When it is your personal sorrow, it is very hard to write about it; it seems that you are trying to show, formulate with words what cannot be formulated. That is why I will not write about personal qualities of Aravot’s journalist Naira Mamikonyan, although those are many and are known to everyone who knew her. Naira would hardly welcome from “there,” “above,” the fact that I praise her in such a simple way. I had better write about our profession, professionalism, how we, journalists of Aravot, understand it.
Guess, a politician by the name of X gives an interview to us. The people from the camp opposite to that of X don’t like the ideas expressed in that interview. It is normal; people think differently. It is not normal when the ideas expressed by X are attributed by his opponents to the news agency – in this case Aravot – moreover, they label us. Write an article or give an interview, in which you claim that X is wrong, and if we refuse to publish it, only then complain about us. However, it is ruled out, as far as Aravot is concerned, and any reader will confirm that we have no problem with publishing so-called “pro-”and “anti-” X, Y or Z ideas, certainly if they are within the limits of the law and elementary politeness. Because the mass media, in my opinion, are not to brainwash readers or viewers with one opinion, one position, but to put forward different opinions, facts, regardless of whether the given journalist or the given editor agrees with or benefits from them. Our colleague Tigran Naghdalyan was murdered 10 years ago. There was an official opinion and consequently official propaganda at the time about who, what circles did it and for what. Naturally, we also presented the non-official opinion. However, at a certain moment, I felt that the latter is more in mere quantitative terms. And a journalist was needed who would put aside his/her personal feelings and his/her own version and will adequately present the official version too. Naira talked with Tigran’s friends and relatives at the time and did it showing, as always, a high level of professionalism so that those who thought otherwise started to blame us for “selling out.”
We have been at war with Azerbaijan for 20 years. We, Armenians, have our convictions, are sure that we are right. However, those who live in the neighboring country are also sure that they are right, which we will never accept, but should understand. Who else but the mass media can present the enemy’s opinion? And when Aravot had to find out the opinion of Azeri intellectuals and experts, Naira would do it again and would do it very skillfully.
And most importantly, I am talking about a journalist who had her own opinion about everything, which she would boldly put forward in her commentaries and analyses. Naira lives; her articles are in Aravot’s collections and on the internet. Read them, and you will understand what purpose our profession should serve.
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ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
