From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Thu Oct 02 2003 - 09:27:54 EDT
YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 26 - OCTOBER 2, 2003
HIGHLIGHTS:
CHIEF EDITOR OF "OR" NEWSPAPER ASSAULTED
FOUNDER OF "A1+" SUES THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON TELEVISION AND RADIO
THREE TV DAYS IN YEREVAN
"PROMETHEUS" TV COMPANY RETAINED THE FREQUENCIES TAKEN
ANOTHER SET OF BROADCAST LICENSING COMPETITIONS ANNOUNCED
A VISIT OF US PROFESSOR
CONFERENCE "MEDIA TRANSFORMATIONS IN POST-SOVIET CONDITIONS" WAS HELD
SEMI-CENTENNIAL JUBILEE OF THE ARMENIAN SERVICE OF RADIO "LIBERTY"
NEW PUBLICATIONS
CHIEF EDITOR OF "OR" NEWSPAPER ASSAULTED
In the early morning of September 27 in Yerevan, the Chief Editor of
"Or" newspaper Gayaneh Mukoyan and her husband, Director of "Or" Rafael
Hovakimian were assaulted. Near their house, Hovakimian's vehicle was
blocked by a Niva car, out of which four unknown men in masks emerged.
Introducing himself as a representative of law-and-order bodies, one of
the men demanded that Rafael Hovakimian leave the car. In reply to his
request to give more details as to his name and position Hovakimian was
dragged out of the car and hit on the head. Gayaneh Mukoyan attempted to
get in touch with the police by her mobile phone, however she too was
dragged out of the car and received several severe strikes in the face,
her telephone being snatched out.
The Chief Editor of "Or" is hospitalized with the diagnosis of a broken
nose and a slight concussion of the brain. She was operated on and her
condition is now satisfactory. The investigation is conducted by
Nor-Nork Police Department on Article 258, Part 3 (public disorder with
infliction of physical injury).
YPC Comment: This another act of violence towards a media representative
cannot fail to cause indignation. There is little hope that we will
learn the truth about the incident and that those at fault will be
punished. Not a single case of attacks on journalists was disclosed
during the years of the third Armenian republic. Another sad
circumstance comes forth with regard to the assault on the
administration of "Or" newspaper. There are more and more people ready
to pay the media for publishing compromising pieces on their competitors
in politics or business. Unfortunately, the demand for such services is
met by sufficient number of journalists providing them. There are also
the "victims" eager to pay back for the insult received. And the
journalist turns out to be the most helpless person in this situation.
No one will protect him or her from violence and no one will punish the
offenders...
FOUNDER OF "A1+" SUES THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON TELEVISION AND RADIO
On September 29, founder of "A1+" TV "Meltex" LLC applied to the RA
Commercial Court with the suit against the National Commission on
Television and Radio. The main claim of the plaintiff is to oblige the
National Commission to provide sufficient ground for refusal to allocate
broadcast license to founder of "A1+". One should remind that on July
18, according to the results of voting of the National Commission, the
bid of the TV company, applying for three out of the five frequencies
presented at the competition, was evaluated lower than the competing
bids of "A1+" rivals (see Special Issue of YPC Weekly Newsletter, July
18, 2003). The competition itself for five UHFs of Yerevan was announced
on October 15, 2002, however it was constantly postponed because of the
prolonged trials related to it, and was finally conducted only in July
of the current year.
THREE TV DAYS IN YEREVAN
On September 29 - October 1 in Yerevan Internews Armenia public
organization hosted a series of events "Three Days of Television" for
journalist, managers and other TV professionals.
At the conference "Television: the Art of Management" that took place on
September 29-30, the representatives of TV companies, advertising and
marketing agencies, experts from CIS, Western Europe and the USA
discussed the issues of TV management, the trends of the TV development
in Armenia and in the world, the influence of the legislation on the TV
industry, the effectiveness of advertising, etc. At the end of the
conference an Open Competition for Advertisements was held. The authors
of the best commercial was determined by a brief voting of the
conference participants. The majority of votes was scored by David
Babakhanyan's commercial "'Zeon' Internet Club".
On October 1 master classes of popular TV professionals from Russia were
given: the class of Svetlana Sorokina (ORT) - for the hosts of
newscasts; that of Ilya Zimin (NTV) - for reporters; Yelena Sarkissyan
(NTV) gave a master class for investigative journalists and Mikhail
Spirov ("Koordinata-20" company) - for designers and everyone who makes
news.
On the same October 1 within "Three Days" the results of the Competition
for Informational Programs were announced. The Competition was organized
by Internews Armenia for programs, reports, films aired on the Armenian
TV channels during the periods of September 1, 2002 - August 31, 2003 -
in the following nominations: Informational Programs, Special Event
Reports from the Location, Packages about Elections, Stories on Social
Issue, Investigative Journalism. By the decision of the jury the winners
in only two out of the five nominations announced were determined.
The main prizes ($700 each) were awarded to Viktoria Abrahamaian,
"Ayb-Feh" news agency (Packages about Elections nomination), and to
Hakob Badalian, "AR" TV company, for a report on Barekamavan village
(Stories on Social Issue nomination).
Special prizes ($350 each) were awarded to:
Hrachia Papinian, "Ankyun+3" TV company (Alaverdi) - for remaining loyal
to the subject;
Author Nelly Rafaelian, directors Aram Shakhbazian and Karen Adamian,
cameramen Mkrtich Malkhasian and Armen Ananian, "Shoghakat" TV company -
for the screen expressiveness of "Khoren Muradbekian" and "People of the
Town" films;
Author Diana Markosian and cameraman Robert Kharazian, "Ayb-Feh" news
agency - for urgency and professional courage;
"Azdarar" program of "Tsayg" TV company (Gyumri) - for the best regional
newscast;
"ALT-TV" company (Armavir) - for the public importance of the works
submitted to the competition.
An incentive prize ($350) was awarded to "Zangak" TV company (Martuni)
for attention to the problems of importance to the viewers in the pieces
"Why Does the River Not Make Noise? and "The Broken Dream".
"PROMETHEUS" TV COMPANY RETAINED THE FREQUENCIES TAKEN
On September 29 the National Commission on Television and Radio voted on
the applications submitted for the broadcast licensing competitions
announced on August 19 (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, September 1-4, 2003).
The applications themselves were considered on September 25 and each of
the frequencies had one applicant.
By the decision of the National Commission, "Prometheus" TV company
retained 12th VHF in Yerevan and a package of VHFs (61 overall) in
various regions of Armenia. "Dzagedzor" TV company applied for and was
granted a right to broadcast at two UHFs in Syunik region - the 30th of
Kapan and 22nd of Kajaran. The licenses for another two UHFs in the same
region were gained by "Vorotanian Ghoghandjner" TV (27th of Sisian) and
"Last " TV (38th in Goris). The bid of "David ev Arshaluys" CJSC,
submitted for 22nd UHF in Noyemberian (Tavush region), was declined.
ANOTHER SET OF BROADCAST LICENSING COMPETITIONS ANNOUNCED
On September 25 the National Commission on Television and Radio
announced another set of broadcast licensing competitions on the vacant
UHFs in a number of cities of Armenia. This time the frequencies to be
contested are: the 39th of Tashir and 22nd of Spitak (Lori region), 26th
of Dilijan and 22nd of Berd (Tavush region), 21st of Aparan (Aragatsotn
region). The deadline for applications for these frequencies expires on
October 19, 2003. The applications will be considered by the National
Commission on October 30.
A VISIT OF US PROFESSOR
On September 21-28 Armenia was visited by the Professor of New Mexico
State University Steven Pasternak (USA). The visit was organized by the
USIS. In the course of visit Professor Pasternak made speeches in front
of journalism students of the Yerevan State, Yerevan State Linguistic
and Russian-Armenian
(Slavic) Universities, as well as Hrachya Acharian University. The
former journalist, a double winner of J. William Fullbright Prize for
International Understanding, Steven Pasternak shared his professional
experience with Yerevan journalists at the Journalists Union of Armenia
and held a seminar for the representatives of Gyumri media at "Asparez"
Journalist's Club. The presentation of the American Professor at the
conference of Caucasus Media Institute (see below) was devoted to the
media situation in Baltic countries. The problems of Armenian media were
discussed at the meetings with chief editors of newspapers and the
management of Yerevan Press Club.
CONFERENCE "MEDIA TRANSFORMATIONS IN POST-SOVIET CONDITIONS" WAS HELD
On September 26-27 in Yerevan the international scientific conference
"Media Transformations in Post-Soviet Conditions" was held by the
Caucasus Media Institute and Swiss CIMERA organization. The participants
of the conference - journalists, experts and academicians from Armenia
and other countries - discussed the political context of media
development in post-Soviet time, the influence of new technologies on
media, specifics of electronic and print media.
SEMI-CENTENNIAL JUBILEE OF THE ARMENIAN SERVICE OF RADIO "LIBERTY"
On September 26 in Yerevan a reception was held on the occasion of the
50th anniversary of the Armenian Service of Radio "Free
Europe"/"Liberty". A day earlier, on September 25, the Yerevan Press
Club organized at the Journalists Union of Armenia a round table,
devoted to the jubilee. At the meeting with journalists and
representatives of professional associations the Deputy Director of
Radio "Liberty" Michele DuBach and the Director of Armenian Service
Hrair Tamrazian told about the plans of the future, including the
initiative to launch a TV program by Radio "Liberty" at one of the
Armenian channels that is being currently considered. The participants
of the meeting also discussed the situation in the media sphere of
Armenia, in particular the draft law "On Mass Communication" passed in
the first hearing.
Yerevan Press Club congratulates the colleagues on the semi-centennial
jubilee and wishes further success!
NEW PUBLICATIONS
On September 29 the presentation of the second issue of regional youth
magazine "The Collage-Caucasus" was held. The magazine is the regional
version of the international youth magazine of Helsinki Citizens'
Assembly "The Collage" and is published by the Armenian, Azerbaijani and
Georgian Committees of HCA in English and Russian languages. The issues
of the magazines are devoted to specific themes. The first issue,
published in 1999, focused on the customs and traditions of the
Caucasus. The current issue is titled "Women for Peace - Caucasus
Outlook".
Two new newspapers were also published: "Pakagits" daily and "Zhamanaki
Mitk" weekly. "Pakagits" is founded by "Agap-Hrat" LLC, its print run
being 2,500 copies and volume - 16/A3 pp. The founder and publisher of
"Zhamanaki Mitk" is "Murts" LLC, the Director and Chief Editor is Simon
Sargsian. The weekly is published with a print run of 3,000 copies, its
volume being 8/A3 pp.
When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.
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to: pressclub@ypc.am
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Editor of YPC Newsletter - Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
39/12 Mesrop Mashtots Avenue
375009, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 3741) 53 00 67; 53 35 41
Fax: (+3741) 53 56 61; 53 76 62
E-mail: pressclub@ypc.am
Web Site: www.ypc.am
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