YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
JULY 8-14, 2011
HIGHLIGHTS:
"E-CLUB" CYCLE: INTERNET AND EDUCATION
"YERKRAGUND" ON THE ROLE OF IRAN IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS
TURKISH JOURNALIST AWARDED FOR COVERING ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS
RESULTS OF THE ARMENIAN MEDIA MARKET RESEARCH ARE RELEASED
"A1+" AGAINST NCTR: FOUNDER OF "ARMNEWS" DENIES TO BE THIRD PARTY, WHILE THE
PLAINTIFF SUBMITS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SUIT
PRELIMINARY HEARINGS ON THE CASE OF "GLENDALE HILLS" VERSUS "ZHAMANAK" DAILY
FINISHED
"E-CLUB" CYCLE: INTERNET AND EDUCATION
On July 12 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, compared the advantages
and disadvantages of Facebook and Google+ social networks, the online
broadcast of Armenian radio stations was presented on the example of
Rockline.am. One of the plots dealt with results of Internet voting
regarding the need of foreign language schools in Armenia. The theme was
further considered by the guests of the discussion part of "E-Club" -
partisan of the initiative Tigran Kocharian, Editor of www.Emedia.am, and
Edgar Arakelian, producer of www.1in.am news portal, member of the civil
initiative group "We are against foreign language schools".
The next "E-Club" will be aired on "A1+" on July 19.
"YERKRAGUND" ON THE ROLE OF IRAN IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS
On July 12 the twelfth show of "Yerkragund" ("Globe") cycle went on the
evening air of "Yerkir Media" TV company. The current show was produced by
Yerevan Press Club with support of Open Society Foundations-Armenia.
The guests of the program host, YPC Expert Gegham Baghdasarian, were iranist
Artin Arakelian, politologist Ruben Mehrabian, Armenian Center for Political
and International Studies, Anna Gevorgian, Research Assistant at the Center
for Civilization and Cultural Studies of Yerevan State University, and Gohar
Iskandarian, Research Assistant of Iran Department at the Oriental Studies
Institute of RA National Academy of Sciences. The discussion focused on the
role of Iran in the South Caucasus region.
The next "Yerkragund" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on Tuesday, July
19 at 19.15 (rerun - on Thursday, July 21 at 14.15).
TURKISH JOURNALIST AWARDED FOR COVERING ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS
On July 7 at the Consulate General of Belgium in Istanbul the award ceremony
intended to encourage Armenian and Turkish journalists, who write about the
neighbor country, Armenian-Turkish relations. The event was organized by
Global Political Trends Center of Istanbul Culture University, Yerevan Press
Club and Eurasia Partnership Foundation in frames of "Support to
Armenia-Turkey Rapprochement" project, assisted by USAID. 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.
>From the Turkish journalists the award was granted to Kadri Gursel, the
Foreign Affairs Editor of "Milliyet" daily - for articles supporting
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.
Earlier, on May 18 in Yerevan the Armenian journalist, Eduard Mkhitarian,
Film Director of "GALA" TV company of Gyumri, was awarded (see details in
YPC Weekly Newsletter, May 13-19, 2011).
RESULTS OF THE ARMENIAN MEDIA MARKET RESEARCH ARE RELEASED
On July 12 and 14 at "Congress" hotel in Yerevan the presentation of the
Armenian media market research was held. The study was implemented in 2011
by Caucasus Research Resource Centers (CRRC), Yerevan Press Club and Eurasia
Partnership Foundation under "Alternative Resources in Media" project,
supported by USAID.
The research covered a wide range of questions regarding the preferences of
the audience, the conformity of the social demand and media offer, the level
of population credibility towards media, its attitude towards new media
resources, their accessibility, etc. The work was carried out in four
directions: nationwide poll on public opinion (January-February, 2011,
between 1,420 respondents); 8 focus group discussions (March 2011); 33
in-depth interviews with representatives of media industry (April-May, 2011)
and monitoring of thematic profiles of 12 Armenian media (February 1 - March
15, 2011). The monitoring was administered by Yerevan Press Club and covered
seven TV channels (First Channel of Public Television of Armenia,
"Shoghakat", "Armenia", Second Armenian TV Channel, "Yerkir Media",
"Kentron", "Shant"), 2 newspapers ("Aravot", "Golos Armenii") and three
online publications (1in.am, Lragir.am, Panorama.am). The study aimed at
determining the level of the diversity in media, particularly focusing on
their thematic directions, as well as providing data for the comparative
analysis with the undertaken population poll defining how the thematic
coverage and the media interest towards thematic profiles reflect their real
public significance and correspond to the audience demands.
The presentations were organized for media representatives on July 12, and
NGOs, social activists and citizen journalists - on July 14. On July 18 the
research result will be introduced to representatives of state structures
and business circles, while on July 25 - to international organizations and
diplomatic corps.
The Armenian media market research is fully presented in Armenian and
English on the www.crrc.am. The study, as well as the very media monitoring
will soon be placed on www.ypc.am in "Studies" Section.
"A1+" AGAINST NCTR: FOUNDER OF "ARMNEWS" DENIES TO BE THIRD PARTY, WHILE THE
PLAINTIFF SUBMITS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SUIT
On July 8 at RA Administrative Court another session on the suit of "Meltex"
LLC, founder of "A1+" TV company, versus National Commission on Television
and Radio was held. As it has been reported, on February 21 "Meltex"
contested the results of digital broadcast licensing competition No.11. The
founders of "A1+" and "ArmNews" TV companies were opponents in this
competition (the latter became the winner). The NCTR December 16, 2010
decision on competition No.11 noted that the financial means, claimed by
"Meltex" LLC, "cannot be sufficient, given that the significant part of the
supporting documents on the financial assistance (...) is forged and
unjustified". Namely, this fact rendered impossible for "A1+" to implement a
complete broadcast in the digital network in Yerevan, assured the NCTR.
Assessing this justification as forced and biased, "Meltex" addressed the
court demanding to restore its violated rights and nullify the NCTR decision
on competition No.11. At the hearings, started on May 11, 2011, the Court
secured the plaintiff's motion on impleading "ArmNews" CJSC, founder of
"ArmNews" TV channel, as a third party in the case. Meanwhile at the session
of June 10 the representatives of "ArmNews" did not appear before the court
(see YPC Weekly Newsletter, June 10-16, 2011).
At the session of July 8 a letter in which founder of "ArmNews" denies to
participate in the court proceedings was read out. The "A1+" founder, in its
turn, presented a supplement to its suit. The 7 pages' document lists in
detail the inconformities of the "ArmNews" licensing application that were
neglected by NCTR while determining the winner of competition No.11. The
Court granted the respondent with time for reviewing the supplement to the
suit.
PRELIMINARY HEARINGS ON THE CASE OF "GLENDALE HILLS" VERSUS "ZHAMANAK" DAILY
FINISHED
On July 8 at court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash
administrative districts of Yerevan finished the preliminary hearings on the
suit of the construction company "Glendale Hills" versus founder and
publisher of "Zhamanak" daily, "Dareskizb Media Kentron" LLC. The reason of
the suit was the piece "'Glendale Hills' Offered 1000 Dollars for Silence",
published in "Zhamanak" on August 26, 2010. The article informed that in
August 2010 there were collapses in a newly built house in Gyumri, and the
building contractor, "Glendale Hills", offered the tenants a financial
compensation, promised to restore the damages, if only the media did not
know about the incident. The suit was submitted to consideration on
September 24, 2010; the preliminary sessions started since November 26,
2010. "Glendale Hills" demanded from "Zhamanak" founder to refute the
information as contained in the piece that discredit its business
reputation, compensate the damage caused by defamation of 2 million AMD
(about $ 5400) and cover the court expenses of 500,000 AMD.
At the session of July 8 the advocate of the respondent, Nikolay
Baghdasarian, proposed to take the question to arbitration or consider it in
a non-judicial procedure. Nikolay Baghdasarian also informed YPC that during
the preliminary hearings he had made a petition to suspend court proceedings
- in order to give the "Zhamanak" founder a possibility of addressing the RA
Constitutional Court on the issue of constitutionality of some provisions of
Article 1087.1 ("Order and Conditions of Compensation of Damage to the
Honor, Dignity or Business Reputation") of RA Civil Code. However the court
put off the consideration of the petition.
The core hearings are appointed on September 5.
When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.
You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]
Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]
Editor of YPC Newsletter - Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: www.ypc.am
JULY 8-14, 2011
HIGHLIGHTS:
"E-CLUB" CYCLE: INTERNET AND EDUCATION
"YERKRAGUND" ON THE ROLE OF IRAN IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS
TURKISH JOURNALIST AWARDED FOR COVERING ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS
RESULTS OF THE ARMENIAN MEDIA MARKET RESEARCH ARE RELEASED
"A1+" AGAINST NCTR: FOUNDER OF "ARMNEWS" DENIES TO BE THIRD PARTY, WHILE THE
PLAINTIFF SUBMITS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SUIT
PRELIMINARY HEARINGS ON THE CASE OF "GLENDALE HILLS" VERSUS "ZHAMANAK" DAILY
FINISHED
"E-CLUB" CYCLE: INTERNET AND EDUCATION
On July 12 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, compared the advantages
and disadvantages of Facebook and Google+ social networks, the online
broadcast of Armenian radio stations was presented on the example of
Rockline.am. One of the plots dealt with results of Internet voting
regarding the need of foreign language schools in Armenia. The theme was
further considered by the guests of the discussion part of "E-Club" -
partisan of the initiative Tigran Kocharian, Editor of www.Emedia.am, and
Edgar Arakelian, producer of www.1in.am news portal, member of the civil
initiative group "We are against foreign language schools".
The next "E-Club" will be aired on "A1+" on July 19.
"YERKRAGUND" ON THE ROLE OF IRAN IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS
On July 12 the twelfth show of "Yerkragund" ("Globe") cycle went on the
evening air of "Yerkir Media" TV company. The current show was produced by
Yerevan Press Club with support of Open Society Foundations-Armenia.
The guests of the program host, YPC Expert Gegham Baghdasarian, were iranist
Artin Arakelian, politologist Ruben Mehrabian, Armenian Center for Political
and International Studies, Anna Gevorgian, Research Assistant at the Center
for Civilization and Cultural Studies of Yerevan State University, and Gohar
Iskandarian, Research Assistant of Iran Department at the Oriental Studies
Institute of RA National Academy of Sciences. The discussion focused on the
role of Iran in the South Caucasus region.
The next "Yerkragund" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on Tuesday, July
19 at 19.15 (rerun - on Thursday, July 21 at 14.15).
TURKISH JOURNALIST AWARDED FOR COVERING ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS
On July 7 at the Consulate General of Belgium in Istanbul the award ceremony
intended to encourage Armenian and Turkish journalists, who write about the
neighbor country, Armenian-Turkish relations. The event was organized by
Global Political Trends Center of Istanbul Culture University, Yerevan Press
Club and Eurasia Partnership Foundation in frames of "Support to
Armenia-Turkey Rapprochement" project, assisted by USAID. 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.
>From the Turkish journalists the award was granted to Kadri Gursel, the
Foreign Affairs Editor of "Milliyet" daily - for articles supporting
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.
Earlier, on May 18 in Yerevan the Armenian journalist, Eduard Mkhitarian,
Film Director of "GALA" TV company of Gyumri, was awarded (see details in
YPC Weekly Newsletter, May 13-19, 2011).
RESULTS OF THE ARMENIAN MEDIA MARKET RESEARCH ARE RELEASED
On July 12 and 14 at "Congress" hotel in Yerevan the presentation of the
Armenian media market research was held. The study was implemented in 2011
by Caucasus Research Resource Centers (CRRC), Yerevan Press Club and Eurasia
Partnership Foundation under "Alternative Resources in Media" project,
supported by USAID.
The research covered a wide range of questions regarding the preferences of
the audience, the conformity of the social demand and media offer, the level
of population credibility towards media, its attitude towards new media
resources, their accessibility, etc. The work was carried out in four
directions: nationwide poll on public opinion (January-February, 2011,
between 1,420 respondents); 8 focus group discussions (March 2011); 33
in-depth interviews with representatives of media industry (April-May, 2011)
and monitoring of thematic profiles of 12 Armenian media (February 1 - March
15, 2011). The monitoring was administered by Yerevan Press Club and covered
seven TV channels (First Channel of Public Television of Armenia,
"Shoghakat", "Armenia", Second Armenian TV Channel, "Yerkir Media",
"Kentron", "Shant"), 2 newspapers ("Aravot", "Golos Armenii") and three
online publications (1in.am, Lragir.am, Panorama.am). The study aimed at
determining the level of the diversity in media, particularly focusing on
their thematic directions, as well as providing data for the comparative
analysis with the undertaken population poll defining how the thematic
coverage and the media interest towards thematic profiles reflect their real
public significance and correspond to the audience demands.
The presentations were organized for media representatives on July 12, and
NGOs, social activists and citizen journalists - on July 14. On July 18 the
research result will be introduced to representatives of state structures
and business circles, while on July 25 - to international organizations and
diplomatic corps.
The Armenian media market research is fully presented in Armenian and
English on the www.crrc.am. The study, as well as the very media monitoring
will soon be placed on www.ypc.am in "Studies" Section.
"A1+" AGAINST NCTR: FOUNDER OF "ARMNEWS" DENIES TO BE THIRD PARTY, WHILE THE
PLAINTIFF SUBMITS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SUIT
On July 8 at RA Administrative Court another session on the suit of "Meltex"
LLC, founder of "A1+" TV company, versus National Commission on Television
and Radio was held. As it has been reported, on February 21 "Meltex"
contested the results of digital broadcast licensing competition No.11. The
founders of "A1+" and "ArmNews" TV companies were opponents in this
competition (the latter became the winner). The NCTR December 16, 2010
decision on competition No.11 noted that the financial means, claimed by
"Meltex" LLC, "cannot be sufficient, given that the significant part of the
supporting documents on the financial assistance (...) is forged and
unjustified". Namely, this fact rendered impossible for "A1+" to implement a
complete broadcast in the digital network in Yerevan, assured the NCTR.
Assessing this justification as forced and biased, "Meltex" addressed the
court demanding to restore its violated rights and nullify the NCTR decision
on competition No.11. At the hearings, started on May 11, 2011, the Court
secured the plaintiff's motion on impleading "ArmNews" CJSC, founder of
"ArmNews" TV channel, as a third party in the case. Meanwhile at the session
of June 10 the representatives of "ArmNews" did not appear before the court
(see YPC Weekly Newsletter, June 10-16, 2011).
At the session of July 8 a letter in which founder of "ArmNews" denies to
participate in the court proceedings was read out. The "A1+" founder, in its
turn, presented a supplement to its suit. The 7 pages' document lists in
detail the inconformities of the "ArmNews" licensing application that were
neglected by NCTR while determining the winner of competition No.11. The
Court granted the respondent with time for reviewing the supplement to the
suit.
PRELIMINARY HEARINGS ON THE CASE OF "GLENDALE HILLS" VERSUS "ZHAMANAK" DAILY
FINISHED
On July 8 at court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash
administrative districts of Yerevan finished the preliminary hearings on the
suit of the construction company "Glendale Hills" versus founder and
publisher of "Zhamanak" daily, "Dareskizb Media Kentron" LLC. The reason of
the suit was the piece "'Glendale Hills' Offered 1000 Dollars for Silence",
published in "Zhamanak" on August 26, 2010. The article informed that in
August 2010 there were collapses in a newly built house in Gyumri, and the
building contractor, "Glendale Hills", offered the tenants a financial
compensation, promised to restore the damages, if only the media did not
know about the incident. The suit was submitted to consideration on
September 24, 2010; the preliminary sessions started since November 26,
2010. "Glendale Hills" demanded from "Zhamanak" founder to refute the
information as contained in the piece that discredit its business
reputation, compensate the damage caused by defamation of 2 million AMD
(about $ 5400) and cover the court expenses of 500,000 AMD.
At the session of July 8 the advocate of the respondent, Nikolay
Baghdasarian, proposed to take the question to arbitration or consider it in
a non-judicial procedure. Nikolay Baghdasarian also informed YPC that during
the preliminary hearings he had made a petition to suspend court proceedings
- in order to give the "Zhamanak" founder a possibility of addressing the RA
Constitutional Court on the issue of constitutionality of some provisions of
Article 1087.1 ("Order and Conditions of Compensation of Damage to the
Honor, Dignity or Business Reputation") of RA Civil Code. However the court
put off the consideration of the petition.
The core hearings are appointed on September 5.
When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.
You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]
Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]
Editor of YPC Newsletter - Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: www.ypc.am