YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 2-8, 2005
HIGHLIGHTS:
CONFLICT BETWEEN “EUROPEAN INTEGRATION” AND “AZG”
“ARAVOT” DAILY ADOPTED ITS ETHICS CODE
MDI EVENTS ON DIVERSITY
NEW PROJECTS FOR THE RUSSIAN-SPEAKING AUDIENCE
“168 HOURS” – A YEAR ON MEDIA MARKET
CONFLICT BETWEEN “EUROPEAN INTEGRATION” AND “AZG”
On September 8 at Congress Hotel in Yerevan the press-conference of the
Chairman of “European Integration” NGO Karen Bekarian was held. The reason
for the meeting with journalists was the publication in “Azg” daily on
August 17, 2005, titled “One Armenian Way of European Integration”. The vast
article was based on the letter of Armenian State Award laureates Ashot
Zakarian, Alexander Kashin and the USSR State Award laureate Marat Krmoyan,
addressed to the RA National Assembly Speaker Arthur Baghdasarian (Karen
Bekarian is also the expert of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign
Relations). The letter, in particular, accused the NGO head in “harming the
international reputation of his country by his activities”. The publication
told about the conflict that arose in the course of implementation of a
research project by Cosmology Unit of the Yerevan Physics Institute of the
RA Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, headed by Dr. Vahagn
Gyurzadian. The project was funded by the US Trade Development Agency,
contracted by US “Sky Broadband Services”, Inc., and subcontracted by
“European Integration”, acting as a treasurer.
According to Karen Bekarian, in late January 2005, two month before the
project ended, Vahagn Gyurzadian proposed that “European Integration”
transfer the remainder of the grant (making up over 70% of the funds
transferred to the subcontractor – $ 102,720.45) to the account of a natural
person, contrary to legal norms. Then the implementer attempted to get the
amount transferred to the account of “Cosmology” NGO that was not registered
at that point – as confirmed by RA Ministry of Justice in reply to the
inquiry of “European Integration”. Because of the mistrust of the
subcontractor, the issuance of money to the implementer was suspended. The
lengthy debates between the parties of the project did not clarify the
situation; Karen Bekarian resolved to pass on a demand draft for this amount
to the US Embassy in Armenia.
As the head of “European Integration” noted at the press-conference, his
organization did not intend to publicize the conflict and only had to do so
after “Azg” refused to publish a response to the article of August 17.
To the question of why “European Integration” did not file a suit against
“Azg”, Karen Bekarian explained that he believes the activities of such
institutes as NGOs and media extremely important and that the litigations
between them will damage the common cause – the establishment of civil
society in the country.
In his letter to the head of “European Integration” of August 31 the Chief
Editor of “Azg” Hagop Avedikian explained the reasons for the refusal to
publish a response “at this point”. Since the latter is “over than twice as
long as” the article itself and “does not provide factual proofs”, “does not
refute” the information, published by the newspaper. The Chief Editor of
“Azg” informed YPC that he does not exclude the possibility for publishing
Karen Bekarian’s response, should the requirements above be met.
“ARAVOT” DAILY ADOPTED ITS ETHICS CODE
On September 8 in a front page editorial “Aravot” daily published its
Professional Ethics Code. The document was developed by the creative staff
of the daily and adopted by consensus on September 6. The free-lance
correspondents of the newspaper expressed their consent with these norms of
professional conduct, too.
The Ethics Code of “Aravot”, having 8 clauses, stipulates in particular: to
clearly distinguish between fact and opinion; to ensure accuracy and
objectivity in publication; to provide a right to respond to people
criticized or accused in the newspaper; to avoid of insult and labeling; not
to criticize other media or journalists on the pages of “Aravot” and not to
respond to criticism of the latter; to observe the confidentiality of
information sources; not to publish information about the private lives of
people, unless it refers to the revenues of officials or facts of
corruption. Besides, the Ethics Code makes a reservation that “Aravot” does
not express the opinion of any political group, and the comment in the front
page editorial is the personal opinion of an author, not reflecting the
stance of the daily and not influencing the focus of other pieces.
As YPC was told by the Chief Editor of “Aravot” Aram Abrahamian, signing of
the Ethics Code will not be a mandatory requirement when hiring new creative
staff. “This is rather a manifestation of good will, and not an obligation.
However, the journalist who has violated the Code will find it hard to work
on team”, Aram Abrahamian stressed.
The Ethics Code of “Aravot” (in Armenian, Russian and English languages) can
be viewed on the web-site of the daily:
Notably, “Aravot” was the first national medium of Armenia to publish its
norms of professional conduct.
MDI EVENTS ON DIVERSITY
On September 3-5 in Yerevan a training seminar for non-governmental
organizations representing various minorities and socially vulnerable groups
was held. On the last day of the seminar journalists took part in it, too.
The training on media relations of NGOs was organized by the London-based
Media Diversity Institute (MDI) under “Minority Empowerment and Media
Development in South Caucasus” project, implemented with the financial
assistance of the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Netherlands. The ways and methods to improve the cooperation between the
“third sector” and “the fourth estate” were discussed in the interaction,
moderated by Tim Grout-Smith and Lily Poberezhska (“Media Player
International” consultancy partnership, UK) and Elina Poghosbekian (Yerevan
Press Club).
The issues of minority coverage by the media were the main subject for
another MDI event, held on September 3-4 in Istanbul, again under the
project above. The conference of the journalism professors from Armenia,
Georgia and Azerbaijan aimed at introducing the structure and methodology of
curricula of “Reporting Diversity” course, to be taught this academic year
at a number of universities in the three countries of South Caucasus.
Journalism professors from Austria, Hungary and Russia shared their
experience with the participants of the Istanbul conference.
NEW PROJECTS FOR THE RUSSIAN-SPEAKING AUDIENCE
On September 3 the Russian language “Golos Armenii” newspaper was published
with a 4-page supplement “Monitor.ru”. This digest of publications in
Armenian and foreign press will be issued weekly, on Saturdays.
>From September 12 the viewers of “Yerkir-Media” TV channel can watch the
newscasts of “Yerkirn Aysor” program in Russian language, too. As YPC was
told by the head of the TV company Gegham Manukian, the 20 and 30-minute
Russian language news will be aired by “Yerkir-Media” every day, except
Sunday, at 19.30 and 01.00.
Both projects are implemented with the support of “Caucasian Institute for
Democracy” Development Foundation. According to the General Director of the
South Caucasus branch of this non-profit organization Armenika Kivirian,
“Caucasian Institute for Democracy” was established this year and is based
in Moscow. In Armenia the South Caucasus branch of the Foundation started
its operations in August 2005. Among its objectives is the assistance to the
development of national media and book publication, Armenika Kivirian said.
“168 HOURS” – A YEAR ON MEDIA MARKET
On September 9 “168 Zham” (“168 Hours”) weekly celebrates its first
anniversary.
Yerevan Press Club congratulates the colleagues on their first birthday,
wishes them prosperity and success.
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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