IREX experts have issued annual Media Sustainability Index 2011, according to which Armenia’s index is 27%. To compare, in neighboring Azerbaijan and Georgia, it made % and 2% respectively.

Three major developments in 2010 significantly impacted Armenia’s media sector and received a lot of attention by the MSI panelists: defamation was decriminalized; in anticipation of the increased use of online media tools. Free expression is becoming the dominant theme online, the report says.

Professional standards and ethics, especially in print media, are still matters of deep concern. The opposition press openly reviles government and pro-government circles, while pro-government media respond in kind, it says.

The overall score for Armenia showed solid improvement, driven by increases in most of the objectives. The most remarkable improvement came in Objective 1, freedom of speech, primarily as a result of decriminalization of libel and defamation laws, according to the report.

Besides, the paper mentions that the Armenian law on access to information is very liberal and progressive. However, in real life it is still very difficult for journalists, especially investigative journalists, to obtain and use government documents in their reporting.