The Role of Public Television in New Armenia, a public discussion
The success of Armenian velvet revolution, according to both national and international analyses, was the civil society’s challenging of pro-government media broadcasting and using social and online media to mobilize people and organize protests. The revolution recorded a steep growth of online channel subscriptions, social media users and a shift of the audience from traditional TV broadcasting to online platforms for daily news. The role of publicly-funded TV and radio broadcasting became one of the most relevant questions for the political transformations of the country.
On September 28, 2018, the Partnership for Open Society Initiative, representing over sixty civil society organizations, held a public discussion titled, The role of public television in new Armenia. The discussion focused on the operation and policies of the Council of public TV and radio company of Armenia in promoting the public interest, freedom of speech and freedom of expression within the new political context of Armenia. The main speakers of the discussion were Stepan Zakaryan, member of the Council of public TV and radio company, Vahagn Tevosyan, newly appointed director of the public TV news services, Levon Barseghyan, chairman of Journalists’ Club “Asparez” and Artur Sakunts, chairman of Helsinki Citizen’s Assembly-Vanadzor.
The discussion developed on the activities of the Public television and radio company operating H1—the main channel of the company, Shoghakat TV, Public Radio of Armenia, Shirak Public Television and Shirak Public Radio; specifically, how it had been predominantly pro-government during the last decade, and how being the main source of information for most of society, especially in rural areas, these mainstream media channels had not offered an objective and pluralistic information to the people.
Recalling the political constraints and the widespread hidden censorship imposed on the company and its leading channel H1, Stepan Zakaryan, noted that during past ten years, the trust and interest in public media had been reduced. Above political bias and control, Mr Zakaryan considered that the situation was due to the proliferation of social media and online news outlets. In order to become relevant to public needs and maintain its audience, he underscored that the traditional media should put the emphasis on the quality of produced programs, on the value and educational potential of the products and to respond to the needs and expectations of the youth.
Vahagn Tevosyan who is responsible for the news services, raised a particular concern about program ratings and their potential of competing with the mobile and virtual world of news consumption. Noting the increased use of online platforms for getting daily news, Mr Tevosyan pointed out that the Public Television and Radio Company and its central channel H1 should concentrate on analytical programs and news digests.
Levon Barseghyan did not support the view that the Public Television and Radio Company needed to improve its image and raise program ratings. He considered that the company and its leading channel H1 should primarily understand their role in the Armenian society and how they should serve the public interest. Mr Barseghyan reminded that the seismic shift in Armenia’s political landscape showed that the public media did not have part and influence on the public life. And as a publicly-financed service, the public television had become the symbol of political bias, lacking impartiality, diversity of opinions and views. In the new political context of Armenia, he underscored, the company should review its role by allocating sufficient time to public concerns, needs and issues of different groups, by organizing public discussions and debates, becoming transparent and making the records of the council sessions available to the public.
In order to increase trust and interest in public media, Artur Sakunts pointed out that the company or H1 channel should have initiated the public discussion, and not the civil society. Mr Sakunts noted that H1 continued to occupy a leading position in the traditional segment with the largest broadcast audience in Armenia. Not the high-rating programs but being true to the law and public interest would regain its popularity. He emphasized the widespread misconception that the channel H1 should represent the official face of the country, while political news and officials should have privileged access to its airtime. He cited the Article 26 of the Law on Television and Radio indicating clearly that the channel could broadcast the official messages and information of the president, the prime minister and the parliament. The article and the law in all aspects, he explained, did not have any reservations regarding the authorities and the political elite. Furthermore, he reminded that the law banned paid adverts and announcements on the public TV, allocating instead finances from the state budget to give more time to the public and programs of public interest.
The follow-up discussion in the room confirmed the view that the Armenian public perceived the public television as an outlet serving the interests of the ruling elite, whereas the transparent and fair practices, the provision of diverse and interesting content could increase the interest towards the public TV. Various concerns raised during the discussion specifically emphasized the need of following the activities of the Public opinion research center attached to the Public Television and Radio Company, making available their findings and acting upon them; ensuring the independence and accountability of the council for television and radio, the transparency of its decision-making and the possibilities for civil society involvement in the selection and appointment of its members. Several participants also highlighted that the company should promote unbiased attitude, respect for independence and plurality among its team and personnel. And in order to prove that they are open to the public, ready to discuss their role in the new political context, the company and its leading channel H1 should organize a series of public-wide discussions.