Background of the Issue: Activist of the civil movement “We Are against the Reopening of Foreign Language Schools” Armen Hovhannisian addressed MEO with a complaint against Petros Ghazarian, author and host of “Urvagits” program of Kentron” TV company. In his letter, Armen Hovhannisian stated that at the discussion of the issue on foreign language schools’ reopening, Petros Ghazarian invited to “Urvagits” only people supporting the initiative, while the representatives of the civil movement have never participated in it. Armen Hovhannisian accused Petros Ghazarian in a one-sided coverage of the issue and in bias.
MEO addressed Petros Ghazarian, offering its mediation in the conflict (“Kentron” TV company is not a member of the media self-regulation initiative). The journalist accepted the offer.
MEO considered the complaint and rendered a decision on June 1, 2011, noting that Petros Ghazarian had not violated the Code of Conduct of Media Representatives. MEO took into account the fact that the “Urvagits” programs involved guests from both camps: pro e contra the foreign language schools in Armenia. MEO also stressed that a journalist has the right to voice his/her own stance on an issue and this does not contradict the journalistic ethics.