Media Initiatives Center contest<\/a>. The creator of the work, Counterstrike Art member Artak Gevorgyan, reminds us that journalists\u2019 activities shouldn\u2019t be obstructed.<\/p>\nThe phrase entered the public consciousness in 2014, when a parliamentary security officer tried to strike an A1+ journalist during her coverage of a demonstration, and photojournalist Narek Aleksanyan, expressing professional solidarity, came to the next public event wearing a headband with the words \u201cDon\u2019t Strike, I\u2019m a Journalist.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gevorgyan says that this incident was an occasion, using the example of journalists, to talk about the importance of the right to freedom of speech for every member of society.<\/p>\n
\u201cNarek\u2019s act was more targeted, whereas we decided to use the potential of street art and fight for media freedom. Since street art has a short life, we archive all the works by digitizing them,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Aleksanyan confesses that he didn\u2019t think very long about the impact of his move. \u201cActually, I intended to give my reaction to the campaign, which at that moment was tantamount to the situation. The media took an interest in the issue, there were a few reports, though I don\u2019t think violence and attacks against journalists should be stopped because of what I did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course, the potential of the image is not enough to ward off violence, but the image can prompt people to think about violence and professional duties.<\/p>\n
The phrase \u201cDon\u2019t Strike, I\u2019m a Journalist\u201d makes obvious the vulnerable situation where striking is permitted, but different tricks have to be used to defend yourself \u2014 including also street art.<\/p>\n