In the frames of the European Initiative for Democracy and the Protection of Human Rights the Yerevan Press Club carries out a two-year "Media in Transition" project

The main goal of the project is supporting formation of the media as an independent entity in a civic society. Its goals - increasing the professional level of journalists and media managers; elaboration of the media law; analysis of the Armenian media and undergoing processes in it, working out of corresponding recommendations; publication of a periodical newsletter and flyers on journalistic problems.

Six regional seminars are planned for journalists from Southern Caucasus, which will allow our colleagues from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia not only to discuss common professional issues, but also to initiate effective co-operation. Also a series of "round-tables" will be organised dedicated to various aspects of journalistic activities and the role of the media in the social life of Armenia.

The project has started in May 1998 and the issue of the newsletter in your hands is its first public presentation. But the most laborious and time consuming part of the project was the first two months'monitoring of the Armenian media (an intermediate report is on pp. 12-21).

10 most influential, in our opinion, papers (including all dailies,) as well as the main newscasts of leading TV and Radio channels were selected for monitoring. Broadcasts with "talking heads" - for simplicity let's conditionally call them "talk-shows" - were analysed separately. The group of media outlets chosen for monitoring might change, for their popularity and influence fluctuates and besides, new media outlets appear and the old ones disappear frequently in Armenia.

The monitoring group will try to establish: firstly, how encompassing is the thematic content and how much of attention does the printed and electronic media pay to vital issues reflecting readership demands; and secondly, is there tangible influence by specific political figures and groups on a given media outlet? A systematic list of topics covered in the media was charted, and a list of 120 most active public figures in Armenian political reality was made (including leaders of Mountainous Karabagh in the light of traditional movements of politicians from Yerevan to Stepanakert and back.)

Quantitative analysis in May-June 1998 presents the numeric data on newspaper space and airtime devoted to the themes and figures in absolute and proportional measurement (in square centimetres /seconds and in percents.) And the comments of the monitors (qualitative analysis) contain expert conclusions and evaluations. In case of "talk-shows" the participants and the dominating themes are registered. However, it seems assessments and conclusions in relation with tendencies in those programmes are premature at this phase of monitoring.

In this issue you will find a preliminary summary report on the results of the first two months' monitoring. At the beginning of each year extended annual reports will be published. In addition, interested media outlets may obtain and discuss full expert commentary with the monitors' group bi-monthly.

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