“PLURALISM PASSED AWAY”

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“No pluralism exits in mass media in the pre-election period, that is why I can say that today’s level of broadcasting media is very low” said expert of Yerevan Press Club Mesrop Harutyunyan to “A1+”, estimating the situation of mass media in Armenia. This became obvious when the First President announced of his intention to return to politics.

“Even before he announced of his intention, the pluralism had died in the broadcasting mass media. Of course their heads insist that they broadcast the speeches of this or that opposition leader. But this is an apparent pluralism only”.

The expert ensures that if the fight is between two powers, they should be broadcasted equally, so that the society will be able to make a conscious decision. As to the news broadcasted by the Public TV Channel, which criticizes opposition leaders, the expert considers that according to the Article 28 of the RA Law “On TV and Radio”, the TV Channel should provide pluralism in its broadcast.

“The Law says that the prevalence of one viewpoint is forbidden in the TV Channel which is frequently violated. Why do they always talk about the right of journalists regarding the freedom of speech and ignore others’ rights?”, complained Mesrop Harutyunyan.

Astghik Gevorgyan, chairwoman of the Union of Journalists of Armenia mentioned that she learnt about the same information from various mass media.

“All mass media provide biased or unbiased information. The problem is in the context of information,- she said, adding that someone stood behind each mass media and carried out his policy,- If editor-in-chiefs were independent financially we would have quite a different picture”. According to her, if press wants to enlarge its audience it should follow certain principles and be a reliable partner for each member of the society.