Rumors becoming more reliable?
New media is just beginning in Armenia. There are more and more calls for that, but only time will show whether the society will respond to those calls or it will remain passive.
This is what editor-in-chief of the "Caucasian Knot" online news agency Gregory Shvedov told "A1+" during a conference on "New Media: New Opportunities for Communication in the Region".
President of "Journalists for the Future" NGO Suren Deheryan says the media is facing the issue of competition.
"Mass media outlets should find their place and role in this environment. Journalists' information should be more reliable than the large flows of information. We know where that flow is coming from and for what purpose."
Information security expert Samvel Martirosyan says the media is already becoming involved in social networks. It is raising its level of competitiveness and is even using social networks as a source.
"There are more and more risks with the involvement of more people in this environment. Misinformation is spread more easily because people believe more in rumors spread on social networks," says Samvel Martirosyan.
He is certain that social networks are turning into a moving force for such misinformation and that this can lead to massive panic. "Departments should start getting involved in social networks."
In his speech, Gregory Shvedov also stated that the new media will do everything it can to rule out the patronizing mechanism in the media.
"Such huge flows of information ensure transparency, but too much transparency is dangerous."
