Armenpress is the main state news agency in Armenia. It was established in 1918 as the Armenian Telegraph Agency. Armenpress also runs Hayastani Hanrapetutyun, the official newspaper of Armenia that was founded in 1990 by the Armenian parliament.
Media assets
News agency: Armenpress
Publishing: Hayastani Hanrapetutyun
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
Armenpress is a state-owned agency whose management is appointed by the Armenian government. Hayastani Hanrapetutyun is controlled by a joint-stock company in which the President’s office, parliament, the government and the Information Department each own an equal stake. Yet, the newspaper is run by the agency Armenpress, according to local experts and journalists.
Source of funding and budget
Armenpress doesn’t release financial information about its operations. According to local experts and journalists, the agency is dependent on state funding to operate.
Editorial independence
As official state media, both Armenpress and Hayastani Hanrapetutyun have to follow in their work a series of norms and rules imposed on them by the government.
No domestic statute or independent assessment mechanism to validate the editorial independence of Armenpress have been identified.
September 2023