“EU-Armenia: The Present and Perspectives” – December 27-29, 2009, Aghveran (Armenia), seminar, organized by Yerevan Press Club with the assistance of Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Participants (26 in number) included representatives of media, NGOs and journalistic associations. Main issues discussed: Eastern Partnership initiative as a new step in the EU-Armenia cooperation; the role of civil society in the Euro integration process; Euro integration in frames of the political developments in Armenia; the participation of Armenia in the thematic platforms of Eastern Partnership; European Union and the perspectives of freedom of media; the activities of European Neighbourhood Journalism Network.
“Broadcast Policy and the Armenian Legislation” – December 16-18, 2009, Aghveran (Armenia), seminar, organized by Yerevan Press Club with the assistance of Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Participants (37 in number) included heads of TV and radio companies, members of National Commission on Television and Radio, representatives of journalistic associations. Main issues discussed: the problems of refinement of the broadcast regulating legislation; the issues of optimization of the advertising legislation; the results of monitoring the implementation of broadcast and advertising legislation by Armenian TV companies, administered by YPC in 2009; the legal basis of switching to digital broadcasting; the technical problems of digitalization.
“Perspectives of Media Self-Regulation in Armenia” – December 12-13, 2009, Aghveran (Armenia), second seminar, organized by Yerevan Press Club with the assistance of the Office of OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media. Participants (60 in number) included members of Media Ethics Observatory, heads, representatives of media and professional associations, who supported the YPC initiative of establishing a media self-regulation system in Armenia. Main issues discussed: the international trends of media self-regulation systems; the acute problems of journalism ethics in Armenia; the protection of children’s rights in the scope of professional guidelines; the issue of public awareness on media self-regulation mechanisms. At the seminar the Regulations of Media Ethics Observatory was approved, the principles of rotation of MEO members were considered.
“Perspectives of Media Self-Regulation in Armenia” – October 23-25, 2009, Aghveran (Armenia), first seminar, organized by Yerevan Press Club with the assistance of the Office of OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media. Participants (40 in number) included members of Media Ethics Observatory, heads of media and professional associations, joining the YPC initiative to form a self-regulation system. Main issues discussed: media coverage of Armenian-Turkish relations; the legislative initiatives, prescribing liability for defamation and insult; European practice of media self-regulation systems; the activities of Media Ethics Observatory in 2008-2009; discussion of the suggestions on amending the Code of Conduct of Media Representatives and the perspectives of the institutionalization of media self-regulation initiative in Armenia.
“Armenian-Turkish Team Reporting Project” – July 10-11, 2009, Yerevan, conference, organized by Yerevan Press Club with the support of Eurasia Partnership Foundation. Participants (25 in number) represented media and journalistic associations of Armenia and Turkey. Main issues discussed: Armenian-Turkish relations and the perspectives for regional development; the reflection on development of Armenian-Turkish relations by political circles and expert community of Armenia; comparative analysis of the publications by Armenian and Turkish press; the approach of “Zaman” and “Hurriyet” Turkish dailies on the Armenian-Turkish border opening issue and related subjects; media coverage of Armenian-Turkish civil initiatives by the press of two countries; the prospects of neighboring Shirak region and villayet of Kars in case of Armenian-Turkish border opening.
“The Coverage of the Activities of the RA Human Rights Defender’s Institute by Armenian Media” – June 5-7, 2009, Aghveran (Armenia), seminar, organized by Yerevan Press Club with the support of Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Participants (40 in number) represented the Office of the ombudsman, media, journalistic and human rights NGOs of Armenia. Main issues discussed: cooperation between the RA Human Rights Defender and media; human rights situation in Armenia; media coverage of the ombudsman’s reports; trends of the ombudsman’s institute coverage by the Armenian media, based on the monitoring findings implemented by Yerevan Press Club on March-April 2009; cooperation between the ombudsman and human rights organizations.
“Armenian-Turkish Bi-Lateral Relations” – April 16-19, 2009, Istanbul (Turkey), international workshop, organized by Yerevan Press Club with the support of Friedrich Naumann Foundation. Participants (20 in number) represented media and NGOs of Armenia, Turkey, Germany. Main issues discussed: current state of Armenian-Turkish relations and their reflection in media; European perspective for Turkey and Armenia – common or contradicting interests; role of “third parties” in re-conciliation between Armenia and Turkey; bi-lateral journalistic Initiatives and their role in changing public mindset; Armenian-Turkish educational, scientific, cultural, youth contacts and their coverage in media; economic dimension in Armenian-Turkish relations; differences and affinities as factors for mutual interest and understanding; role of democracy and freedom of expression in overcoming contradictions.
“Issue-based Reporting by the Armenian Media during the Elections of Local Self-Government” – March 21-22, 2009, Aghveran (Armenia), seminar, organized by Yerevan Press Club with the support of the British Embassy Yerevan. Participants (35 in number) represented media and journalistic associations of Armenia. Main issues discussed: the legislation on the elections of local self-government in the framework of the amended status of Yerevan city and the upcoming elections of the Yerevan Council of Elderly on May 31, 2009; the results of the monitoring of the issue-based reporting by the Armenian TV channels during the elections of self-government in the context of studying the information demand by the audience; the trends of the media coverage of the local elections; the role of the media self-regulation during the local election campaigns; experience and specifics of media coverage of the local elections on the example of “Aravot” daily and “Yerkir Media” TV company.
