Whenever a media outlet faces difficulties—whether it is staunchly pro-government or openly oppositional—I find it troubling. I believe it is always better for my colleagues to be able to work, even in ways that may not align with my ethical standards, than for them to be silenced altogether. After all, each media outlet adds a unique shade to the overall palette, and for any thinking person—one who is not confined to rigid views—every shade matters.
These difficulties are especially painful for me when they affect a media outlet whose approach is close to my heart. Such is the case with the Armenian service of Radio Liberty. (Discussing RFE/RL as a whole—the station that has been operating for several decades and broadcasts in 27 languages—is a topic for another time.)
In the history of independent Armenia, Radio Liberty has been an unparalleled media outlet, particularly in terms of professionalism and the presence of outstanding journalists. A clear testament to this is the fact that since 1991, Radio Liberty has almost never been in favor with the authorities—no matter who was in power. I say “almost” because between 2018 and 2021, the station and the government “liked each other”—a situation that, to put it mildly, is undesirable for any media outlet. Fortunately, that “honeymoon” eventually ended.
What is Radio Liberty’s greatest advantage? Above all, the fact that, like Voice of America, it is (or was) fully subsidized—funded by the U.S. Congress through the Global Media Agency. This freed its editorial team from the burden of securing financial resources.
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This circumstance, of course, sparked jealousy among some colleagues—”We struggle to survive, and they…”—and perhaps that is why we are now hearing snide remarks from certain quarters.
But once again, I must defend diversity. There should be room for subsidized media as well. When freed from everyday financial concerns, journalists can focus on quality journalism. Public Television should have been like that too, but H1… well, we all know what it was and what it is now.
Of course, much depends on the donor. Judging by the work of Radio Liberty’s Armenian service, the U.S. Congress took a fairly open-minded approach.
So, we should extend our gratitude to the former and current employees of Radio Liberty (again, I mean Armenian service) and hope that this unique project will find a way to survive.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
