YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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JULY 13-19, 2002
YEREVAN PRESS CLUB IS 7 YEARS OLD
the trial on
the suit of citizens versus the national COMMISSION on television and radio
STARTED
YEREVAN
PRESS CLUB IS 7 YEARS OLD
On
July 18, 2002 Yerevan Press Club celebrated the seventh anniversary
since its foundation. YPC was established in 1995 by a group of enthusiasts, who
remain the driving force of the organization up to day, of the organization
destined to become the first professional journalistic association in
post-Communist Armenia. On this remarkable day one of the YPC founders, Valery
Aydinian, whose life was suddenly interrupted on September 19 last year, is no
longer with us. But the cause that we started together lives. The mission that
the Yerevan Press Club was to assume remains unchanged: to assist the
development of independent, responsible media, and therefore, assist the
establishment of the civil society in Armenia.
On
July 18 at a press conference at the Journalists Union of Armenia
Yerevan Press Club introduced its past, present and future steps. This is what
our activity looks like in facts and figures. The YPC Weekly Newsletter that in
late 2000 came to replace the monthly edition published since September 1996.
Two electronic regional bulletins published under various joint projects between
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey (www.pressclubs.org
and www.mediadialogue.org).
17 specialized publications for
journalists, students and media experts. 47 events of local and regional scale
that enable the representatives of "the fourth estate", "the
third sector" to exchange ideas, opinions, information, try and solve the
topical problems. About 250 Armenian journalists who visited foreign countries
on the initiative and under the YPC programs. About 10 training courses for
practicing journalists and students held in close cooperation with the higher
learning institutions of Armenia. 4 curricula for the undergraduate and graduate
schools of journalism. 7 draft laws making up the integral concept of the legal
regulation of information sphere. Expertise and legal assistance provided to
media and individual journalists. Annual reports on the situation of media and
the freedom of speech in Armenia. Periodical monitoring of the leading Armenia
media along various dimensions. The Annual YPC Award for the best journalists,
granted since 1998.
All
this would be impossible without the support of our colleagues. Local
and foreign journalistic associations, NGOs, reputable international
organizations have been contributing to the implementation of 19 local and
regional projects.
Yerevan
Press Club expresses its sincere gratitude to everyone who supports us in our
work.
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In
the evening of July 18
at "Astafyan" restaurant a reception
on the occasion of the 7th anniversary since the foundation of Yerevan Press
Club and the Annual YPC Award ceremony were held. The YPC Annual Award
is granted to the best journalists and media organizations of Armenia
since 1998.
As
the tradition requires, the awardees for 2001 were determined by a
special jury, this year represented by: Edik Baghdasarian (President of the
Association of Investigative Journalists of Armenia), Astghik Gevorgian
(Chairwoman of Journalists Union of Armenia); Avetik Ishkhanian (Chairman of the
Armenian Helsinki Committee), Karineh Khodikian (Chief Editor of "Grakan
Tert" newspaper), Eghishe Petrosian (Director of "Ardzagank"
radio station).
The
YPC Awardees for 2001 are:
The
creative group of "Yerevan-Baku: Front Line" TV bridges of Internews
Armenia NGO - for enabling the public to start a dialogue;
The
author and host of "P.S." program of "A1+" TV company Aram
Abrahamian - for ensuring the diversity of opinion on air;
The
Supreme Television Training Courses of "Meltex" LLC. - for the best TV
school;
Journalist
Satik Seyranian - for publishing a series of articles on the villas of the
Armenian officials in "Aravot" daily and for providing factual data to
the governmental anticorruption program;
Journalist
Aris Ghazinian - for publishing a series of articles on the borderline villages
of Tavush region in “Golos Armenii” newspaper as a reminder of the borders
of the country;
"Asparez"
Journalists' Club - for the activation of journalistic life in Gyumri;
Journalist
Samvel Mkrtchian - for "Gyumri: the Agony of 12 Years" article in
"Grakan Tert" newspaper as the best publicist piece;
Chief
Editor of "Shakhmatain Hayastan" journal Gagik Hovhannisian - for
loyalty to the subject;
Students
of Journalism Department of Yerevan State University Arpineh Haroutiunian and
Aghavni Eghiazarian - for "In Search of Work" investigative article as
the best debut;
Journalist
Arevhat Grigorian - for the cycle of environmental articles in "Hetq"
electronic weekly.
As
the tradition goes, the diplomatic missions and the representations
of reputable international organizations in Armenia granted their own prizes to
the awardees.
The
Head of OSCE Office in Yerevan Roy Reeve awarded Arevhat Grigorian.
The
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Germany in Armenia Hans-Wulf
Bartels granted a prize to Aris Ghazinian.
On
behalf of the British Embassy the Third Secretary Sarah Murrell awarded the
creative group of Internews-Armenia, "Meltex" TV school and
"Asparez" Journalists' Club.
On
behalf of the US Embassy the Public Affairs Officer John Balian awarded Satik
Seyranian.
On
behalf of the UN Department of Public Information Armineh Haladjan granted
prizes to Aram Abrahamian, Samvel Mkrtchian, Gagik Hovhannisian, Arpineh
Haroutiunian and Aghavni Eghiazarian.
OSI
Assistance Foundation-Armenia provided financial support to the YPC
in organizing ceremony and award conferral.
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On
July 17 at the Journalists Union of Armenia Yerevan Press Club
presented "Karabagh Conflict in the Mirror of Media and Public Opinion of
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Mountainous Karabagh" brochure to the journalists.
The brochure is published under the homonymous project implemented by Yerevan
and Baku Press Clubs with the participation of Stepanakert Press Club in January
2001 - February 2002 and supported by the OSI Network Media Program.
The
publication (in the English and Russian languages) introduces the
findings of a complex research conducted simultaneously (March-September 2001)
by the same methodology in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Mountainous Karabagh. The
research was aimed at determining the public and political attitudes, approaches
to the problem of Mountainous Karabagh and its possible solutions. The most
interesting findings of the surveys among the public, the decision-makers as
well as the six-month monitoring of the leading media in Armenia, Azerbaijan and
MK were published in YPC Weekly Newsletter, November
17-23, 2001.
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the
trial on the suit of citizens versus the national COMMISSION on television and
radio STARTED
On
July 18 at the RA court of primary jurisdiction of Center and
Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan the proceedings on the suit of a number of
citizens versus the National Commission on Television and Radio started. The
plaintiffs demanded to recognize the decisions of the National Commission on
Television and Radio of April 2, 2002 to be incompliant with the RA Law “On
Television and Radio”, the RA Constitution and the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights. The decisions of the National Commission, as a
result of which "A1+" and "Noyan Tapan" TV companies were
not granted broadcast licenses, are qualified as a violation of the inseparable
civil right to freedom of speech, including the right to seek, to receive and
impart information and ideas without interference by public authority. The
interests of over 30 consumers are presented at the trial by the Chairman of the
Public Council on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms Ashot Bleyan, the member
of the Political Council of "Hanrapetutyun"
party Artak Zeynalian, the Chairman of the Liberal Democratic party Vigen
Khachatrian.
At
the first session that was held in the absence of the respondent, the
plaintiff party introduced a number of petitions that were rejected. The next
session is appointed for July 23.
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