New media and self-regulation of journalists - opinions
10:08 ¢ 03.05.14
On the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, Tert.am has talked to
President of the Freedom of Information Center Shushan Doydoyan and
Chairman of the Committee to Protect Freedom of Speech Ashot Melikyan.
Commenting on the situation with the freedom of media in Armenia, Ms
Doydoyan said she doesn't thinks that freedom of speech, as a
category, exists in any world country in the way they would like to
see, with political and economic factors often imposing constraints on
different outlets.
`The whole problem is that we are trying to all the time address the
self-regulation issue. If journalists are self-regulated, it will be
possible to avoid quite a lot of problems,' she said, pointing out to
long-drawn out judicial proceedings, liabilities and financial redress
that could be avoided in case of the enforcement of proper
self-regulation mechanisms.
Doydoyan noted that the media reflects the country's everyday life,
adding she doesn't expect it to be any better than the given country's
government. `But I also think that journalists are the champions who
are supposed to be the commanding lead,' she added.
Ashot Melikyan spoke of the monopolization trends in the sector,
noting that it is particularly observed in the broadcast media.
`I think everything now depends on the development of the online
resources. The process is absolutely normal today, with the new media
outlets serving already as quite a serious platform,' he said, adding
that he expects the situation to improve thanks to the continuing
competition.
With the audience's migration from the traditional media to the new
resources, Melikyan said the monopolization is likely to lose its
sense in the course of time. `Monopolization, in general, decreases
diversity, so I, as an expert, pin all my hopes on the development of
the new media,' he noted.
The expert said he thinks that the country's current socio-economic
situation increases the need of focusing on the problem more to allow
the more influential people to voice their opinions and concern with
the help of media.
`Anyway, the situation with freedom of speech is improvable today; it
is just a matter of time,' Melikyan added.
Armenian News - Tert.am
From: A. Papazian
10:08 ¢ 03.05.14
On the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, Tert.am has talked to
President of the Freedom of Information Center Shushan Doydoyan and
Chairman of the Committee to Protect Freedom of Speech Ashot Melikyan.
Commenting on the situation with the freedom of media in Armenia, Ms
Doydoyan said she doesn't thinks that freedom of speech, as a
category, exists in any world country in the way they would like to
see, with political and economic factors often imposing constraints on
different outlets.
`The whole problem is that we are trying to all the time address the
self-regulation issue. If journalists are self-regulated, it will be
possible to avoid quite a lot of problems,' she said, pointing out to
long-drawn out judicial proceedings, liabilities and financial redress
that could be avoided in case of the enforcement of proper
self-regulation mechanisms.
Doydoyan noted that the media reflects the country's everyday life,
adding she doesn't expect it to be any better than the given country's
government. `But I also think that journalists are the champions who
are supposed to be the commanding lead,' she added.
Ashot Melikyan spoke of the monopolization trends in the sector,
noting that it is particularly observed in the broadcast media.
`I think everything now depends on the development of the online
resources. The process is absolutely normal today, with the new media
outlets serving already as quite a serious platform,' he said, adding
that he expects the situation to improve thanks to the continuing
competition.
With the audience's migration from the traditional media to the new
resources, Melikyan said the monopolization is likely to lose its
sense in the course of time. `Monopolization, in general, decreases
diversity, so I, as an expert, pin all my hopes on the development of
the new media,' he noted.
The expert said he thinks that the country's current socio-economic
situation increases the need of focusing on the problem more to allow
the more influential people to voice their opinions and concern with
the help of media.
`Anyway, the situation with freedom of speech is improvable today; it
is just a matter of time,' Melikyan added.
Armenian News - Tert.am
From: A. Papazian