Comments on: Media Concerns on Eve of Presidential Election

By: Global Voices Online » Armenia: Former President Announces New Presidential Bid

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 15:03:46 +0000

[…] earlier posts, the Armenia Election Monitor 2008 blog also reported on apparent pressure put on the broadcast media not to cover election-related stories, and also that one regional TV station which did cover Ter […]

By: Global Voices Online » Armenia: Opposition Detainees Released

Global Voices Online » Armenia: Opposition Detainees Released — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:56:37 +0000

[…] supportive of former president Levon Ter Petrosian have been detained. Their crime? In lieu of having access to the broadcast media to advertise Friday’s rally at which Ter Petrosian is due to speak, the activists used megaphones […]

By: 24/10/07 - Political prisoners are freed at 3:20am « The Armenian Observer Blog

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:39:30 +0000

By: Armenia 2008 Election Monitor » Blog Archive » Opposition Activists Detained

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:23:58 +0000

By: Onnik

Onnik — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 08:51:48 +0000

Uzogh, thanks for the link and I’m going to post your entry in the comments section of the next post.

By: Uzogh

Uzogh — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 21:39:46 +0000

http://uzogh.livejournal.com/107013.html

By: Onnik

Onnik — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 20:18:05 +0000

Uzogh, this report about censorship in Gyumri doesn’t fill me with much hope…

By: Global Voices Online » Armenia: Media Concerns

Global Voices Online » Armenia: Media Concerns — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 20:03:55 +0000

[…] election due to be held in the first few months of 2008 draws closer, the Armenian Election Monitor examines press reports that not only are media associations and journalists raising concerns about limited access to the […]

By: Armenia 2008 Election Monitor » Blog Archive » TV Censorship, Wire Tapping & Pop Music

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 19:51:02 +0000

[…] on from the previous post detailing concerns about access to the media in the run-up to the 2008 presidential election in Armenia, RFE/RL reports that one regional TV […]

By: uzogh

uzogh — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 15:31:57 +0000

Onnik, I didn’t say, that situation with TV owners blocking this ad from air is ok, and good in general. I’ve just said, that I understand why are they doing that way.

But anyway, I have to admit that you are right, political season have started, and we must follow and enjoy it, because there’s no place to hide from it in our small country.

I’ll be out of country on October 26, so I will miss that show. I hope to see it covered here.

PS One interesting thing - in paper advertisements for this rally an old photo of LTP was printed - from mid 90-ies. Some black jokers are saying that he needs, and often uses, a make-up.

By: Onnik

Onnik — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 14:39:49 +0000

Let’s look on TV owners in Armenia. All of them have made their fortune during Kocharyan’s rule. So what’s wrong with their bias? I think nothing. It’s understandable (still I don’t know how correct is it). And I’m pretty sure, that there’s nobody, who wants to lose his fortune, because all of them are pretty sure, that return of LTP will open the witch-hunting season.

Well, I disagree with this. The media has an obligation first and foremost to provide information to its viewers, and I think it should be up to them to decide. Still, the TV media is not perfect the world over, but even so, I would think that if Levon Ter Petrosian has no real support in society then airing such ads are not a threat to those who are part of the system in place. By not airing those ads, I can’t help but think they instead have a reason to be worried.

Anyway, the political silly season is now upon us and I’m sure it will get more active before the obligatory New Year 13 days of doing nothing is upon us. I suppose things just got exciting again in Armenia from a news perspective, but I have to be honest. I could have done with a longer break between the last parliamentary election and the presidential one that will be upon us soon enough.

Then again, it’ll be winter for most of that period so there’s nothing much to do anyway, so perhaps all of this “action” will make a welcome if tiring change.

By: uzogh

uzogh — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 13:47:17 +0000

It was a pleasant surprise to meet you there.
I want to explain you the way, that this opposition guys work. They are doing conferences twice a week. The agenda is the same, key points are the same, the faces are the same, the questions from journalists are the same. They are just trying to flood the air with the same words, trying to create a lot of new media events, with the same old song: “Everything is bad, and we will change this”. It’s just propaganda - nothing more.

I would like to ask this question in another way - why private TV stations do not reproduce their propaganda?
And there’s plain answer - because LTP’s mob does not have support in circles of TV owners. Let’s look on TV owners in Armenia. All of them have made their fortune during Kocharyan’s rule. So what’s wrong with their bias? I think nothing. It’s understandable (still I don’t know how correct is it). And I’m pretty sure, that there’s nobody, who wants to lose his fortune, because all of them are pretty sure, that return of LTP will open the witch-hunting season.

But anyway - one point is clear - if they wanted to place political advertisement during the parliamentary elections, they had a cheap place - Public TV, which is the most popular channel, according to AGB Nielsen measurements. High prices - is the same propaganda bullshit, that they want everybody to eat.

By: Onnik

Onnik — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 13:24:22 +0000

Uzogh, welcome back and nice to run into you the other night. Anyway, thanks for putting your side of the argument although it has to be said that while I can accept your explanation for political advertisement — and you’re right, i suppose, it should be up to the TV station to accept what ads it wants, when it wants, and dependent on their schedule, it does seem strange that press conferences are not being covered and so on. Of course, this is what RFE/RL reports. I don’t know because I don’t watch Armenian TV.

BTW: Re Public TV during the parliamentary election, yes, it was a lot better, but I think the criticism was largely being targeted at the private TV stations. Anyway, yes, I can believe that the reaction is one of frustration, perhaps, and yes, marks the start of trying to prove to the world that the next election does not mark democratic progress even though it hasn’t actually been held yet. Business as usual, perhaps, and yes, it’s getting tiring. Still, on the other hand, I shall be interested to see who comes out in support of LTP next week and it’s also interesting to note some opposition voices openly speaking out against his return.

At the very least, we have some real discussion in society and the media now which I personally think is a huge advance compared to my experience of past elections. Here’s hoping it continues and people start to assess where Armenia was, where it is, and where they want it to be. That for me will be a huge improvement.

By: uzogh

uzogh — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 12:31:17 +0000

Hi Onnik,
It is a long time, that I was missing here, so I think it’s a good time to write a big comment
1. No TV station is obliged by law to air their advertisement. It’s a blatant lie. TV stations are obliged to air political advertisement only in pre-election period, and prices must be defined and published before the beginning of that period. So while there’s no election campaign, no media is obliged to publish any political advertisement. The point organizers referring to, is about the right of organizers to put announcement in media. But in no way this legislation is putting obligations on media.
2. As for the prices for political campaign, prices for political advertisement on Public TV Company of Armenia for last parliamentary elections were almost the same as in 2003 (7% high), and they were nearly 80.000 AMD/minute (I Don’t remember the exact sum). I’m pretty sure, that this price will not change drastically. So it’s again - blatant lie.
3. Please pay attention to all the wording, with which sources are describing the “pressure” on TV stations. They are all rumors, and nothing else.

So let’s go a little bit deeper.
What does those guys expected? Advertisement? Ok, but right now there’s no political advertisement at all in the program of TV stations.
Let’s look on time, when they asked for advertisement: they’ve asked for it In the mid of October, keeping in mind that no advertisement agency is accepting ads that must be aired in one week period. They have strict timelines and are getting ad clips for 2 week advance. So if they wanted to air ads beginning from 19 of October, they had to ask about it not later, than October 4.

Let me be honest. It is difficult to say if those rumors true or not.
But it is clear for me, that rally organizers asked for impossible, and made this step intentionally.

By: LTP supporter

LTP supporter — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 06:43:34 +0000

The video and in the future all available videos can also be viewed at website. The video is hosted locally.

By: Armenian News, Analysis & Photography — Oneworld Multimedia :: Media Concerns on Eve of Presidential Election :: October :: 2007

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 20:13:58 +0000

[…] full post is available on the 2008 Presidential Election Monitor Blog. Posted by Onnik @ 11:59 pm. Filed under: Armenia, Democracy, Politics, Media, Freedom of […]