Armenia - Media



In 1997, there were 568,000 main line telephones. A 2001 report added 25,000 mobile cellular phones. Communications are the responsibility of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and are operated by Armental, a 90% Greek-owned company. Yerevan is linked to the Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable through Iran. Communications links to other former Soviet republics are by land line or microwave, and to other countries by satellite and through Moscow. Armenian and Russian radio and television stations broadcast throughout the country. As of 1998, there were 9 AM and 6 FM radio stations and 3 television stations. In addition, programs were relayed by Russian television. Television is the most accessible medium. In 1997 there were 850,000 radios and 825,000 televisions in the country.

The five largest newspapers as of 2002 were Golos Armenii ( The Voice of Armenia , circulation 20,000), Hayastani Hanrapetutyun (a joint publication of the parliament and the newspaper's staff), and Respublika Armenia .

Armenia's constitution provides for freedom of expression, and is said to generally uphold freedom of speech and press. However, journalists seem to adhere to an unspoken rule of self-censorship, particularly when reporting on political issues, since they traditionally depend on the government for funding and access to facilities. The government has, it is noted, begun to shed itself of the state publishing apparatus, and it has dissolved the Ministry of Information.

In 2001, there were 9 Internet service providers serving about 30,000 Internet users.

User Contributions:

Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: