Under “Face to Face” talk show of Aravot online, the topic is discussed between Ashot Melikyan, Chairman of Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression, and media expert Mesrop Harutyunyan.
Aram Abrahamyan – I have a professional problem, which is reflected in today’s broadcast, too. I have a hard time finding a more or less well-known journalist and a media expert, who would say that Russia has entered the Crimea, and it is well done. When I try to find a politician who would say that Russia is a bit wrong on the Crimea, it is also a problem, because in addition to the “Free Democrats” and “Heritage”, everyone thinks that Russia is correct. How can you explain this situation?
Mesrop Harutyunyan – I find it hard to say, I would find it difficult to interpret the politicians, because it is not my field. With regard to the media, the majority, of course, should not only say that Russia is not correct, or Ukraine, the West, and so on are correct rather than the media representatives or media experts should see in these coverage of how the views of the parties are balanced. I will have my own view, but purely in terms of media policy, in dissemination of merely information so that under the reality of Armenia, our society has a full understanding of what is going on there, and equally presenting all views is correct. I am talking about, let me repeat, the media; interpreting is quite different.
A. A. – But our release, which is independent, and is freely broadcasting Russian channels, is too unilateral, and whether it affects our TV viewers, who do not particularly use the Internet.
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Ashot Melikyan – Of course, it may affect. People who do not have the chance to access the Internet, do not have a great alternative, and depend only on the broadcasts. Although, I must say that the overseas events, commonly the international news, is much better released than the coverage of domestic life, in other words, the Armenian TV companies are presenting the international life better than our domestic life. This is due to the fact that, first, they are mainly using CNN and Reuters where there is a principle that unless they have the information from different sources, unless you present all the views on the conflict, the material will not go on air. When our TV companies are citing well-known international information and media corporations, the quality is good, but when the reference is made to purely Russian or Ukrainian sources, the news is poor.
A. A. – Recently, journalists dealing with propaganda are often asking, “Are you a dictaphone?” For example, Levon Zurabyan is saying, “Levon, go away”, Eduard Sharmazanov is saying, “Sergik, come close”, and I am placing the two views in Aravot newspaper and am hearing a reproach, “Are you a dictaphone? Do you have a course, or not?” Should we have a “course” for Ukraine, or not?
M. H. – As they say, the newspaper is not only a collective agitator and a collective propagandist, but also a collective organizer. There are overseas media that are announcing that they have certain views and directions, but it does not obstacle them. It is expressed in the editorials: comments, analyses, editorial articles, etc., it is the line, however, it does not obstacle that the counter analysis of the analysis is published in the same newspaper and voiced in the same TV transmission. It seems to me that the pro-government media, the media in general are somewhat confused, because the government so far has not officially announced its position on Ukraine. Now, there are some media that are expecting of how to act, “Long live Comrade Putin”, or vice versa? Maybe this is a somewhat positive phenomenon.
Prepared by ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
“Face to Face” talk show is implemented by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia. The views and analyses found in this talk show are expressing the opinions of the participants and are not approved by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia or its Board. This talk show is made possible thanks to entire financial support by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia, under the mass media support program, grant No 18624.
