Mass media legislation to be improved; reforms considered with journalists and civil society representatives

Director of the “Centre for Legislation Development and Legal Research” Foundation of the Ministry of Justice Tigran Dadunts delivered a speech at a public discussion on the draft of amendments and supplements to the Law "On mass media" and related laws. The draft proposes to acknowledge self-regulatory mechanisms of mass media outlets at the legislative level, to bring the concept of mass media into compliance with modern international standards, and to consider the existence of a self-regulatory system as a criterion of the intention to carry out media activities. The draft also proposes to consider mass media with self-regulation measures recognised by law or associated with such measures as measures for raising public awareness, thereby highlighting the willingness of such mass media outlets to act as socially responsible media. The draft also envisages an opportunity to establish an independent association of self-regulatory measures of mass media, the Media Council, which would recognise such self-regulatory measures. Mass media representatives and non-governmental organisations operating in the field participated in the public discussion during which they asked questions, as well as expressed concerns and made suggestions. Country Representative of Freedom House in Armenia Andranik Shirinyan and Expert of the Organisation Genya Petrosyan, Member of the National Assembly Lilit Minasyan, Chairman of the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression, Ashot Melikyan, Expert of Yerevan Press Club Gevorg Hayrapetyan also delivered speeches at the public discussion. Let us remind that the event was organised through the joint efforts of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia and Freedom House international human rights organisation.