Avan and Nor Nork
communities of Yerevan revoked the suit of Radio "HAY" founder, "Radio "HAY"
LLC, versus Styopa Safarian, deputy of RA National Assembly, head of
"Heritage" faction. As it has been reported, the hearings on this case
started on September 24, 2009. The plaintiff demanded to oblige the
defendant to publish a refutation and apologize for the expressions
discrediting the business reputation of Radio "HAY". The reason for the suit
became a phrase from a piece by Styopa Safarian, titled "Voyage, Voyage to
Madrid and Dagestan" (published in "Hraparak" daily on August 20, 2009). In
the piece Styopa Safarian argues, in absentia, with one of the leaders of
ruling Republican Party of Armenia, recalls some quotations made by RPA
leader during one of the two shows, "Armenian Feedback" (aired on Radio
"HAY" on July 30 and July 31, 2009). The author of the article described
these shows as "a two-series concert ordered by the President’s
administration" (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, September 18-24, 2009).
At the session of February 15 the court considered the demands of the suit
to be groundless.
FOUNDER OF "HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK" REPAID THE FINE
On February 10, 2010 the founder of "Haykakan Zhamanak" daily, "Dareskizb"
LLC, repaid the fine, imposed by court on the suit to protect the honor and
the dignity of Levon Kocharian, younger son of RA Second President Robert
Kocharian. As it has been reported, the reason of the lawsuit was the
editorial "The Adventures of Robert’s Son in Dubai", published in "Haykakan
Zhamanak" on February 6, 2009. The piece informed about Levon Kocharian’s
detention by police of Dubai, UAE, in the end of 2008. On June 5, 2009 court
of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan
partially secured the demands of the suit, by obliging the newspaper to
publish a refutation, to pay off the plaintiff a sum of 3 million and 620
thousand AMD (about $ 9,600), and to compensate the sue charges of 72
thousand AMD. On October 2, 2009 RA Civil Court of Appeal reduced the amount
of the fine to 620 thousand AMD (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, October 2-8,
2009).
As "Haykakan Zhamanak" informed on February 11, 2010, the fine was repaid in
order to release the property of "Dareskizb" LLC, put under arrest by RA
Service of Compulsory Execution of Court Acts.
CPJ REPORT 2009: "VIOLENT ATTACKS AGAINST JOURNALISTS CONTINUED AMID A
CLIMATE OF IMPUNITY"
On February 16 US-based Committee to Protect Journalists released the annual
report on Attacks on the Press in 2009 in more than 100 countries of the
world. Among the major developments of the previous year CPJ highlighted the
unprecedented massacre of 31 journalists and media employees in Philippine,
a spike in violence in Somali (forcing a high number of journalists into
exile) and massive post-electoral crackdown on freedom of expression in
Iran.
In the report section dealing with Armenia it is noted that the public
remains polarized by the presidential elections 2008, with protest actions
and government reprisals continuing well in 2009. The authorities seek to
suppress critical debate over these issues, as a result journalists face
intolerance, hostility, and violence. The authorities control over most
broadcast media, the primary news source in a poverty-afflicted country with
poor newspaper distribution and low Internet penetration, the report states.
The Council of Public TV and Radio Company, composed of members, appointed
by RA President, continues to set editorial guidelines for First Channel of
the Public Television of Armenia, ensuring the pro-government coverage. CPJ
research showed that most private TV and radio companies are owned by
politicians and businessmen with close ties to the government, leading to
significant self-censorship by journalists and limited critical news
reporting on the air.
CPJ emphasizes that "A1+", independent TV company, remains without a
broadcast license. The TV company was pulled from airwaves in 2002 and has
made a dozen unsuccessful attempts to get back on air. According to the
ruling of European Court of Human Rights of 2008 the broadcast regulatory
body violated the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms by rejecting the applications of "A1+" without explanation.
"Violent attacks against journalists continued amid a climate of impunity",
the report says and lists a number of incidents with media representatives:
free lance journalist Gagik Shamshian at Yerevan State Linguistic University
(March 13, 2009); the attack on Argishti Kivirian, Coordinator of Armenia
Today news agency (April 30, 2009); the assault of Nver Mnatsakanian, author
and host of "Perspectives" program cycle of "Shant" TV company (May 6,
2009).
CPJ also mentions the cases of impeding journalistic activities and
restriction of their rights: the incidents on the day of Elections to
Yerevan Council of Elderly (May 31, 2009); prevention of the crew of "Shant"
TV company by police from covering protests in Gyumri
(August 6, 2009); the approval by RA National Assembly of new media
accreditation rules. The report also states the early release – for health
reasons – of Arman Babajanian (in August 2009), Chief Editor of "Zhamanak"
daily, condemned in 2006 for document fraud to evade military service.
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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
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