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IREX Media Sustainability Index 2019 – Armenia

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IREX Media Sustainability Index 2019 – Armenia ARMENIA MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2019 Tracking Development of Sustainable Independent Media Around the World ARMENIA AT A GLANCE GENERAL MEDIA-SPECIFIC ▶ Population: 3,038,217 (CIA World Factbook, ▶ GNI (2016 - Atlas): $11.714 billion (World Bank ▶ Number of active print outlets, radio ▶ Broadcast ratings: Most popular television July 2018 est.) Development Indicators, 2017) stations, television stations, Internet news stations are Armenia TV (private), Shant TV ▶ Capital city: Yerevan ▶ GNI per capita (2017 - PPP): $10,060 (World portals: Print: over 36; Radio stations: 20; (private), and A TV, H1 (public). (assessed by Television stations: 17 (10 channels in Yerevan, panelists) ▶ Ethnic groups (% of population): Armenian Bank Development Indicators, 2017) the capital, including two Russian relay 98.1%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.2%, Russian 0.5%, other ▶ Literacy rate: 99.7% (male 99.7%, female ▶ News agencies: ARKA, Armenpress, 0.3% (CIA World Factbook, 2011 est.) 99.6%) (CIA World Factbook, 2015 est.) channels, CNN and MIR, intergovernmental Arminfo, MediaMax, Photolur television of CIS; seven stations with ▶ Annual advertising revenue in media ▶ Religions (% of population): Armenian ▶ President or top authority: Prime Minister nationwide coverage, including one public Apostolic 92.6%, Evangelical 1%, other 2.4%, Nikol Pashinyan (since May 8, 2018) (*This sector: $30‒36 million (estimated by station and RTR Planeta (Russian channel); 19 panelists) none 1.1%, unspecified 2.9% (CIA World date will change; the new National Assembly television stations in regions (8 digital, 11 with Factbook, 2011 est.) will elect a new prime minister (almost analogue licenses extended till next license ▶ Internet users: 1.89 million (CIA World ▶ Languages (% of population): Armenian certainly the same [Pashinyan].) tenders and one public station in Shirak Factbook, 2016 est.) (official) 97.9%, Kurdish (spoken by Yezidi region); Internet news portals: over 200 minority) 1%, other 1% (CIA World Factbook, ▶ Newspaper circulation statistics: Average 2011 est.) reported circulation is 1,000‒3,000. MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX: ARMENIA SCORE KEY Unsustainable, Anti-Free Press (0–1): Country does not meet or only minimally meets objectives. Government and laws actively hinder free media development, professionalism SUSTAINABLE is low, and media-industry activity is minimal. Unsustainable Mixed System (1–2): Country minimally 2.96 meets objectives, with segments of the legal system and 2.76 2.76 2.73 NEAR 2.63 government opposed to a free media system. Evident progress 2.60 2.60 2.58 2.55 2.52 2.49 2.48 2.47 2.47 in free-press advocacy, increased professionalism, and new 2.43 2.43 2.42 2.36 SUSTAINABILITY 2.37 2.36 2.26 media businesses may be too recent to judge sustainability. 2.21 2.18 2.17 2.15 2.04 1.96 1.94 1.92 Near Sustainability (2–3): Country has progressed in meeting 1.85 multiple objectives, with legal norms, professionalism, and the SUSTAINABILITY business environment supportive of independent media. Advances MIXED SYSTEM UNSUSTAINABLE have survived changes in government and have been codified in law and practice. However, more time may be needed to ensure that change is enduring and that increased professionalism and the media business environment are sustainable. Sustainable (3–4): Country has media that are considered 2018 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2014 2015 2016 2017 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 UNSUSTAINABLE ANTI-FREE PRESS generally professional, free, and sustainable, or to be approaching FREE PROFESSIONAL PLURALITY OF BUSINESS SUPPORTING SPEECH JOURNALISM NEWS SOURCES MANAGEMENT INSTITUTIONS these objectives. Systems supporting independent media OBJECTIVES have survived multiple governments, economic fluctuations, and changes in public opinion or social conventions. Scores for all years may be found online at https://www.irex.org/msi momentous revolution, dubbed Hours later, Sargsyan resigned with a letter OVERALL “velvet” by its leader, Nikol Pashinyan, stating, “Pashinyan was right; I was wrong.” SCORE changed the Armenian political Eventually, on May 8, the National Assembly landscape, turned the media world elected Pashinyan prime minister. upside down, and made 2018 a truly The National Assembly was later dissolved 2.60 unprecedented year in Armenia’s in November, as Pashinyan pushed for early modern history. The then-ruling Republican A parliamentary elections in a bid to replace his Party triggered the revolution by nominating political opponents who maintained a majority The Armenian revolution has Serzh Sargsyan, Armenia’s president since 2008, in the National Assembly. The effort succeeded: injected hope for positive change as prime minister in March 2018—despite the Pashinyan’s My Step alliance won a landslide into the media community. fact that he had pledged not to run for that office victory with 70.43 percent of the vote. Two Although the country remains in after Armenia’s transition to a parliamentary other parties made it to the parliament: Gagik the near sustainable category, system of government in 2015. A vast majority Tsarukyan’s Prosperous Armenia party with every indicator improved from of Armenians rebelled and followed Pashinyan, 8.27 percent and the Bright Armenia party 2018, with the overall score of the opposition bloc Yelk (A Way Out), in civil with 6.37 percent of votes. The old-timers of increasing from 2.28 to 2.60. disobedience and peaceful demonstrations that the parliament, the Republican party and the The most noteworthy change intensified when the National Assembly elected Armenian Revolutionary Federation, were shut was the spike in the freedom of Sargsyan prime minister on March 17. speech objective, which is now out. Demonstrations grew steadily in number and only .04 below the sustainable Although Pashinyan used Facebook livestreams intensity; people blocked streets around Yerevan category. This jump can be to address and coordinate the people, the online by day and gathered in the main square in the explained by increased optimism media provided an instrumental push, streaming evenings. On April 22, Sargsyan and Pashinyan that public pressure will create live from the streets and demonstrations, and met in front of media, but the talks failed. the political will that is needed “eyes from everywhere” reports of provocations Pashinyan had come solely to negotiate the to enforce the constitution’s and violence. “Everyone was a walking media terms of Sargsyan’s resignation, while Sargsyan freedom of speech provision. outlet; everyone was streaming live,” Suren came with the intent to negotiate the end of the The business management Deheryan, chair of Journalists for the Future, demonstrations. Pashinyan said that Sargsyan objective also crossed into the observed. The unfolding drama gave reporters had lost touch with reality. Hours after Sargsyan near sustainable category for the an unprecedented chance to develop their live left the meeting, police arrested Pashinyan first time in two years due to a reporting skills. The historic revolution gave and some of his supporters—a move that small opening in the advertising the media community a new spirit of hope for fueled more demonstrations. The following day, market after the revolution. change, reflected in higher panelist scores for Pashinyan and his supporters were released. the year. 3 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2019 ARMENIA OBJECTIVE 1: be true to say that the judges have not changed, Ishkhanyan agreed, “I also asked media rights and it is impossible to establish democratic institutes advocate NGOs why they didn’t voice any concerns, FREEDOM OF 2.96 SPEECH overnight. A lot depends on the political will (of the and they responded with vague, even preposterous, authorities). On the other hand, we have witnessed answers,” he said. Especially with respect to freedom of speech, some decisions that countered the interests of the “In terms of government pressure on the media, the panelists drew a line between “before” current authorities but, instead, were most probably the situation has improved … but in terms of public and “after” the revolution. Constitutional ‘negotiated with the judges’ by representatives of pressure on media, it has gotten worse,” Martirosyan provisions in Armenia guaranteed free speech the previous authorities. Or, if there were no negoti- commented, with many editors complaining that before the revolution, but lack of enforcement ations, it would prove that the courts have started the public uses Facebook to exert pressure on had long been a serious issue, as previous functioning independently,” he added. the media through forceful insults and criticism in MSI studies recorded. Whether enforcement Society places a premium on freedom of comment sections. will improve, however, remains to be seen speech and the media, even more so after the during the upcoming months and years. The revolution, where they saw palpable results. The Legal and social norms protect and promote independence and integrity of courts, headed panelists debated whether some incidents qualify free speech and access to public information. mostly by the same judges who were tightly as free speech violations, though. Martirosyan connected with the previous regime, are open believes that leveraging public pressure is FREE-SPEECH INDICATORS questions. However, the panelists expressed a seriously undermined, because most of the organi- ▶ Legal and social ▶ Libel is a civil law issue; sense of optimism given the political will of the zations tasked with protecting media rights have protections of free public officials are held current government, and the prime minister in ties to the executive branch—a major conflict of speech exist and to higher standards, are enforced. and offended parties particular. “The situation has changed,” Nelli interest. “A vivid example,” Martirosyan said, “is the must prove falsity Babayan, a reporter for Aravot, said, “Now media disgraceful yerevan.today case.” He explained that ▶ Licensing of broadcast and malice. media is fair, competitive, sue each other, but what are the courts like? I the authorities, relying on a flimsy excuse, raided the and apolitical.
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