“Tvapatum: Aftershock 2026” Media Conference

On April 17-18, the Media Initiatives Center hosted its regional conference, “Tvapatum: Aftershock 2026,” in Yerevan.

This year’s theme, media during war and crisis, unfortunately remains highly relevant. In today’s world, where wars and conflicts continue, including in our region, journalism faces serious challenges.

Throughout the conference, we explored the role of the media at the intersection of war and peace, amid information warfare, growing societal polarization, and the realities of ongoing crises.

Speakers from the United Kingdom, Syria, Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Poland, and Armenia shared their expertise on information warfare, peace journalism, hate speech in media, professional ethics, disinformation and fact-checking, as well as working with sources and data.

“Tvapatum: Aftershock 2026”  includes the following speakers:

• Alexander McKeever – Founder and Author of This Week in Northern Syria newsletter; Researcher, USA
• Givi Gigitashvili – Researcher, Atlantic Council, Georgia/France
• Guram Rogava – Independent Journalist, Georgia
• Mark Podberezin – Special Correspondent, Polish Public Television (TVP), Poland
• Mikhail Doroshevich – Editor-in-Chief, LT, Lithuania
• Ruslana Brianska – Executive Director, Hromadske Radio, Ukraine
• Pooneh Ghoddoossi – Head of Global Partnerships, BBC; Commentator and Editor, United Kingdom
• Olga Gnatkova – Co-founder and Development Director, NewsMaker.md, Moldova
• Ara Tadevosyan – Director, Mediamax Media Company, Armenia
• Artak Aleksanyan – Executive Director, NewMag, Armenia
• Arevik Sahakyan – Executive Director, Factor TV, Armenia
• Gevorg Tosunyan – Journalist, CivilNet, Armenia
• Yana Yanikyan – Director, Media Systems Agency, Armenia
• Karen Harutyunyan – Editor-in-Chief, CivilNet, Armenia
• Naira Nazaryan – Head of Public Relations Department, Ucom, Armenia
• Nelli Rafayelyan – Journalist, Media Initiatives Center, Armenia
• Shushan Harutyunyan – Founder, AxelMondrian, Armenia
• Samvel Meliksetyan – Expert, Armenian Council Analytical Center, Armenia
• Sergey Usnunts – Founder, Skill Event Marketing, Armenia
• Tatevik Khachatryan – Journalist; Co-author of “Podcut”, Armenia
• Tatevik Vardevanyan – Head of Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility Programs, IDBank/Idram, Armenia
• Kristina Barseghyan – Director, Hetq, Armenia

The “Tvapatum: Aftershock 2026” Conference is organized with the support of HEKS/EPER – Swiss Church Aid and Bread for the World – development, and relief agency of the Protestant Churches in Germany within the project “Qualitative journalism as a contribution to conflict transformation”.