World Press Freedom Committee Director Gives Seminars to Journalists in Armenia

March 21, 2005

Mark Bench, executive director of the World Press Freedom Committee, conducted a one-week media Speaker program on the "Principles of Professional Journalism" and "Radio Management" in Armenia, March 13-20, 2005. The program, sponsored by the U.S. Embassy, was organized in cooperation with "Asparez" Press Club in Gyumri and the Yerevan Press Club in Yerevan.

In Gyumri, Mr. Bench conducted a seminar for working journalists and senior journalism students. In Yerevan, the former first vice president of the International Association of Broadcasting (IAB) and former vice president and general manager of an award-winning New York FM radio station, held a very well received workshop for Armenian radio managers. One of the radio station owners that attended effused, "Mr. Bench's business plan suggestions are worth a million dollars." Others remarked that his plan for "commercial independence" really struck a cord in a media market were most stations depend on subsidies from political parties or the government.

Mr. Bench also presented a series of lectures for journalism students at Bryusov University in Yerevan and gave a lecture entitled "Self-monitoring" as a part of a weekend conference for professional journalists on, "Prospects for development of mass media regulation system in Armenia," organized by the Yerevan Press Club.