Fifteen years ago on May 20, 1997 we, a group of active leading journalists founded the National Press Club, in the statement adopted by founding meeting it was declared, “After obtaining of independency,Armeniafaces the problem of building of a new system of standards, which is inseparable from the standing of new generation. To reach that primary goal, it is needed to unite around the national, democratic, and professional values. Therefore we establish the National Press Club the key missions of which are: 1) reinforcement of national democratic values, 2) defense professional rights, 3) supporting of freedom of speech and free press, 4) supporting of shape up of new generation of journalists, 5) deepening of professionalism in different directions, 6) maintenance of relations with of journalists of Armenian Diaspora and in foreign countries.”
Being formed and then acting in ever-changing and dynamic time the National Press Club had to bear the spirit of the time, appearing from time to time at the focus of events. Hosting and offering tribune to different political and public forces, the National Press Club never has been and never will be under the influence of any political trend or force.Independence, freedom, pluralism were the guiding rules in organization’s behavior.
InArmenia, democratic and national values have undergone transformations of any kind, the National Press Club, however, believing in vibrant nature of these values tried to transfer them to public relations. We made our choice in favor of free, independent press, our demand and belief towards them remained unshakeable.
Journalists of our generation, stepped into the post-soviet period were pathfinders, and the share of any pathfinder is always grave. Members of the National Press Club too are the representatives of that generation, who had their undeniable contribution to establishment of free speech and press, formation of the space of news as well as to defense of professional values.
During these 15 years the National Press Club has organized more than 1,200 meetings with statesmen, political, business and culture leaders, leaders, ambassadors of foreign countries, conducted discussions on urgent issues of political, economic and public life, organized visits of journalists to Karabagh and Javakhq, took actions of protest on professional issues, made statements in defense of fellow journalists and professional freedom and acted against attempts of imposing censorship. Urgent Topic, the World and We, Mass Media and Democracy, Diaspora, Economic Orbital,Armeniaand Elections, Spiritual Armenia, these are the projects in framework of which the meetings of the National Press Club were organized on organization’s own initiatives, using its forces and means, exceptionally.
The National Press Club was founded an independent organization and such is today. We acknowledged keeping the independence of our organization we had to pay with self-devotion, put our efforts, time and young life in building up the organization.
Congratulating the members of the National Press Club in connection with 15th anniversary of Club’s foundation, I transfer the wishes of belief toward the preservation of professional standards and their vitality to all our fellow journalists both inArmeniaand Diaspora.
We are confident the future of our country is free, independent press, freedom of information, pluralism, civil and professional rights to express and state one’s own point of view.
Narine Mkrtchyan
President, The National Press Club
