As part of their democracy building work, USAID is interested in supporting the development of the free and independent media in Armenia. Currently in Armenia, media plurality is hindered by informal practices as well as formal structures; the makeup of the regulating body over television and radio is politically influenced, the public broadcaster is in service to the ruling power rather than the people, and private TV stations are not truly independent. A healthy media will support democracy by representing a collective voice for the Armenian people, as well as allowing for individuals to be equipped with “response-ability” to hold government accountable, as they gain access to accurate and relevant information.
Television and online news outlets are the most relevant sources of media which Armenian citizens’ access and must be the focus of USAID’s strategy. Television is accessible to all, but content significantly influenced by the government and business interests in informal and formal ways. Internet penetration is growing, as are online media outlets, but usage patterns do not indicate this media is deep or wide enough to be a game changer, especially outside of the capital city of Yerevan. A sharp rural-urban divide in terms of access, education, and economic opportunity make it necessary to develop a strategy for reaching the regions outside of Yerevan, where approximately half the population of Armenia resides.