I really like the topic of this TEDx talk for any journalist ichigaya
talk for any journalist ichigaya
talk for any journalist ichigaya is to see the impact of article or
is to see the impact of article or
is to see the impact of article or investigative phase of something and my
investigative phase of something and my
investigative phase of something and my talk will be about issues that
talk will be about issues that
talk will be about issues that journalists face in a process of
journalists face in a process of
journalists face in a process of ensuring that impact so recently in
ensuring that impact so recently in
ensuring that impact so recently in Armenia there has been a tendency to
Armenia there has been a tendency to
Armenia there has been a tendency to blame journalists for everything still
blame journalists for everything still
blame journalists for everything still three years ago very high level
three years ago very high level
three years ago very high level politician blamed us journalists for for
politician blamed us journalists for for
politician blamed us journalists for for seeing bad things in everything and for
seeing bad things in everything and for
seeing bad things in everything and for creating musty atmosphere
creating musty atmosphere
creating musty atmosphere well well very well know everybody knows
well well very well know everybody knows
well well very well know everybody knows that gosh man alert and for what as a
that gosh man alert and for what as a
that gosh man alert and for what as a result of which people my emigrate from
result of which people my emigrate from
result of which people my emigrate from the country we were even blamed for
the country we were even blamed for
the country we were even blamed for Armenian national soccer team for their
Armenian national soccer team for their
Armenian national soccer team for their bad performance and very recently
bad performance and very recently
bad performance and very recently well-known businessman tycoon blamed us
well-known businessman tycoon blamed us
well-known businessman tycoon blamed us journalists or called a journalist a spy
journalists or called a journalist a spy
journalists or called a journalist a spy and insisted that 90% of Arminius
and insisted that 90% of Arminius
and insisted that 90% of Arminius population lives in living bad condition
population lives in living bad condition
population lives in living bad condition because of journalists ok we do have
because of journalists ok we do have
because of journalists ok we do have scenes but not that much we we do have
scenes but not that much we we do have
scenes but not that much we we do have scenes as professional high level
scenes as professional high level
scenes as professional high level journalism is something rare today but I
journalism is something rare today but I
journalism is something rare today but I will talk about one of our since about
will talk about one of our since about
will talk about one of our since about the boundary of journalism and activism
the boundary of journalism and activism
the boundary of journalism and activism a topic much discussed in a world but in
a topic much discussed in a world but in
a topic much discussed in a world but in Armenian reality this boundary is
Armenian reality this boundary is
Armenian reality this boundary is transgressed very often but
transgressed very often but
transgressed very often but not because of journalists fault if
not because of journalists fault if
not because of journalists fault if journalism meant to be objective
journalism meant to be objective
journalism meant to be objective impartial and fair yes in that case of
impartial and fair yes in that case of
impartial and fair yes in that case of course journalist
course journalist
course journalist cannot be an activist journalist must
cannot be an activist journalist must
cannot be an activist journalist must avoid becoming involved emotionally and
avoid becoming involved emotionally and
avoid becoming involved emotionally and especially politically but let me ask
especially politically but let me ask
especially politically but let me ask this question is it always possible to
this question is it always possible to
this question is it always possible to stick to this rule
stick to this rule
stick to this rule I assure that even the most professional
I assure that even the most professional
I assure that even the most professional journalists will say that it is not let
journalists will say that it is not let
journalists will say that it is not let me be clear this is not about political
me be clear this is not about political
me be clear this is not about political involvement of course and here is a
involvement of course and here is a
involvement of course and here is a boundary for me is very clear if you are
boundary for me is very clear if you are
boundary for me is very clear if you are in politics it means ultimately that you
in politics it means ultimately that you
in politics it means ultimately that you are not a journalist anymore
but I would like to discuss the issue is
but I would like to discuss the issue is it justified for journalists to become
it justified for journalists to become
it justified for journalists to become or to be an activist is there an
or to be an activist is there an
or to be an activist is there an acceptable motivation for journalists to
acceptable motivation for journalists to
acceptable motivation for journalists to to do such change of identity I think
to do such change of identity I think
to do such change of identity I think there is and there is one only and it is
there is and there is one only and it is
there is and there is one only and it is related to freedom of speech I believe
related to freedom of speech I believe
related to freedom of speech I believe that yes one should be an activist to
that yes one should be an activist to
that yes one should be an activist to champion free speech let me be bring
champion free speech let me be bring
champion free speech let me be bring just an example in 2008 March 1
just an example in 2008 March 1
just an example in 2008 March 1 post-election events when everybody
post-election events when everybody
post-election events when everybody knows what happened when television
knows what happened when television
knows what happened when television channels were mostly silent about the
channels were mostly silent about the
channels were mostly silent about the situation in the street of heroine
situation in the street of heroine
situation in the street of heroine journalists those journalists working
journalists those journalists working
journalists those journalists working outside of television outside of
outside of television outside of
outside of television outside of controlled media willy-nilly become
controlled media willy-nilly become
controlled media willy-nilly become activists contrasting their work
activists contrasting their work
activists contrasting their work contrasting their coverage with official
contrasting their coverage with official
contrasting their coverage with official information and this contrast forced
information and this contrast forced
information and this contrast forced them to
them to
them to assume the unintended unintended role of
assume the unintended unintended role of
assume the unintended unintended role of public defenders during those days the
public defenders during those days the
public defenders during those days the boundary was so huge that it was almost
boundary was so huge that it was almost
boundary was so huge that it was almost impossible to not to express a position
impossible to not to express a position
impossible to not to express a position and bigger journalist providing unbiased
and bigger journalist providing unbiased
and bigger journalist providing unbiased coverage was again almost impossible
coverage was again almost impossible
coverage was again almost impossible because as I said earlier the pressure
because as I said earlier the pressure
because as I said earlier the pressure from the other side I mean from the
from the other side I mean from the
from the other side I mean from the state-run information flows was so huge
state-run information flows was so huge
state-run information flows was so huge that fighting for freedom of information
that fighting for freedom of information
that fighting for freedom of information fighting for freedom of speech was an
fighting for freedom of speech was an
fighting for freedom of speech was an ultimate necessity and that takes us
ultimate necessity and that takes us
ultimate necessity and that takes us many of us to the other side of the
many of us to the other side of the
many of us to the other side of the barricade during those days when state
barricade during those days when state
barricade during those days when state of emergency has been had been imposed
of emergency has been had been imposed
of emergency has been had been imposed it was prohibited to published any
it was prohibited to published any
it was prohibited to published any information other than official so but
information other than official so but
information other than official so but in that case as a journalist in order to
in that case as a journalist in order to
in that case as a journalist in order to defend public interest in order to
defend public interest in order to
defend public interest in order to defend their right to get information we
defend their right to get information we
defend their right to get information we had to find those protesters that were
had to find those protesters that were
had to find those protesters that were killed 10 protesters that were killed so
killed 10 protesters that were killed so
killed 10 protesters that were killed so what we do
what we do
what we do I personally for several days walk up
I personally for several days walk up
I personally for several days walk up and down the Yerevan Street several
and down the Yerevan Street several
and down the Yerevan Street several districts in order to find free killed
districts in order to find free killed
districts in order to find free killed protesters those that were killed by
protesters those that were killed by
protesters those that were killed by police by Jerome occur seven tear gas
police by Jerome occur seven tear gas
police by Jerome occur seven tear gas grenade which was supposed not a special
grenade which was supposed not a special
grenade which was supposed not a special weapon supposed to be a special weapon
weapon supposed to be a special weapon
weapon supposed to be a special weapon not for killing but it killed we knew
not for killing but it killed we knew
not for killing but it killed we knew only their names for his name and last
only their names for his name and last
only their names for his name and last name nothing else it seems to be going
name nothing else it seems to be going
name nothing else it seems to be going to be impossible to find them
to be impossible to find them
to be impossible to find them somehow I had I was a I was fortunate to
somehow I had I was a I was fortunate to
somehow I had I was a I was fortunate to do that
do that
do that I found all tank protesters families I
I found all tank protesters families I
I found all tank protesters families I found them I wrote about them I
found them I wrote about them I
found them I wrote about them I published these stories about their
published these stories about their
published these stories about their about them about more about the
about them about more about the
about them about more about the situation I published it in
situation I published it in
situation I published it in international media I had I couldn’t do
international media I had I couldn’t do
international media I had I couldn’t do that in inside the country I published
that in inside the country I published
that in inside the country I published in in blogs in social media it was not
in in blogs in social media it was not
in in blogs in social media it was not easy because every day I had to go to
easy because every day I had to go to
easy because every day I had to go to internet cafe I had to open new email in
internet cafe I had to open new email in
internet cafe I had to open new email in order to protect myself in order to
order to protect myself in order to
order to protect myself in order to avoid investigation and in order to
avoid investigation and in order to
avoid investigation and in order to avoid pressure from the state later I
avoid pressure from the state later I
avoid pressure from the state later I felt obliged to help this families I
felt obliged to help this families I
felt obliged to help this families I felt obliged to find for them lawyers to
felt obliged to find for them lawyers to
felt obliged to find for them lawyers to find for them even psychologists for
find for them even psychologists for
find for them even psychologists for their children’s for their parents and
here is the question did I become an
here is the question did I become an activist I think yes maybe did I have
activist I think yes maybe did I have
activist I think yes maybe did I have another option as a journalist I think I
another option as a journalist I think I
another option as a journalist I think I didn’t I had to protect public interest
didn’t I had to protect public interest
didn’t I had to protect public interest and in Armenian reality sometimes
and in Armenian reality sometimes
and in Armenian reality sometimes journalists have another function
journalists have another function
journalists have another function solving problems and sometimes we had to
solving problems and sometimes we had to
solving problems and sometimes we had to become like activists or social workers
become like activists or social workers
become like activists or social workers even maybe this is common for non
even maybe this is common for non
even maybe this is common for non democratic countries or for countries
democratic countries or for countries
democratic countries or for countries with limited democratic values or rights
with limited democratic values or rights
with limited democratic values or rights when sometimes journalists become life
when sometimes journalists become life
when sometimes journalists become life boil when community demands not only
boil when community demands not only
boil when community demands not only provide a coverage but also help in
provide a coverage but also help in
provide a coverage but also help in solving the problem and moving forward I
solving the problem and moving forward I
solving the problem and moving forward I will pause another question
will pause another question
will pause another question so can we journalists avoid in our call
so can we journalists avoid in our call
so can we journalists avoid in our call for activism when the facts on the
for activism when the facts on the
for activism when the facts on the ground are too painful
I will I would argue that it it will it
I will I would argue that it it will it is even more difficult for female
is even more difficult for female
is even more difficult for female journalists who mostly are more
journalists who mostly are more
journalists who mostly are more emotional and perceive issues with
emotional and perceive issues with
emotional and perceive issues with deeper empathy and few words about this
deeper empathy and few words about this
deeper empathy and few words about this woman activism and journalism this
woman activism and journalism this
woman activism and journalism this collision becomes even deeper when
collision becomes even deeper when
collision becomes even deeper when female journalist is covering women’s
female journalist is covering women’s
female journalist is covering women’s issues such as domestic violence
issues such as domestic violence
issues such as domestic violence I assure that most of the time they
I assure that most of the time they
I assure that most of the time they become an activist and few words again
become an activist and few words again
become an activist and few words again about female journalists in general is
about female journalists in general is
about female journalists in general is it how how what what does it mean in
it how how what what does it mean in
it how how what what does it mean in general to be a woman journalist in
general to be a woman journalist in
general to be a woman journalist in Armenia the superficial answer will be
Armenia the superficial answer will be
Armenia the superficial answer will be nothing nothing unusual as the majority
nothing nothing unusual as the majority
nothing nothing unusual as the majority of journalists are women the majority of
of journalists are women the majority of
of journalists are women the majority of journalists but it’s really very
journalists but it’s really very
journalists but it’s really very important to note that majority of
important to note that majority of
important to note that majority of functioning journalists are women but
functioning journalists are women but
functioning journalists are women but the most part of the media managers
the most part of the media managers
the most part of the media managers editors are men of course and this is in
editors are men of course and this is in
editors are men of course and this is in like in other areas in Armenia when
like in other areas in Armenia when
like in other areas in Armenia when women are in lower echelon and men are
women are in lower echelon and men are
women are in lower echelon and men are on top yes more and more women are
on top yes more and more women are
on top yes more and more women are entering journalism a profession long
entering journalism a profession long
entering journalism a profession long reserved for men but is a women being a
reserved for men but is a women being a
reserved for men but is a women being a journalist is fully embraced by the
journalist is fully embraced by the
journalist is fully embraced by the public or by the society deep down is it
public or by the society deep down is it
public or by the society deep down is it is not just an example very recently
is not just an example very recently
is not just an example very recently during this recent elections I heard a
during this recent elections I heard a
during this recent elections I heard a phrase
phrase
phrase from at a polling station from the
from at a polling station from the
from at a polling station from the electoral local Electoral Commission who
electoral local Electoral Commission who
electoral local Electoral Commission who was arguing with a journalist and he
was arguing with a journalist and he
was arguing with a journalist and he said you are lying during that that’s
said you are lying during that that’s
said you are lying during that that’s why no one wants to marry you this is
why no one wants to marry you this is
why no one wants to marry you this is very common stereotype attributed to
very common stereotype attributed to
very common stereotype attributed to female journalists or several years ago
female journalists or several years ago
female journalists or several years ago during environmental protest and one
during environmental protest and one
during environmental protest and one very famous official said to me you are
very famous official said to me you are
very famous official said to me you are a nice girl why did you become a
a nice girl why did you become a
a nice girl why did you become a journalist I have another funny story
journalist I have another funny story
journalist I have another funny story about this funny and sad story about
about this funny and sad story about
about this funny and sad story about this exactly ten years ago I was working
this exactly ten years ago I was working
this exactly ten years ago I was working on story about domestic violence I had
on story about domestic violence I had
on story about domestic violence I had to go to a village called Boris town in
to go to a village called Boris town in
to go to a village called Boris town in Herat province in that village domestic
Herat province in that village domestic
Herat province in that village domestic violence was an acceptable patterning of
violence was an acceptable patterning of
violence was an acceptable patterning of life and while I saw I was working I was
life and while I saw I was working I was
life and while I saw I was working I was I while I was doing my field research I
I while I was doing my field research I
I while I was doing my field research I was interviewing people in a building in
was interviewing people in a building in
was interviewing people in a building in the village and now the relief man came
the village and now the relief man came
the village and now the relief man came to me asked the reason of my visit and
to me asked the reason of my visit and
to me asked the reason of my visit and when he heard that I’m working about our
when he heard that I’m working about our
when he heard that I’m working about our own domestic violence he he laughed very
own domestic violence he he laughed very
own domestic violence he he laughed very loudly and asked are you married I said
loudly and asked are you married I said
loudly and asked are you married I said yes
yes
yes doesn’t your husband ever beat you no he
doesn’t your husband ever beat you no he
doesn’t your husband ever beat you no he ain’t a surprise to us I told I said no
ain’t a surprise to us I told I said no
ain’t a surprise to us I told I said no I told never and he said here is the
I told never and he said here is the
I told never and he said here is the problem this is the problem that’s why
problem this is the problem that’s why
problem this is the problem that’s why you become a journalist no normal woman
you become a journalist no normal woman
you become a journalist no normal woman we never the normal woman will become a
we never the normal woman will become a
we never the normal woman will become a journalist I advise your husband to beat
journalist I advise your husband to beat
journalist I advise your husband to beat you in a while
you in a while
you in a while once in a while as i’m here as still i’m
once in a while as i’m here as still i’m
once in a while as i’m here as still i’m here still a journalist you can guess
here still a journalist you can guess
here still a journalist you can guess that my husband didn’t follow this piece
that my husband didn’t follow this piece
that my husband didn’t follow this piece of advice
of advice
of advice but these words reveals the ideas that
but these words reveals the ideas that
but these words reveals the ideas that exist in society towards journalists
exist in society towards journalists
exist in society towards journalists female journalists but it’s really
female journalists but it’s really
female journalists but it’s really important female journalist involvement
important female journalist involvement
important female journalist involvement because as research reveals that in
because as research reveals that in
because as research reveals that in investigative journalism in studying
investigative journalism in studying
investigative journalism in studying social and environmental issues in
social and environmental issues in
social and environmental issues in rising problems women journalists are
rising problems women journalists are
rising problems women journalists are more consistent more compassionate and
more consistent more compassionate and
more consistent more compassionate and supportive and this increases the impact
supportive and this increases the impact
supportive and this increases the impact of journalism increases the impact of
of journalism increases the impact of
of journalism increases the impact of journalists on decision-makers and
journalists on decision-makers and
journalists on decision-makers and brings about change bring about change
brings about change bring about change
brings about change bring about change bring change this is my main message
bring change this is my main message
bring change this is my main message today and however here you in bringing
today and however here you in bringing
today and however here you in bringing change in trying to have an impact here
change in trying to have an impact here
change in trying to have an impact here we journalists have a problem and it
we journalists have a problem and it
we journalists have a problem and it doesn’t matter whether it is high
doesn’t matter whether it is high
doesn’t matter whether it is high quality high professional return
quality high professional return
quality high professional return undisputed fact based based
undisputed fact based based
undisputed fact based based investigative article returned by female
investigative article returned by female
investigative article returned by female or male journalist the impact is very
or male journalist the impact is very
or male journalist the impact is very very limited
very limited
very limited so these prods sometimes journalists to
so these prods sometimes journalists to
so these prods sometimes journalists to be more than just writers to cross the
be more than just writers to cross the
be more than just writers to cross the boundary of journalism and involved in
boundary of journalism and involved in
boundary of journalism and involved in raising further raising of that issue
raising further raising of that issue
raising further raising of that issue that this or that issue
that this or that issue
that this or that issue so these proteges knowledge to be an
so these proteges knowledge to be an
so these proteges knowledge to be an activist for impact for freedom of
activist for impact for freedom of
activist for impact for freedom of speech for freedom of information and
speech for freedom of information and
speech for freedom of information and expression I had thought that this is
expression I had thought that this is
expression I had thought that this is very typical of this is very typical for
very typical of this is very typical for
very typical of this is very typical for mainly for non democratic countries but
mainly for non democratic countries but
mainly for non democratic countries but recently I read on
recently I read on
recently I read on read an article by very famous professor
read an article by very famous professor
read an article by very famous professor in journalistic word than Gilmer who
in journalistic word than Gilmer who
in journalistic word than Gilmer who wrote I will read it directly if
wrote I will read it directly if
wrote I will read it directly if journalism won’t take a stand for call
journalism won’t take a stand for call
journalism won’t take a stand for call RIBA liberties like free expression and
RIBA liberties like free expression and
RIBA liberties like free expression and then the leader is in the campaign to
then the leader is in the campaign to
then the leader is in the campaign to save or restore them we will be fit to
save or restore them we will be fit to
save or restore them we will be fit to call ourselves entertainers and not much
call ourselves entertainers and not much
call ourselves entertainers and not much else
else
else hence I refuse to be called an
hence I refuse to be called an
hence I refuse to be called an entertainer and I will continue taking
entertainer and I will continue taking
entertainer and I will continue taking stand when it comes to core values such
stand when it comes to core values such
stand when it comes to core values such as fundamental fundamental human rights
as fundamental fundamental human rights
as fundamental fundamental human rights and liberties and this is maybe my Iggy
and liberties and this is maybe my Iggy
and liberties and this is maybe my Iggy gaya thank you
gaya thank you
gaya thank you [Applause]
”
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