The annual report of Yerevan Press Club, “Licensing Competitions Neither Solved Key Issues of Broadcast Sphere, Nor Ensured Pluralism of TV Air”, is stored on YPC website, www.ypc.am, in “Media Reports” section. The report presents the situation with freedom of speech in Armenia in 2010.

On May 17 another program from “E-Club” weekly cycle went on the online broadcast of “A1+” TV company (www.a1plus.am). The “E-Club” is produced by Yerevan Press Club in cooperation with “A1+” TV company under “Alternative Resources in Media” project, supported by USAID.

The information and education blocs, particularly, presented the large-scale navigation system of Google, told about how to organize the summer vacation by oneself via Internet, introduced to Armenian medical sites. The guests of the discussion part of “E-Club” - facebookphiles Arpineh Grigorian, IT specialist, and Ofelia Minasian discussed the issues of protecting personal data on the Web and particularly on Facebook.

The next “E-Club” will be aired on “A1+” on May 24.

On May 17 the fourth show of “Yerkragund” (“Globe”) cycle went on the evening air of “Yerkir Media” TV company. The current show was produced by Yerevan Press Club under a joint YPC and Internews Network project, “Dialogue Building Between Armenia and Turkey”, supported by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of US Department of State.

The guests of the program host, YPC President Boris Navasardian, were Ozgun Ozcer, correspondent of “Taraf” newspaper, Aysel Yasa, correspondent of “Yeni Safak” newspaper, Nuneh Sargsian, Executive Director of Internews Media Support public organization, and Andranik Ispirian, turcologist, observer of News.am online publication. The guests discussed the social-political situation in Turkey and the Armenian-Turkish relations.

The next “Yerkragund” show will be aired on “Yerkir Media” on Tuesday, May 24 at 19.15 (rerun - on Thursday, May 26 at 14.15).

On May 2-18 a group of Armenian and Turkish journalists made a joint bus tour to the Turkish eastern regions, Georgia and Armenia. The journalistic mission of 16 visited Istanbul, Adana, Antakya, Diyarbakir, Van, Kars, Akhaltskha, Gyumri, Alaverdi, Goris, Kapan, Meghri, Yerevan, as well as other places throughout the journey. The trip resulted in many reportages and stories on themes triggering the audience of both countries. A major component of this initiative under “Dialogue Building Between Armenia and Turkey” Yerevan Press Club and Internews Network project, supported by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of US Department of State, was the professional collaboration between Armenian and Turkish journalists, while preparing materials.

On May 16-18 at “Congress” hotel in Yerevan a discussion on Armenian-Turkish relations, as well as a round table on their coverage by media of two countries was held. The event, hosted by experts and journalists from Armenia and Turkey, was organized by Yerevan Press Club and Eurasia Partnership Foundation under “Support to Armenia-Turkey Rapprochement” project, supported by USAID.

During the discussions the implementation results of different project components were presented: in particular, the research on Armenian-Turkish relations coverage by media of both countries, administered by YPC and Communication Faculty of Izmir Economics University in January-April 2011. The YPC page on Facebook “4th Wave: Armenia-Turkey” was also introduced.

The event ended on May 18 with an award ceremony, established in frames of the project and intended to encourage Armenian and Turkish journalists, who write about the neighbor country, Armenian-Turkish relations. The jury listed: Ruben Safrastian, Director of Oriental Studies Institute of RA National Academy of Sciences, Satik Seyranian, Chief Editor of “168 Zham” newspaper, Gegham Manukian, Director of the News and Current Affairs Programs of “Yerkir Media” TV company, Mensur Akgun, Director of Global Political Trends Center of Istanbul Culture University, Sevda Alankus, Dean of the Communication Faculty of Izmir Economics University, and Ferhat Boratov, Representative of CNN-Turk TV Channel Administration. On behalf of the Armenian part the price was awarded to Eduard Mkhitarian, Film Director of “GALA” TV company of Gyumri, for the film “Who is your neighbor?”. The Turkish winner will be determined by the jury later. Soon, a similar event will be held in Istanbul.

On May 16 in RA National Assembly an incident happened between Marineh Kharatian, correspondent of “Hraparak” daily, and MP from Republican Party of Armenia faction, brother of RA President Serzh Sargsian, Alexander Sargsian. As “Hraparak” informed YPC, the journalist inquired whether the deputy would run in the upcoming 2012 parliamentary elections. The question annoyed Alexander Sargsian: he grabbed the recorder from the hands of the journalist, shut it off and started swearing. According to “Hraparak”, if it wasn’t the interference of the employee of the NA administration, Alexander Sargsian would start laying hands. Marineh Kharatian was able to record a part of the conversation with the MP, and she intends to send the record to RA President’s Office.

Armineh Ohanian, Chief Editor of “Hraparak” daily, noted that the newspaper will not go into law: in a situation, when the security of a journalist is endangered just because he/she gives a question, the court cannot solve the issue. The head of “Hraparak” emphasized that this is not the first case of impeding the professional activities of a media representative at parliament, and the journalistic community must take measures for making fundamental changes in this situation. For example, boycotting the MP by media, or on the contrary - purposely throwing questions on him, considers Armineh Ohanian.

On May 16 RA General Prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepian signed an order on organizing open door days for media representatives. According to the information stored on the RA Procuracy website, www.genproc.am, this action aims to involve journalists in the investigation of March 1, 2008 events, thus enhancing the awareness on the case, being in the limelight of public attention as of today. (This regards the criminal proceedings, instituted upon the tragic events of March 1-2, 2008 in Yerevan after the presidential elections.) 

In compliance with the Prosecutor’s order, the open door days for journalists will be held twice a month - every first and last Wednesday - at the Procuracy School by the senior prosecutors and investigators on the March 1, 2008 events.

On May 12 upon the RA President Serzh Sargsian order Zhirayr Dadasian, Harutiun Harutiunian and Vladimir Ohanian were appointed members of the National Commission on Television and Radio for six years term. Zhirayr Dadasian, Art Director of the Yerevan State Pantomime Theater, was an NCTR member within 2005-2011, the other two - became members for the first time. Harutiun Harutiunian was the Head of “Haylur” news program of Public Television of Armenia, Chief Editor of “Yerkir” newspaper; Vladimir Ohanyan - Executive Director of “Hayrenik” and “AR” TV companies, Vice Minister of Urban Planning, Assistant to Yerevan Chief Architect.

The competition to fill in the three NCTR vacant positions was announced on April 21 due to the expiration of the term of office of NCTR members Zhirayr Dadasian, Ara Tadevosian and Simavon Andreasian, appointed on April 13, 2005 for six year term (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, April 15-28, 2005). The competition commission formed by RA President’s order listed: Chairman - Avetis Berberian, Assistant to RA President; Secretary - Meri Harutiunian, Head of Public Relations and Communication Department of RA President’s Office; commission members - Henrich Hovhanisian, Head of Drama Study Department of Institute of Art, corresponding member of RA National Academy of Sciences; Ruben Satian, Chief Editor of “Novoye Vremya” newspaper; Gevorg Gevorgian, General Director of “National Cinema Center of Armenia” state non-commercial organization. The competition commission considered the applications of seven candidates.  According to the commission’s decision, the winners were determined due to their long-term journalistic experience, especially on TV, as well as “valuable success and achievements in the development of journalism”.

The competition can accommodate citizens of Armenia who have many-year experience in journalism, broadcasting, technology, culture, arts, science and law, higher education and command of Armenian language. The following category of persons cannot be member of the NCTR: members of governing bodies of parties and persons affiliated to them; heads of public or private TV and radio companies; people who have contractual relations with TV and radio companies; people, convicted by a judgment in force, whose prior conviction is not expunged or expired; RA National Assembly deputies, members of RA Government; employees of RA President’s Office and civil servants.