Armenpress, the principal state news agency in Armenia, was established in 1918 under the name Armenian Telegraph Agency. In addition, Armenpress operates Hayastani Hanrapetutyun, the country’s official newspaper, 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, a state-owned agency, is managed by appointees from the Armenian government. Hayastani Hanrapetutyun, on the other hand, is controlled by a joint-stock company. The company’s ownership is evenly distributed among the President’s office, parliament, the government, and the Information Department. However, according to local experts and journalists interviewed for this report in June 2024, the newspaper is effectively run by Armenpress.
Source of funding and budget
Armenpress does not disclose its financial details. However, according to local specialists and journalists interviewed for this report in June 2024, the agency relies on state funding for its operations.
Editorial independence
As official state media entities, both Armenpress and Hayastani Hanrapetutyun are obligated to adhere to a series of norms and regulations mandated by the government in their operations.
No domestic statute or independent assessment mechanism to validate the editorial independence of Armenpress has been identified.
August 2024