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ARMENPRESS
ECHO RESEARCH UNVEILS RESULTS OF `MEDIA IN ARMENIA
STUDY `
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS: The international
media evaluation company ECHO Research and the
European Foundation for Democracy presented today the
new ECHO study `Media in Armenia 2008 - A Pre-election
Analysis'. The study, commissioned by the European
Foundation of Democracy, was conducted on January
21-27.
Roberta Bonazzi, the executive director of the
Brussels-based European Foundation for Democracy, said
the study embraced both pro-government and
pro-opposition printed and electronic media in
Armenian and Russian languages.
According to her, the careful study of 740
newspaper and TV stories and reports showed that in
general mass media in Armenia seems to be free from
government pressure. She said the conclusion was made
based on the fact that all presidential candidates
were given equal air time to express and convey their
ideas and programs to citizens.
Karen Prichard, sector director of Echo Global
Research, said unlike TV channels the printed media
had more critical stories containing such words as
`unjust', `anti-democratic' and alike She said
extremely opposite views testify to freedom of speech.
The study showed also that media stories and
reports did not focus much on the election manifestoes
of the candidates and nearly 95 percent of all stories
and reports were about their campaigning.
About 23 percent of all stories were about
ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosian, who was followed by
prime minister Serzh Sarkisian with 21 percent.
Karen Prichard said these two candidates are
apparent front-runners in the presidential race.
Eleven percent of all stories were about a former
parliament chairman Arthur Baghdasarian and 10 percent
about a deputy parliament speaker Vahan Hovhanesian.
Also 24 percent of all stories provided unfavorable
coverage of ex-president Ter-Petrosian and his
campaign and 22 percent were unfavorable for prime
minister Serzh Sarkisian. The least criticized was
Aram Harutunian.
The semi-weekly 168 Zham (168 Hours) and the daily
Aravot were found to be most free from government
pressure.
Karen Prichard said along with harshly critical and
even hostile coverage, it in general it was tolerant.
The European Foundation for Democracy (EFD) is a
Brussels based think tank that works closely with
European institutions, civil society, and individuals
across ethnic and political divides in support of
democracy and freedom around the world.
ECHO RESEARCH UNVEILS RESULTS OF `MEDIA IN ARMENIA
STUDY `
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS: The international
media evaluation company ECHO Research and the
European Foundation for Democracy presented today the
new ECHO study `Media in Armenia 2008 - A Pre-election
Analysis'. The study, commissioned by the European
Foundation of Democracy, was conducted on January
21-27.
Roberta Bonazzi, the executive director of the
Brussels-based European Foundation for Democracy, said
the study embraced both pro-government and
pro-opposition printed and electronic media in
Armenian and Russian languages.
According to her, the careful study of 740
newspaper and TV stories and reports showed that in
general mass media in Armenia seems to be free from
government pressure. She said the conclusion was made
based on the fact that all presidential candidates
were given equal air time to express and convey their
ideas and programs to citizens.
Karen Prichard, sector director of Echo Global
Research, said unlike TV channels the printed media
had more critical stories containing such words as
`unjust', `anti-democratic' and alike She said
extremely opposite views testify to freedom of speech.
The study showed also that media stories and
reports did not focus much on the election manifestoes
of the candidates and nearly 95 percent of all stories
and reports were about their campaigning.
About 23 percent of all stories were about
ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosian, who was followed by
prime minister Serzh Sarkisian with 21 percent.
Karen Prichard said these two candidates are
apparent front-runners in the presidential race.
Eleven percent of all stories were about a former
parliament chairman Arthur Baghdasarian and 10 percent
about a deputy parliament speaker Vahan Hovhanesian.
Also 24 percent of all stories provided unfavorable
coverage of ex-president Ter-Petrosian and his
campaign and 22 percent were unfavorable for prime
minister Serzh Sarkisian. The least criticized was
Aram Harutunian.
The semi-weekly 168 Zham (168 Hours) and the daily
Aravot were found to be most free from government
pressure.
Karen Prichard said along with harshly critical and
even hostile coverage, it in general it was tolerant.
The European Foundation for Democracy (EFD) is a
Brussels based think tank that works closely with
European institutions, civil society, and individuals
across ethnic and political divides in support of
democracy and freedom around the world.