The board of the Public Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, consisting of five members, will soon have a new member, as the term of the current chairman, Ruben Jaghinyan, end on March 1.

Levon Barseghyan, Chairman of the Gyumri Journalists’ “Asparez” Club, is part of the new selection committee.

In the past, the members of the Public Council were appointed by the President of Armenia, but now the order has changed, and if a vacancy occurs, it is filled in with the result of a competition.

In Levon Barseghyan’s opinion, Public is currently in need of deep reform, since after being pro-government for many years, it has failed to provide perfect pluralism.

“Taboo and totem topics shouldn’t exist, that is to say, forbidden topics and religious praise. And all forms of manipulation must be eliminated,” he said.

He thinks that the shock felt in the news media department (regarding different cases of dismissals) is natural, as long as labor rights are maintained or the disputes which arise therein reach the court.

The only thing that he does not accept is self-censorship.

“It is known that Public was a political contractor and took orders; And it is important that nowadays te changes do not take place as a result of political dictation and pressure. This will lead to the transformation of Public’s disgrace into another disgraceful situation,” said Levon Barseghyan.

Gegham Vardanyan