German-Armenian exchange program for journalists
Strengthening Election Reporting in Armenia
This project aims to empower Armenian journalists in covering the 2026 parliamentary elections and constitutional referendum, focusing on election reporting, disinformation, and resilience in a polarized environment. It fosters collaboration with German journalists through research trips, enhancing cross-border knowledge exchange and ensuring high-quality reporting on Armenia's political developments. The goal is to raise the visibility of Armenia’s transformation in both Armenian and European media.
Background and Goals
In 2026, Armenia will hold both parliamentary elections and a constitutional referendum, pivotal events that will shape the country's democratic trajectory. These developments occur amid ongoing political instability, social polarization, and the unresolved consequences of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Armenia’s geopolitical shift towards closer ties with the European Union brings both opportunities and challenges, particularly regarding disinformation campaigns and external pressures.
For Armenian journalists, these events demand enhanced professional skills to critically analyze political programs and report with accuracy. This project seeks to provide training in conflict-sensitive reporting, fact-checking, and information security, equipping Armenian journalists with the tools they need to cover these complex issues effectively.
German journalists will also benefit from direct engagement with their Armenian counterparts. A research trip to Yerevan will provide them with firsthand insights into Armenia's evolving political situation, offering a deeper understanding of the elections and referendum's implications for the EU and the South Caucasus.
Activities
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Research Trip for German Journalists to Yerevan, 21.-28.09.2026: German journalists will visit Armenia after the parliamentary elections and constitutional referendum to assess the political landscape, evaluate coalition agreements, and understand the challenges related to peace talks with Azerbaijan and information security. The trip will include meetings with Armenian journalists, civil society representatives, and policymakers to gather comprehensive insights into Armenia’s political transformation.
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Research Trip for Armenian Journalists to Berlin, 9.-16.11.2026: Armenian journalists will travel to Berlin to explore European perspectives on Armenia’s post-election developments and the constitutional referendum. They will gain insights into the alignment of Armenia’s reforms with EU standards on human rights, conflict resilience, and information security. This will help Armenian journalists contextualize Armenia’s political changes within the EU framework and enhance their ability to report on EU-related topics.
The announcements for both trips and the travel dates will be published here soon.
Contact person:
Sebastian Rösner
Department EU & Europe
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