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FROM ARMENIA WITH NEWS: LILIT LOVED BEING A SHROPSHIRE STAR NEWSHOUND
Shropshirestar.com, UK
July 16 2014
What makes news abroad? Lilit Kalantaryan, a former journalist from
Armenia who spent time working with the Shropshire Star, provides an
interesting perspective.
"I am Lilit from Armenia; my name is quite common in my country. I
can say that probably every fifth girl in Armenia is called Lilit.
I have had the honour of promoting the UK in Armenia for about two
years. As a communications manager at the British Embassy in Yerevan
I take care of the UK's positive image in Armenian media. As a former
journalist I know very well what will attract the media and how to
get the embassy's news on the front pages of papers.
I worked for Armenia's public TV for several years as a reporter for
the Sunday analytical news programme. That was a very attractive job
for me, with lots of opportunities to tell stories about people.
I now stand from the other side of the 'barricade', dealing with media
enquiries and organising interviews for journalists. But sometimes
I desperately feel a need to write and create stories to feel the
greatness of being a reporter. This is why I came to the Shropshire
Star. I want to tell your stories to Armenian readers.
If you look for my country on a map you will find that the Armenian
border resembles a profile of a woman with a slender neck and long,
wavy hair.
It is a small, mountainous country in the South Caucasus region of
Eurasia. Historically, Armenia has been seen as a part of Asia but
in recent years it has been considered a European country, based on
our modern economic and political movements. Formerly, Armenia was
the small part of the Soviet Union with its own national government
and historically rich heritage and traditions.
Now Armenia is a modern, independent, newly developed country where
the state consists of three main elements: legislative, executive
and judicial. But we have a fourth one as well, the media.
There are excessive numbers of media outlets - 747 newspapers and
328 magazines, about 40 TV stations and 20 radio stations serve a
country with a population of three million. Is it too much? If you ask
Armenians they will reply that they need to read and watch the news.
Unfortunately, no completely independent media exists in Armenia.
All are either pro-government or in opposition to the government,
and sponsored by a political party. For the average Armenian it is
quite challenging to get balanced and unbiased information. They need
to read at least one pro-government and one opposition newspaper and
watch two or more TV programmes to have a final and clear vision and
understanding of an issue.
Digital media is the main source of information for the majority of
Armenians. Here they find the most up-to-date, more or less balanced
information. Various Armenian newspapers have alternative online
publications; they use multimedia sources, photos and videos.
Armenian readers like politics and it is the main area that they are
interested in. They read newspapers to be aware of ongoing political
scandals, government or parliament sessions, problems in political
parties and demonstrations. Therefore, the media in Armenia has to
fill papers with political news in order not to lose the interest of
their readers.
If we compare Armenian regional newspapers with British ones, we notice
huge differences in content. I have spotted that the Star mostly
covers human interest stories, things that have a direct connection
to readers.
Armenian papers, on the other hand, mostly post stories which
have a political undercurrent, or shocking criminal cases. Armenian
journalists constantly cover court cases and this is what our readers
like. There are open and closed court hearings in Armenia. During
the open ones journalists are allowed to film, record and take a
photo during the hearing. They can interview solicitors, question
relatives and request information from the press office.
In the UK I have noticed that journalists can just take shorthand and
only after trial are they allowed to interview relevant people. And
I have to admit to being surprised to see so many-drink driving cases
in the Telford Magistrates Court on Monday.
In Armenia police just fine drunk people and let them go afterwards.
I am impressed to see the huge newsroom at the Shropshire Star. They
are professionals who tell lots of important stories and keep their
finger on the pulse of the community. I have learnt here that we are
responsible for telling our audience interesting stories and keeping
them aware, informed and interested."
About Armenia:
A landlocked country of 3.1 million people, The Republic of Armenia
has Turkey to its west and Georgia to its north The two most popular
languages are Armenian and Russian Armenia became independent from the
Soviet Union in 1991 and joined the Council of Europe a decade later
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2014/07/16/from-armenia-with-news-lilit-loved-being-a-shropshire-star-newshound/
Shropshirestar.com, UK
July 16 2014
What makes news abroad? Lilit Kalantaryan, a former journalist from
Armenia who spent time working with the Shropshire Star, provides an
interesting perspective.
"I am Lilit from Armenia; my name is quite common in my country. I
can say that probably every fifth girl in Armenia is called Lilit.
I have had the honour of promoting the UK in Armenia for about two
years. As a communications manager at the British Embassy in Yerevan
I take care of the UK's positive image in Armenian media. As a former
journalist I know very well what will attract the media and how to
get the embassy's news on the front pages of papers.
I worked for Armenia's public TV for several years as a reporter for
the Sunday analytical news programme. That was a very attractive job
for me, with lots of opportunities to tell stories about people.
I now stand from the other side of the 'barricade', dealing with media
enquiries and organising interviews for journalists. But sometimes
I desperately feel a need to write and create stories to feel the
greatness of being a reporter. This is why I came to the Shropshire
Star. I want to tell your stories to Armenian readers.
If you look for my country on a map you will find that the Armenian
border resembles a profile of a woman with a slender neck and long,
wavy hair.
It is a small, mountainous country in the South Caucasus region of
Eurasia. Historically, Armenia has been seen as a part of Asia but
in recent years it has been considered a European country, based on
our modern economic and political movements. Formerly, Armenia was
the small part of the Soviet Union with its own national government
and historically rich heritage and traditions.
Now Armenia is a modern, independent, newly developed country where
the state consists of three main elements: legislative, executive
and judicial. But we have a fourth one as well, the media.
There are excessive numbers of media outlets - 747 newspapers and
328 magazines, about 40 TV stations and 20 radio stations serve a
country with a population of three million. Is it too much? If you ask
Armenians they will reply that they need to read and watch the news.
Unfortunately, no completely independent media exists in Armenia.
All are either pro-government or in opposition to the government,
and sponsored by a political party. For the average Armenian it is
quite challenging to get balanced and unbiased information. They need
to read at least one pro-government and one opposition newspaper and
watch two or more TV programmes to have a final and clear vision and
understanding of an issue.
Digital media is the main source of information for the majority of
Armenians. Here they find the most up-to-date, more or less balanced
information. Various Armenian newspapers have alternative online
publications; they use multimedia sources, photos and videos.
Armenian readers like politics and it is the main area that they are
interested in. They read newspapers to be aware of ongoing political
scandals, government or parliament sessions, problems in political
parties and demonstrations. Therefore, the media in Armenia has to
fill papers with political news in order not to lose the interest of
their readers.
If we compare Armenian regional newspapers with British ones, we notice
huge differences in content. I have spotted that the Star mostly
covers human interest stories, things that have a direct connection
to readers.
Armenian papers, on the other hand, mostly post stories which
have a political undercurrent, or shocking criminal cases. Armenian
journalists constantly cover court cases and this is what our readers
like. There are open and closed court hearings in Armenia. During
the open ones journalists are allowed to film, record and take a
photo during the hearing. They can interview solicitors, question
relatives and request information from the press office.
In the UK I have noticed that journalists can just take shorthand and
only after trial are they allowed to interview relevant people. And
I have to admit to being surprised to see so many-drink driving cases
in the Telford Magistrates Court on Monday.
In Armenia police just fine drunk people and let them go afterwards.
I am impressed to see the huge newsroom at the Shropshire Star. They
are professionals who tell lots of important stories and keep their
finger on the pulse of the community. I have learnt here that we are
responsible for telling our audience interesting stories and keeping
them aware, informed and interested."
About Armenia:
A landlocked country of 3.1 million people, The Republic of Armenia
has Turkey to its west and Georgia to its north The two most popular
languages are Armenian and Russian Armenia became independent from the
Soviet Union in 1991 and joined the Council of Europe a decade later
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2014/07/16/from-armenia-with-news-lilit-loved-being-a-shropshire-star-newshound/