The Goal of the Project is to contribute to accurate and unbiased reporting of the bilateral relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, especially in the online media and blogosphere; to establish a cooperative network of citizen journalists, bloggers and other media professionals from Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The project will contribute to accurate and unbiased reporting of the bilateral relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, especially in the online media and blogosphere. Among other results, the project will establish a cooperative network of up to 30 citizen journalists, bloggers and other media professionals from Armenia and Azerbaijan, and produce a Media Bias Glossary and a 20-25 minute documentary film describing the existing mutual bias in web-based media sources and blogs in Armenia and Azerbaijan. The project takes a capacity-building approach to all the main activities, so that participating journalists and bloggers build skills and experience that will last beyond the life of the project. EPF works closely with four core partners: Yeni Nesil (Azerbaijan), the Yerevan Press Club (Armenia), Internews-Armenia and Internews-Azerbaijan.
Activities and outcomes
A network of up to 30 journalists, citizen journalists, bloggers and e-journalists in each of Armenia and Azerbaijan (15 from each country) who adhere to the principles of objective coverage of Arm-Az relations will be created.
Baseline media monitoring will be conducted by Yerevan Press Club and Yeni Nesil, Azerbaijan. of 4-5 local, Russian-language internet-based news resources each in Armenia and Azerbaijan. Monitoring of Internet based outlets will be conducted from June 2010 to January 2011 during second week of each month.
Media Bias Glossary by YPC and Yeni Nesil to be offered to journalism schools and other relevant entities and professionals in both Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Joint three-day workshop in Tbilisi to discuss the baseline media monitoring, qualitative research results, the glossary, and to develop joint project ideas. The joint workshop will include conflict sensitivity and teambuilding activities to strengthen the group’s identity as an informal network of e-journalists. Participants will also begin drafting an Action Plan for the network, including plans for cooperation.
Selection and implementation of small internet-based joint projects. Projects will be designed with assistance from EPF, starting at the three-day workshop in Tbilisi. Following that, EPF will select two projects based on submissions from participants. EPF will monitor the projects during their implementation, and assist participating journalists as needed.
A Film describing the existing e-media bias in covering Arm-Az relations and its negative effects (commissioned to Internews in Armenia and Azerbaijan)
Two talk shows (in Armenia only) on the issue of media bias to generate public discussion. Participants in the talk shows will include media professionals, citizen journalists and bloggers, policy analysts, and others. Viewers will be invited to call in with feedback.
Talks on Turkey to be held in Yerevan
Call for project ideas, call for participation
Films on Freedom of Expression are available online !
Request for Proposals:Developing Social Entrepreneurship in Armenia
