IN THE SPOTLIGHT: OPENING A NEW PAGE
By Michael J. Arvizu

Burbank Leader
02/24/business/blr-magazine022410.txt
Feb 24 2010
CA

Magazine is the first for children written in Armenian to share
culture.

Juliette Davtian, managing editor and founder of Gakavig Armenian
children’s magazine, has finally filled the gap between American-born
Armenians and their heritage by teaching them ways to preserve and
learn more about their culture, she said.

Davtian sat in the conference room of Horizon Armenian Television
in Los Angeles, showing off the first edition of her magazine, which
launched in Burbank on Feb. 3. The cover features a snowman dressed in
a beanie and scarf. In the background is a winter wonderland, complete
with falling snowflakes, pine trees and rolling snow-covered hills.

The first few pages features puzzles, one of which asks kids to
differentiate between clothing worn during the summer and during the
winter. Another page asks readers to fill in the blanks to spell out
the pictured animal.

"This way, they learn better," Davtian said.

advertisement Another page tells the story of how a cat and a dog
became enemies because the cat could not correctly sew the hat the
dog wanted.

Davtian said Gakavig is the first children’s magazine of its kind
in the Armenian community. After three years of market research
and planning, Davtian felt she was ready for her vision to become a
reality. Her research also found that no other magazine in Armenian
existed for kids.

"What prompted me to start this was that something like this does not
exist in the Armenian community," Davtian said. "It’s a much-needed
venture."

The magazine is written in Armenia’s Western and Eastern dialects,
Davtian said. Stories, riddles, poems and songs complement the
publication. The first issue is a promotional issue, at 12 pages.

Subsequent issues are expected to publish at 16 pages.

"The activities are done in a way that will allow [kids] to use their
abilities," Davtian said. "They use their logic."

While acknowledging the harsh business climate for magazines and
newspapers, Davtian said she feels no fear as she enters her new
venture.

"I had already spoken to some major circles that could help me in
consuming this product," Davtian said. "The feedback was that the
need is out there, and it would be great if we could do it."

For many kids who don’t attend Armenian schools on a regular basis,
this magazine, she said, would help them preserve their language.

"This would serve not only as an activity tool for them, but also
for those kids who don’t have the chance to go to an Armenian school,
what happens is that they will get a chance to become familiar with
the language," Davtian said.

The magazine is available in Armenian grocery stores, and is being
distributed to Armenian schools in Glendale, Davtian said.