YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 12-18, 2008
HIGHLIGHTS:
"PRESS CLUB" AND "PRESS CLUB+": "EASTERN PARTNERSHIP" AND PROSPECTS OF LOCAL
SELF-GOVERNMENT
MEDIA ETHICS OBSERVATORY SUMMED UP ITS ACTIVITIES
"ARMENPRESS" NEWS AGENCY IS 90 YEARS OLD
"PRESS CLUB" AND "PRESS CLUB+": "EASTERN PARTNERSHIP" AND PROSPECTS OF LOCAL
SELF-GOVERNMENT
On December 17 the last "Press Club" show in 2008 went on the air of
"Yerkir-Media" TV company. The cycle was produced by Yerevan Press Club with
the support of the Human Rights and Governance Grants Program of the Open
Society Institute. The guests of the program host, YPC President Boris
Navasardian were the Chairman of the RA National Assembly Standing Committee
on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Issues Armen Ashotian,
political scientist, doctor of history Ashot Manucharian (Germany), observer
of "Aravot" daily Anna Israelian. The discussion subject was the new
initiative of the European Union, "Eastern Partnership".
On December 13 "Yerkir Media" aired the final program of "Press Club+"
cycle, produced by Yerevan Press Club with the support of the UK Embassy in
Armenia. The Chairman of the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression
Ashot Melikian and "Press Club+" participants – Deputy Chairman of the RA NA
Standing Committee on Territorial Governance and Local Self-Administration
Rafik Grigorian and the President of the Association of Communal Finance
Officers Vahan Movsisian discussed the development of local self-government
in Armenia. In the discussion audience, representing the media of Armavir
and Kotayk regions, took part.
MEDIA ETHICS OBSERVATORY SUMMED UP ITS ACTIVITIES
On December 13-14 in Tsaghkadzor a seminar "Prospects of Media
Self-Regulation and Activities in the Sphere" was held by Yerevan Press Club
with the support of Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation-Armenia. In
the event members of the Media Ethics Observatory took part as well as the
heads of media who backed the YPC initiative to form a self-regulation
system.
At the seminar the activities of the MEO during the past year were summed
up, presentations were made on the trends of media accountability system
development in Europe, the professional ethics of Armenian media when
covering foreign affairs and regional problems. The participants also heard
about the findings of the survey administered by Yerevan Press Club in late
October 2008 in Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor and Kapan to determine the
adequacy of Armenian TV companies’ work to the information demands of their
audience.
Within the seminar meetings with the RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian and
the RA Human Rights Defender Armen Harutiunian were held.
The RA Prime Minister was presented the activities of Media Ethics
Observatory, the mission of which is to consider the complaints-appeals on
the violations of the Code of Conduct of Media Representatives and making
judgments on them. The head of the Government supported the idea of
resolving conflicts between the executive and media out of court, through
self-regulation mechanisms, such as the MEO. Referring to other topical
issues faced by the media community, the seminar participants expressed
their concern over the new draft law on freedom of information, developed by
the RA Ministry of Justice (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, October
17-23, 2008). The head of the Cabinet stressed that the draft would not be
submitted to the parliament without a discussion with all the stakeholders.
In the conversation with the RA Human Rights Defender Armen Harutiunian the
urgency and the necessity for establishing cooperation between the
ombudsman’s office and the MEO was stressed. In particular, Armen
Harutiunian proposed the participation of his representative in the sessions
of MEO. The RA Human Rights Defender also suggested to jointly study the
types of complaints that people have against media for violating their
rights.
Media Ethics Observatory was formed on March 10, 2007 by the heads of
Armenian media who supported the YPC self-regulation initiative and signed
the Code of Conduct of Media Representatives and its addendum, the
Declaration on Election and Referendum Coverage Principles (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, March 9-15, 2007). Recently the initiative was joined by 4 more
media: "Noyan Tapan" News and Analysis Center, "Hrazdan" (Hrazdan, Kotayk
region) and "Last" (Goris, Syunik region) TV companies, "Zhamanaki Mitk"
newspaper. Thus, as of today the Code of Conduct is signed by 35 media. The
initiative is also supported by 8 journalistic associations.
"ARMENPRESS" NEWS AGENCY IS 90 YEARS OLD
On December 18 "Armenpress" news agency celebrated 90th anniversary since
its foundation.
Yerevan Press Club congratulates its colleagues on the jubilee and wishes
success and prosperity.
When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.
You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]
Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]
Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
_____________________________________ _______
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: