On October 19, the Institute for Armenian Studies at Yerevan State University hosted a lecture entitled “The Media Field in the UAE” by Head of the electronic Radio Ayg of the UAE Shaeh Mangasarian. The lecture was devoted to coverage by print and online media, television and radio and news agencies.

As reported on the website of the Institute for Armenian Studies, according to Hayern Aysor, Shakeh Mangasarian talked about the activities of English-language and Arabic-language presses and news agencies in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. She also talked about the code of ethics for media outlets in the UAE, particularly critical journalism in Arab countries and presented a comparative analysis of Arab media and Armenian media. Mangasarian discussed the issue of presenting materials devoted to Armenia and Armenians in general and regretted to mention the fact that there is no financial support at the state or community level and that websites, blogs and stations only work through individuals. According to her, there isn’t much news about Armenia and the Armenians in the Emirates, and even if there is coverage, it is about religious events provided under the auspices of the Armenian Church.

Mangasarian went on to present the working style and problems of the radio and television stations in the Emirates. She also discussed the activities of the Armenian community in the UAE, the issues that the community raises and the coverage of those issues on television and mentioned that the community is more closed. Touching upon the online Radio Ayg, the speaker emphasized that there are 24-hour online broadcasts in Eastern Armenian and Western Armenian and that there are listeners in different countries around the world. The radio station also closely collaborates with the Armenian communities of America and Australia, the Public Radio of Armenia and Yerkir Media TV in Armenia.

Mangasarian presented the major television channels and, in general, the Arab news portals that actively provide coverage of the current issues of the country on the background of dynamic changes. According to her, satellite broadcasting provides audiences with a variety of options, and obviously, fewer people listen to radio, but radio stations still have their loyal listeners.

Among the attendees of the lecture were students and professors of the YSU Faculty of Journalism, employees of the Institute for Armenian Studies who discussed the similarities and differences in the field and made comparisons with the media fields of other countries during a question-and-answer session.

Let us add that, based on the agreements reached during the “Diaspora” Summer School Program of the RA Ministry of Diaspora, the Institute for Armenian Studies at Yerevan State University envisages hosting such lectures on a regular basis with the purpose of presenting the activities, working styles and characteristics of not only Armenian print and online media outlets abroad, but also the media outlets in the given country.