In revolutionary Armenia the main newsmaker is the NSS.

It’s exactly this structure that prepares, edits and publishes videos with great visibility and not the media.

The NSS is the flagbearer of the new government, which demonstrates the anti-corruption policy and at the same time collects both fans and an audience.

The NSS’ discoveries, intelligence and operative acts are the changes that have been anticipated, and desired.

Until the victory of the Reject Serzh movement, oligarchs (MPs, generals, criminal authorities, shady business structures, directors of foundations, close relatives of high-ranking officials) considered themselves to be immune and safe.

Hence the main reason for public protest and revolution. Everyone wanted first and foremost, for those “safe” people who were under the umbrella of protection of those who considered themselves to be masters and commanders of the state, to be subject to liability.

A situation was created, where citizens didn’t rely on the state, which was identified as oligarchs with big shields, large pistols and baroque style castles.

The media field adapted to this situation: it regularly made some inquiries, made noise, maneuvering between the interests of oligarchs, sometimes grovelling, sometimes chuckling, in a word, trying not to die but at the same time saving face.

Now, when two months have passed since he revolution, the media is in a more difficult situation. In order to survive they have to successfully rebrand themselves after the NSS, which aside from it’s main responsibilities, also carries out journalistic work.

Since the Soviet era, the secretive structure is now positioned as the most open and transparent one, and masked employees have become the symbol of anti-corruption.

The shadowy, frightening and influential structure of the KGB is perceived by the people as a guarantor of justice (now it’s not the KGB, but the NSS whose three letter abbreviation is printed on hats and shirts, that is, worn openly and proud).

It’s interesting that the new government has placed a bet not on journalists who give open questions, but on free but anonymous journalists.

The state connects the idea of freedom and justice not with the fluid and different submarine connections of journalists, but with a power structure. It sets new boundaries.

It’s as though the work contradicts the word, and the person doing the work gains more charm (the NSS is also considered a desirable job). The media is told to wait until the NSS posts public video clips on social media.

The media only needs to refurbish the videos produced by the NSS and make direct connections with those places where special operations are being carried out.   

That is done even when there is nothing to show and say, and when the journalist and cameraman wait for hours under the sun and rain for signs of information, recognizing that they cannot do more than be cameras and loudspeakers.  

In other words, media has become an automated job, the creative and important work has moved to the NSS field.

The videos that the National Security Service distributes are not just records of facts (investigative actions, arrests and inquiries), rather other meaningful messages.

For example, the “heroes” (suspects, detainees or witnesses) appearing in all of their materials are never rebellious and noisy, they have hanging heads and are discreet. They are compliant.

Nune Hakhverdyan

The views expressed in the column are those of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Media.am.