From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Fri Mar 03 2006 - 15:16:16 EST
YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 24 - MARCH 2, 2006
HIGHLIGHTS:
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: CARTOONS OF THE PROPHET AND NEW PARTIES
LESSONS AND OBJECTIVES OF ARMENIAN MEDIA
HEAD OF "LORI" TV INTIMIDATED
ULP FACTION INITIATES AMENDMENT TO THE LAW ON "POSTAL COMMUNICATION"
RADIO "SHIRAK" CHANGES FREQUENCY
SOCIAL CLIPS ON CHILD PROBLEMS
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: CARTOONS OF THE PROPHET AND NEW PARTIES
On February 28, on the evening air of "Yerkir Media" TV company the
first issue of "Press Club" cycle was broadcast (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, February 17-23, 2006).
The representatives of media and journalistic associations of Armenia
discussed two hot topics: the world response to the cartoons of Prophet
Muhammad, published in Denmark, within the context of freedom of
expression; the process of forming new parties in Armenia and their
impact on the social political life.
Next Tuesday, March 7 at 21.00, "Press Club+" talk show will be aired on
"Yerkir Media". It is planned that the guests of Aram Abrahamian, the
"Press
Club+" host and Chief Editor of "Aravot" daily, will be representatives
Club+of
National Democratic Union and experts.
"Press Club" and "Press Club+" cycle is also aired by "Hamaspyur"
Television Network, uniting 11 regional TV companies of Armenia.
LESSONS AND OBJECTIVES OF ARMENIAN MEDIA
On February 25-26 a seminar on "Lessons of the Coverage of Referendum on
Amendments to RA Constitution and Objectives of Media in the Coming
Elections" was held in Gyumri. It was organized by Yerevan Press Club
with the support of Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The event participants
included representatives of journalistic associations, media, heads of
regional TV channels, press services of state structures and political
parties of Armenia.
At the seminar, results of the monitorings of the coverage of November
27, 2005 referendum by national media (administered by Yerevan Press
Club) and by the media of Shirak and Lori regions (held by "Asparez"
Journalist's Club of Gyumri and Vanadzor Office of Helsinki Citizens
Assembly) were introduced. The subject for discussion at the seminar
were also legal regulation of the coverage of referenda and elections,
the issue of public awareness in most important political campaigns, the
culture of political discussions in media and initiatives of NGOs on
promoting pluralism on air.
HEAD OF "LORI" TV INTIMIDATED
On February 23, around 23.00 in Vanadzor an incident occurred with
Executive Director of "Lori" TV company Narine Avetisian. According to
the journalist, in a food store, where she dropped by on her way home,
the owner of two lines of the city mini buses approached her and started
insulting and threatening Narine Avetisian, demanding "to stop counting
his money or she will end badly".
The discontent of the entrepreneur was caused by the topic, constantly
raised by Narine Avetisian on the air of "Lori" TV, related to
ungrounded raising of city transportation fees. The new tariffs for the
use of buses and mini buses were introduced in Vanadzor since January 1,
2006 and with a violation of the due requirements, as Narine Avetisian
insists. The participants in the TV discussions on this urgent issue for
the Vanadzor residents included both independent experts and
representatives of city municipality. At the same time, their host,
Narine Avetisian, was constantly and unsuccessfully inviting the owners
of the up-grown mini bus routes to express their position on air. One of
the programs, as Narine Avetisian said, presented the calculations of
the net profit gained as a result of price rises for the city
transportation. Possibly, this is what inspired fury of the mentioned
owner of mini bus routes, who was publicly threatening the journalist
"for the attempt to get into his pocket".
After the incident at the store, Narine Avetisian decided to return to
the editorial office. She said that a car, with the entrepreneur in it,
had followed her all the way. The same car, as Narine Avetisian noted,
had long circulated around the TV company building. The journalists had
to wait it over at the office until 2 a.m. before she could go home.
Vanadzor Press Club and Vanadzor Office of Helsinki Citizens Assembly
made a joint statement, condemning persecution of the journalist and
demanding punishment for those responsible.
As Narine Avetisian said, investigation of the incident started at the
city police department of Vanadzor.
ULP FACTION INITIATES AMENDMENT TO THE LAW ON "POSTAL COMMUNICATION"
The Parliamentary faction of United Labor Party (ULP) made an initiative
to introduce amendments to RA Law "On Postal Communication". The draft
law submitted on February 17 to RA National Assembly proposes to exclude
from Article 3 of the Law "On Postal Communication", containing a list
of postal services, subscription for the periodicals (in compliance with
Article 11 of the Law, the postal services are subject to licensing).
The basis for the legislative initiative of ULP faction was an ambiguous
wording of the mentioned Article, causing different interpretations.
Thus, it allowed the tax bodies to demand licenses from the companies
engaged in the distribution of newspapers and magazines by subscription,
otherwise they would face sanctions likely to result in bankruptcy (see
details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, December 2-8, 2005). The journalistic
associations of Armenia, including YPC, and the "Partnership for Open
Society" initiative expressed concern over the situation and called on
the authorities to reconsider the law provisions. The author of the Law
"On Postal Communication", RA Ministry of Transport and Communication,
gave an official clarification, stating that the subscription for the
periodicals is not a postal service, and, correspondingly, is not viewed
as an activity liable to licensing (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, February
3-9, 2006). Now, it is up to
the National Assembly to give a final resolution of the issue.
RADIO "SHIRAK" CHANGES FREQUENCY
On February 27, at the session of the National Commission on Television
and Radio a decision was adopted to change the broadcast frequency of
"Shirak" public radio from FM 105.0 MHz to 102.5 MHz. The replacement
was caused by technical reasons.
SOCIAL CLIPS ON CHILD PROBLEMS
On February 23 in Yerevan, presentation of "Civil Society Development in
Armenia" project was held. It was administered by "Audio-Visual"
Reporters Association with the support of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Finland. At the presentation, 10 social clips were
introduced. They were prepared within the project of the Association as
an attempt to draw the attention of the society to the problems of the
children with disabilities, living beyond the poverty line, and the
juvenile delinquents.
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: pressclub@ypc.am
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Editor of YPC Newsletter - Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
375002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: pressclub@ypc.am
Web Site: www.ypc.am
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