The conflict between the former police chief and the employees of RFE/RL’s Armenian Service continues to remain in the center of public attention, including new layers of propaganda. Yesterday I noticed that some media outlets of the Armenian media field which are of 3-4 importance, are still trying to engage the journalistic organizations operating in Armenia in this issue, and they do not miss the opportunity to unjustly discredit the “Media Advocate” and spread false information that we have not joined the call of other journalistic organizations, have not condemned the case, etc.
Special for these media outlets, I would like to mention that “Media Advocate” monitors the Armenian media field on a 24/7 basis and responds operatively to the most striking developments. We have our working methodology and we do not expect several organizations to coordinate their efforts, agree on the texts, and only after that make a statement. Our response is much more operative.
In connection with this incident, the “Media Advocate” made a statement hours later, condemning the obstruction of the professional work of journalists and the threats against them, as well as invading the private territory of citizens, and calling for such issues to be resolved in the legal field. In general, we are convinced that in a democratic country the indictments should be given by the courts, not by the journalists, or the journalistic organizations.
I do not specifically mention the names of those gossip media, hoping that by the time they will grow and take their rightful place in the Armenian media field. But before that, a piece of kind advice to them: get acquainted with the facts before writing about any case, especially before gossiping, otherwise you will not grow up to earn the title of a media outlet.
Aghasi Yenokyan
Head of the “Media Advocate” Initiative
