Activity Details (ID# 20467)

Activity Synopsis

The conference was the first in a row of activities aimed at improving the professionalism of the Armenian media in covering the 2008 Presidential elections. It intended to give a platform to representatives from the media, politics and civil society in Armenia to discuss the role and responsibilities of the media in a democratic society and in particular during elections in the light of the relevant Council of Europe standards (cf. e.g. Recommendation No. R (99) 15 on measures concerning media coverage of election campaigns). The participants met to exchange their views whether this role is fulfilled satisfactorily by the media in Armenia, to identify possible shortcomings and to consider steps to be taken to improve the situation. As a ‘kick-off’ to the remaining, mainly practical trainings on media professionalism, the conference was to raise awareness on these activities and provide an opportunity to bring up the possible problems of the Armenian media which would also later feed into the trainings. 

The participants agreed that the media plays an increasingly important role in political life in Armenia. It should therefore be very aware of its responsibilities towards the public, in particular during the upcoming election campaign and the pre-campaign period.

The debates brought to light that there are still many shortcomings concerning the freedom of the media in Armenia. Participants mentioned in particular the following issues:

- the CoE standards on media freedom during election campaigns were simple and clear, but that it was the implementation of these norms that caused problems.
- it should be the responsibility of the politicians to create an environment for the media professionals in which they are able to exercise their profession freely. This is one of the conditions to a healthy democracy.
- the NCRT (National Commission for Radio and Television) lacks independence and acts as a government tool to control part of the Armenian media.
- Armenian media is not citizen centred, but rather a mere voice for the authorities to get their message heard.

The debate then went on to analyse how Armenian media could improve the media coverage of elections. Participants suggested the following possible steps to be taken by the Armenian media, government and/or civil society:

- it should be decided more clearly which domain should be regulated by state and which should be self-regulated.
- the relationship between the politicians and the media should be regulated by a specific independent body. This body should be nominated with special care to preserve its independence and should represent the people not the political authorities.
- the media should not be populist in their coverage of election campaigns and should follow their own agenda independently. In their coverage of election campaigns they should encourage audience participation including the younger generation by for example using phone calls, SMS, Internet (blogs, emailing…), TV debating etc. It is the journalist’s responsibility to cover the important issues for the Armenian population and to use the audience as a source of information as well.
- the importance of a citizen based coverage. The media’s first responsibility is the truth and its first loyalty should be towards the citizens. In other words, media should be citizen centred.
- the Armenian audience could benefit from training on media literacy.
 

Following the conference, three trainings for media professionals took place respectively in Tsakhkadzor, Alaverdi and Jermuk. Issues surrounding the media coverage of elections in Armenia raised during the conference were addressed in these trainings. 

Media professionals (managers, journalists, anchors etc.) and politicians (parliamentarians, ministers, members of the National Commission on Radio and Television). 

Professor Joseph Jarab (Czech Republic), former Member of the Czech Parliament, former Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Media of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Professor of English and American Literature at Palacký University; Mr Olivier Michel (France), journalist, France 3 

Ms Bojana Urumova (Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe in Armenia), Ms Anita Van de Kar - Bachelet (Media and Information Society Division) and Mr Stephen Fozard (Media and Information Society Division).