Panel Discussion: Media as a Connection to the World

About the Event:

Both Armenia and Brazil have been surprisingly isolated from much of the world.

Brazil’s historic economic protectionism was spurred by its wealth of domestic natural resources and agriculture. Its sheer size and population also meant that companies and institutions did not need to venture abroad to scale. Additionally, the Portuguese language has, at times, acted as a barrier to easy internationalization.

In contrast, Armenia’s small size makes international connections essential for growth. Yet, with most of its borders closed to the movement of people and goods, along with extremely high transport and trade costs, Armenia has found itself more isolated than one would expect, despite its large and dispersed global diaspora.

The discussion will delve into whether the media can play a pivotal role in integrating these countries with the global community. Are there surprising cultural obstacles to integration? Are there commonalities that journalists can leverage to facilitate greater exchange of experiences between their home countries and the global community? Furthermore, do journalists have a responsibility to bridge these gaps, educating domestic audiences about the world and vice versa?

About the Speakers:

Moderator:

Maria Titizian

Lecturer, AUA

Editor-in-Chief, EVN Report

Panelists:

Ivan Finotti

Ivan Finotti studied Journalism at the University of São Paulo (USP), the most prestigious university in Brazil. He started his career in 1990 and has worked for Notícias Populares, Diário de São Paulo, and o Estado de São Paulo, as well as for the magazines Superinteressante and Flashback.

Since 2007, Finotti has been working for Folha de S. Paulo, Brazil’s most important newspaper. From 2007-17, he was the editor of the sections “Ilustrada,” “Folhateen,” and “Guia Folha e Serafina.” Currently, he is Folha’s correspondent in Europe, based in Madrid.

In addition to his career as a journalist, Finotti is a critic, writer, and filmmaker. He has written two books, and his film about a famous film director in Brazil received a Special Mention at the Sundance Film Festival. He has also been awarded the Prêmio Esso, Brazil’s most important award in journalism.

Fábio Menegatti

Fábio Menegatti has been a journalist since 1999, having studied at the prestigious São Paulo State University.  Since 2005, he has worked as a historian, with a specialization in political science.

For the past 14 years, Menegatti has been working for TV Record’s, “Jornal da Record,” the network’s most important news program. During this time, he has been all over the world, covering international affairs and producing series on a wide range of topics.

Drawing on his experience as a journalist and historian, Menegatti will produce a 1-hour special program about Armenia, the Armenian Diaspora in Brazil, and how the Armenian Genocide connects both countries.

Tatev Hovhannisyan

Tatev Hovhannisyan is an investigative journalist and mentor with 15 years of experience. Until August 2023, she served as openDemocracy’s Europe and Eurasia editor, focusing on anti-gender movement funding. Her work has appeared in prestigious outlets like The Guardian, Euronews, BBC, and Mother Jones.

In 2022, Hovhannisyan became the first journalist to win the Emma Goldman Award for her research on feminist issues. She received the Journalists for Human Rights 2023 award for her investigation into illegal adoptions of Armenian newborns in Italy.

Hovhannisyan is the Academic Director at the Oxford School for the Future of Journalism and also lectures at Yerevan’s Brusov State University.

Taline Oundjian

Taline Oundjian is a French-Armenian video reporter and writer. She works from Yerevan as a freelance correspondent. She films and writes on war, human rights, and feminism.

Language: English