The JTI Fast Track program, led by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) partner Freedom of Information Center for Armenia (FOICA), aimed to strengthen media transparency, credibility, and public trust by guiding 20 Armenian news organizations through the self-assessment with JTI’s 130 criteria. Participating media identified strengths and areas for improvement and received tailored training, practical tools, and reference materials to enhance professionalism, transparency, and independence. With formalized internal policies, expanded website transparency, and firm commitment ethical journalism, they all confirmed their willingness to proceed to the next stage of the process: the independent audit required to obtain their JTI certification.
“The initiative of RSF and FOICA became a real turning point for Armenian media. It helped media outlets move from internal, often invisible practices to transparent, accountable, and ethical public communication. The engaged outlets are now openly sharing their values, policies, and accountability mechanisms with the public. Whether it was a small regional TV station or a well-established newsroom, every participant took a tangible step toward higher professional integrity and public trust.”
Dr. Shushan Doydoyan , President, FOICA
The Armenian media landscape faces persistent challenges related to public trust, transparency and accountability. While many news organizations adhered to professional standards in practice, this was often not visible to their audiences due to a lack of publicly available information regarding ownership, funding, and editorial policies.
Through a tailored program of outreach, capacity building, and intensive mentorship, 20 participating media outlets successfully compiled and published their JTI Transparency Reports. A1Plus, ABNews, Aliq Media, Ampop Media, Aravot, BoonTV, CVmedia, CivilNet, EcoLur, Fact Investigation Platform, Factor, GeghamaTV, Hetq, Infocom, Mediamax, Mediapoint, MIG TV & radio, RegionsTV, and Tavush Media & TV were among the cohort of media trained by FOICA.
Transparency around internal policies
A key achievement was making the invisible visible by helping outlets identify existing internal documents and formalize unwritten practices. Factor.am, once lacking public policies, now publishes detailed editorial guidelines, team information, and financial reports. Geghama TV likewise made several internal regulatory documents public. “The JTI self-assessment […] provided an excellent opportunity to bring together and systematize all the documents developed by our team in the field of media management,” noted Suren Barseghyan, Executive Director of regional media Geghama TV.“We also identified the existing gaps and addressed them accordingly.”
“Ampop Media already had most of the required data, but we had never thought about the importance of publishing it to build greater trust among our audience and partners. We hope the positive impact of this process on our work will not take long to show,” said Suren Deheryan, founding editor of online media Ampop Media.
Strengthening ethical standards and policies
The project went beyond mere transparency, fostering a deeper institutional commitment to ethical standards. Entirely new guidelines were developed and adopted, such as the Workplace Equality Policy drafted for Ecolur.org and ALIQ Media. Even the most advanced outlets found value. For instance, Fip.am, which already had a detailed methodology, worked on a new, specific section on how to avoid conflicts of interest.
“The process showed that even modest structural changes—like improving websites, clarifying editorial responsibilities, and disclosing media ownership—can make a lasting impact on media integrity and public trust. This evolution isn’t just about compliance—it’s about rebuilding audience trust and setting a new standard for Armenian responsible journalism,” noted Dr. Shushan Doydoyan, president of FOICA.
Upgrading online platforms
Every participating outlet significantly improved its website, often by creating or updating “About Us,” “Contact,” and “Ethics” sections. Many published detailed information on editorial responsibility and accountability mechanisms, including clear instructions for readers to report errors, as seen with Tavush Media and Ecolur.org. Transparency around ownership and funding was also enhanced, with examples like Citizen’s Voice and ABN MEDIA, and outlets made their membership in the Media Self-Regulation Initiative publicly visible.
