According to the 2024 report by Reporters Without Borders, Armenia has improved its position in terms of press freedom and journalists' working conditions. In the Reporters Without Borders rankings, Armenia moved from 80th place in 2018 to 43rd in 2024, becoming the leader in the field among the countries in the region.

Despite this progress, several challenging and persistent issues remain that require attention:

Polarization, hate speech and disinformation

• In recent years, Armenian society has witnessed a significant increase in polarization, largely fuelled by pivotal political events and significant national security concerns. These political and ideological divisions have created an atmosphere rife with tension, permeating various facets of societal life and profoundly impacting the media landscape. As a result, journalists face heightened pressure in their reporting endeavours. This pressure sometimes manifests in aggression directed towards journalists, including instances where peers from opposing sides engage in such behavior.
• Another pressing issue within today's Armenian media landscape is the proliferation of disinformation and hate speech. Particularly concerning is the targeting of women working in the media. Female journalists often endure additional forms of harassment, including physical and verbal attacks, both online and offline.

Digital security

With the ongoing digitalization of media, journalists are increasingly facing threats to their digital security, including hacking and surveillance. Recently, several journalists and individuals associated with media organizations in Armenia have been targeted by foreign spy programs, leading to the compromise of electronic devices. 

The Perception of Journalists in Society and the Lack of Understanding of the Media's Role

Throughout discussions and activities conducted by the national committee, significant lack of understanding regarding the vital role that journalists play in society has been observed. This lack of comprehension spans across all levels of society and, worryingly, even among some state representatives. The lack of recognition of the media's role as an essential pillar of democracy contributes to many of the challenges that journalists face, providing fertile ground for hostile actions against them. 

2025 update

In 2025, activities relating to the safety of journalists continued within Armenia’s existing institutional framework, through cooperation between journalists, media organisations, civil society actors and relevant public authorities. Armenia’s media environment also recorded positive developments internationally, with the country rising from 43rd to 34th place in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders.

Armenia continued efforts to strengthen safeguards against abusive litigation and align its legal framework with European standards on countering Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). Amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure introduced mechanisms allowing courts to dismiss manifestly unfounded claims at an early stage and provided sanctions for abuses of procedural rights. Additional procedural reforms were adopted to improve judicial efficiency and prevent the misuse of court proceedings.

At the same time, Armenia advanced efforts to strengthen media self-regulation through proposed amendments to the Law on Mass Media aimed at supporting responsible journalism and robust self-regulatory mechanisms. While no dedicated anti-SLAPP legislation has yet been adopted, the combination of procedural reforms, self-regulatory initiatives and capacity-building efforts reflects Armenia’s continued commitment to improving protections for freedom of expression and independent journalism.

Journalists’ safety issues, including online harassment, protest-related risks and professional sustainability, continued to be addressed through dialogue with stakeholders and engagement in international and regional discussions.