Civilitas will continue with its public forum programming this year. The February 9 forum will focus on the media

Civil.am (http://by137w.bay137.mail.live.com/default.aspx?wa=wsignin1.0) – a website created by Civilitas last year to offer the non-governmental sector room to publicize its successes and attempt to secure financial support for new projects – has added a new section called Resources. There, NGOs can find links to legal, financial, organizational and other resources to strengthen capacity and enable independence. Another new feature is the announcement of grant possibilities. The first announcement, made by the Norwegian Honorary Consul in Armenia, has elicited over 6 dozen responses. We invite other donors, both institutional and individual, to offer support to worthwhile projects and programs.

Also on the web, at civilitasfoundation.org, you can read Tatul Hakobyan’s analyses of recent events in and around Armenia.

Civilitas will continue with its public forum programming this year. The February 9 forum will focus on the media. Even as digitization has broadened broadcast opportunities around the world, in Armenia, digitization presented an opportunity to limit the number of broadcasters in country.

The Civilitas Foundation cordially invites you to an open public forum

Towards a Professional and
Independent Media

The speakers are
Karine Harutyunyan
Executive Director, GALA TV
Armen Meliqbekyan
Co-Founder, EPRESS. AM

Gegham Baghdasaryan
Executive Editor, Analyticon Journal, published in Stepanakert

The talk will be moderated by
Civilitas Foundation analyst
Tatul Hakobyan

The discussion will take place at the
Ani Plaza Hotel
Ani Hall, on February 9,
Wednesday, at 2 p.m.

To confirm your participation,
please call 500-119

The recent decisions by National TV and Radio Committee offered licenses to only 18 TV stations to broadcast digitally. Several lost their licenses, including at least three which are not perceived as responsive to government influence.


This and continuing financial and political limitations place additional pressures on the print, broadcast and Internet news outlets. In that environment, Civilitas and our guests will discuss ways for the news media to remain professional and responsible even under these circumstances, why limitations are placed and who wins and who loses as a result, how is it that some media outlets have succeeded in gaining public confidence. If you are in Yerevan on Wednesday February 9 and wish to participate, we’d love to see you and hear from you. If you are not, you can follow the program live on the web.

Salpi Ghazarian
Director

Civ-AM