YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
MAY 1-8, 2009
HIGHLIGHTS:
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: CITY TRANSPORT AND ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN YEREVAN
LAW REGULATION OF MEDIA ACTIVITIES DURING ELECTIONS OF YEREVAN COUNCIL OF
ELDERLY
INCIDENT WITH ARMENIA TODAY COORDINATOR QUALIFIED AS INTENTIONAL NON-GRAVE
HEALTH INJURIES
SECOND ATTACK ON JOURNALIST FOR THE LAST WEEK
"FREEDOM HOUSE" RATING: ARMENIAN MEDIA CLASSED NOT FREE FOR ALREADY 7 YEARS
MOBILE NEWS BY "A1+"
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: CITY TRANSPORT AND ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN YEREVAN
On May 2 another "Press Club" show, dealing with the elections of Yerevan
Council of Elderly on May 31, 2009, went on the air of "Yerkir Media" TV
company. The "Press Club" 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 representatives of six parties
and one party bloc which have been registered at the RA Central Electoral
Commission for running in the elections: Gevorg Petrosian ("Prosperous
Armenia"), Artak Harutiunian (Popular Party), Hovhannes Hovhannisian
(Armenian National Congress), David Eritsian (ARF "Dashnaktsutiun"), Vanya
Karapetian (Labor Socialist Party of Armenia), Alexander Sahakian
(Republican Party of Armenia), Stepan Aslanian ("Orinats Yerkir"). Karineh
Danielian, Chairwoman of the Association "For Sustainable Human
Development", and architect Gagik Sukhudian took part in the show as
experts. The discussion centered on the city transport and road construction
problems in Yerevan.
The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on Saturday, May
9 at 17.25.
LAW REGULATION OF MEDIA ACTIVITIES DURING ELECTIONS OF YEREVAN COUNCIL OF
ELDERLY
On May 2 the RA Central Electoral Commission (CEC) approved the procedure
and the timeline for public TV and radio broadcasters to provide air for
pre-election promotion to parties/party bloc, running for seats in the
Yerevan Council of Elderly.
The succession of the parties/bloc to be given air by public broadcasters
for pre-election promotion was determined by a timeline made after draw and
approved by CEC. The air for pre-election promotion is given to parties/bloc
daily, from May 4 till May 29, 2009. The promotion pieces are aired by the
First Channel of the Public Television of Armenia and on Public Radio of
Armenia – the frequencies 69.77 MHz, 1395 KHz and the republican FM network.
The beginning of pre-election promotion of parties/bloc on the public
television is defined to be 17.15, on public radio – 13.30. In case of a
technical need, the broadcasters may shift the timeframes, specified by 30
minutes at most.
Each party/bloc is given 30 minutes of free and 50 minutes of paid airtime
on the public television. At the same time the airtime duration for each
party/bloc is defined as follows: a) on May 4 – May 25 (22 days) – one
minute of free and up to 2 minutes of paid airtime; b) on May 26-27 (2 days)
– 2 minutes of free and up to one minute of paid airtime; c) on May 28-29 –
2 minutes of free and up to 2 minutes of paid airtime.
Each party/bloc on public radio receives 50 minutes of free and 80 minutes
of paid airtime. The airtime duration for each party/bloc is defined as
follows: a) on May 4-5 (2 days) – one minute of free and up to 3 minutes of
paid airtime; b) on May 6 – May 27 (22 days) – 2 minutes of free and up to 3
minutes of paid airtime; c) on May 28-29 (2 days) – 2 minutes of free and up
to 4 minutes of paid airtime.
If the party/bloc has not used the time allocated in accordance with the
timeline, it does not receive make-up airtime. The airtime, allocated to one
party/bloc, cannot be used by another party.
The public broadcasters provide live air to parties/blocs, in case of their
request – also a program host, or broadcast video and audio materials,
provided by the party/bloc.
Public and private broadcasters have already set forth the tariffs for paid
promotion. One minute of air on Public Television of Armenia costs 80,000
AMD, on Public Radio of Armenia – 20,000 AMD (here and after the VAT is
included in the given prices).
The tariffs of private broadcasters are higher. Thus, a minute of airtime on
"ArmNews" TV channel costs 81,000 AMD, on "Armenia" – 82,000 AMD, on
"Kentron" and Second Armenian TV Channel – 84,000 AMD, on "Yerkir Media" –
96,000 AMD. "Shant" TV company set the price for one minute at 90,000 AMD,
stipulating at the same time, that each party/bloc is allocated not more
than 100 minutes of airtime overall during the promotion and not more than
3.5 minutes daily.
The RA Electoral Code defines that the announced price cannot be revised
within the whole period of the pre-election promotion.
According to the other regulations of the Electoral Code, the public and
private broadcasters are to ensure equal access to air to all party/blocs,
running in the elections. In the newscasts that report on election campaigns
of the candidates, party/blocs equal and fair terms must be observed. That
coverage should be impartial and free of comment. The TV and radio programs,
dealing with pre-election promotion, are not to be interrupted by commercial
advertising. The TV and radio companies are committed to recording the
programs, dealing with pre-election promotion, and keeping the records for
not less than 3 months.
The control on TV and radio companies to follow the pre-election promotion
procedure is assumed by the National Commission on Television and Radio
which is entitled to start litigation, should violations be revealed. In its
turn, the CEC is authorized to present its opinion on such violations.
As to print media, the Electoral Code commits all newspapers and magazines,
regardless of their founders, to ensure equal opportunities (space, tariffs,
etc.) for all parties/blocs in the publishing of pre-election promotional
materials. Exception is made only for party editions.
According to the Electoral Code, the coverage of elections, hosting of TV
and radio programs by journalists of Public TV and Radio, other TV and radio
companies as well as by employees of editorial offices, who were registered
as candidates, is restricted.
When publicizing the findings of public opinion polls about the ratings of
parties/blocs, the organizations that have administered the polls must
specify the name of the organization that administered the survey, the
timeframes, the sample size and sampling method, the data collection method
and place, the exact question, the estimated error margin, the client and
the funding source of the poll. At the same time it is prohibited to publish
findings of public opinion polls one week before the voting day.
Besides, Article 11 of the RA Law "On Television and Radio" defines that the
broadcasting of pre-election promotional materials, provided by the
parties/blocs through their pre-election funds, should have a mandatory,
uninterrupted screen marking, "pre-election promotion", and in case of the
radio air at least three reminders of these must be made during the program
(for the Public TV and Radio Company the regulation also includes the free
airtime). On the voting day and the day before the broadcasting of news,
editorial, documentary or authored programs of promotional nature as well as
any form of promotion is prohibited.
It should be noted that the elections of Yerevan Council of Elderly will
take place on May 31, 2009.
INCIDENT WITH ARMENIA TODAY COORDINATOR QUALIFIED AS INTENTIONAL NON-GRAVE
HEALTH INJURIES
On May 8 Argishti Kivirian, Coordinator of ARMENIA Today news agency,
Director of "Bagin" legal company, left hospital to continue treatment at
home. As it has been reported, on April 30 at about 5.00, strangers with
bats attacked Argishti Kivirian on his way home from the office which is
located in the next entrance. Argishti Kivirian was taken to "Erebuni"
medical center in grave health condition and with multiple injuries, also on
his head. The statement of 11 journalistic and non-governmental
organizations, released on the same day, stressed that "the solution of
problems with the help of blows and violence becomes a serious peril for the
society" (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, April 24-30, 2009).
The incident with Argishti Kivirian was also condemned by the RA Human
Rights Defender Armen Harutiunian, a number of political parties, RA
National Assembly deputies as well as the Committee to Protect Journalists.
On April 30 OSCE Representative of Freedom of Media Miklosh Haraszti noted
in a letter to RA Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian and RA General
Prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepian that "the lack of results into cases of violence
against journalists creates an atmosphere of impunity for the perpetrators
and can provoke other cases of violence against media workers". Miklosh
Haraszti referred to so far unresolved cases of assaults against the
correspondent of "Haykakan Zhamanak" daily Lusine Barseghian on August 11,
2008, the Acting Director of the Yerevan Bureau of the Armenian Service of
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Hrach Melkumian on August 18, 2008, and the
Chairman of "Investigative Journalists" NGO Edik Baghdasarian on November
17, 2008. In the light of the incident with Argishti Kivirian the OSCE
Representative of Freedom of Media once again called the country authorities
"to swiftly and thoroughly investigate all cases of violence against
journalists, and also to publicly express their commitment to ensure the
safety of Armenian journalists".
Commenting on the incident with Argishti Kivirian, the RA President’s
Press-Secretary Samvel Farmanian informed that Serzh Sargsian has already
given relevant instructions to the law enforcement bodies. Samvel Farmanian
also expressed his regret about another case of violation against
journalists aiming to impede their professional activities. It should be
noted that similar instructions to find and punish the offenders were given
to the law enforcement bodies after the assault against the Chairman of
"Investigative Journalists" Edik Baghdasarian on November 17, 2008.
Nevertheless, to this very day the investigation on that case remains
without any results.
Upon the attack on Argishti Kivirian the police has instituted criminal
proceedings on Article 117 of RA Criminal Code, "Intentional non-grave
health injuries", which was strictly criticized by lawyers, human rights
organizations. Particularly, in their opinion, numerous blows stroke with
bats which caused a week of hospitalization, and other circumstances of the
incident cannot be just qualified as "non-grave health injuries".
At the moment, the case investigation is transmitted to the Investigative
Department of RA National Security Service.
SECOND ATTACK ON JOURNALIST FOR THE LAST WEEK
On May 6 over midnight an assault was made on Nver Mnatsakanian, the author
and the host of "Perspective" program cycle of "Shant" TV company. Two
strangers, who were waiting for Nver Mnatsakanian to come back from work,
attacked him at the entrance of his house. Giving blows to the journalist
and knocking him off his feet, the assaulters escaped. At the hospital,
where Nver Mnatsakanian was given first aid, the doctors diagnosed non-grave
physical injuries. The journalist presently is receiving treatment at home.
Nver Mnatsakanian considers the incident to be a result of his professional
activities.
On May 7 Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression, Yerevan Press Club,
Internews Media Support NGO, Media Diversity Institute-Armenia, "Femida"
NGO, "TEAM" Research Center, "Asparez" Journalist’s Club, Vanadzor Press
Club, Transparency International Anticorruption Center, Helsinki Committee
of Armenia, Civil Society Institute and Vanadzor Office of Helsinki Citizens
Assembly released a statement. The statement particularly notes that this is
already the second incident for the last week, and that "the treat and blows
of journalists becomes a social disaster in Armenia". Condemning the crime
against Nver Mnatsakanian, 12 NGOs stressed that their statement should not
be considered as just another call to reveal and punish the offenders: "One
appeal only cannot put an end to the tide of violence. Radical and effective
steps are needed. These steps have to be taken, first of all, by the
authorities, the law enforcement bodies, and it is their inaction and
failure to uncover the previous cases that allow the perpetrators,
assaulting the freedom of speech, to act more boldly and unruly."
Mashtots Department of Yerevan Police started investigation on the case of
attack.
"FREEDOM HOUSE" RATING: ARMENIAN MEDIA CLASSED NOT FREE FOR ALREADY 7 YEARS
On May 1 "Freedom House" international human rights organization published
its annual report on freedom of press in the world in 2008. The media
situation was assessed by "Freedom House" assigning a numerical score from 1
to 100 by the following categories: free (1-30 points), partly free (31-60
points), not free (61-100) – the lower the score, the higher the freedom.
The latter was defined by three dimensions: legal environment in which media
operate; political environment – the degree of political control over the
content of news; economic environment in which media operate. The sum of the
three dimensions yielded the cumulative rating of the media situation in
each country.
Out of 195 countries and territories surveyed in 70 (or 36%) media were
recognized free, in 61 (or 31%) – partly free and in 64 (or 33%) were rated
not free. 17% of the world’s inhabitants live in countries that enjoy free
press, 41% have a partly free press, and 42% have not free press. "Freedom
House" notes the overall negative shift in media freedom worldwide. The list
is singly topped by Iceland – 9 points, followed by Finland and Norway – 10
points each, Denmark and Sweden – 11 points each.
Of the post-Soviet countries only the press of the three Baltic States is
recognized by "Freedom House" to be free, and only Ukraine (55 points) and
Georgia (60 points) are classed as partly free since 2004. At the same time,
the situation of freedom of expression in Ukraine has somewhat deteriorated
comparing with 2007 (53 points), while the points of Georgia remain the
same. Other countries of the former USSR remain unfree. Turkmenistan still
has 96 points, being in the second rank from the end and getting ahead of
only North Korea (98). Also as compared to 2007, the rankings of Kazakhstan
(78) and Belarus (91) have note changed neither. The indexes of other
countries have deteriorated a little: Moldova – 67 points (versus 66 in
2007), Kyrgyzstan – 72 (versus 70), Azerbaijan – 78 (versus 77), Tajikistan
– 78 (versus 77), Russia – 80 (versus 78), Uzbekistan – 93 (versus 92).
The ranking of Armenia in 2008 has moved down, too – 68 points (versus 66 in
2007). The Armenian media remain to be classed as not free for seven years
already, since 2002. "Freedom House" explains the deterioration of freedom
of expression situation in Armenia, first of all, by two facts: during the
state of emergency in March 2008 "government censored all media for several
weeks and obstructed the work of both local and foreign journalists", and
authorities declared a moratorium on broadcast licensing competitions until
July 2010.
MOBILE NEWS BY "A1+"
Since May 6, cell phone customers subscribed to mobile Internet services
(GPRS, 3G) within Armenia (regardless of operator companies) can watch the
newscasts of "A1+" TV company on the screens of their mobiles. This service
is provided in Armenia for the first time (for more details see the website
of "A1+", ).
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
_____________________________________ _______
Yerevan Press Club
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Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
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