TAP - The Armenia Project

🇦🇲 We continue to welcome future journalists, editors, and storytellers from around the world to Armenia through our International Journalism Program.

Meet Nicholas Castillo(). Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Regional Studies at Harvard University, he focuses on Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. He has already spent years researching and writing about the region professionally.

Before coming to Armenia, Nicholas worked at the Caspian Policy Center in Washington, D.C., where he contributed research and publications covering the Caucasus, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia.

Beyond policy research, Nicholas now serves as Managing Editor of the Eastern Neighborhood Bulletin, helping produce analysis and commentary on developments across the region.

This summer, he will explore the South Caucasus from a new perspective, reporting from Armenia and engaging directly with the people, stories, and issues that shape the region.

We're proud to partner with .am for this internship and look forward to sharing Nicholas's work over the coming weeks.

📌 Follow along as our 2026 intern cohort reports from Armenia throughout the summer and fall.

What a room full of storytellers.

Yesterday, TAP brought together founders, communications professionals, marketers, and ecosystem leaders for a PR in Tech workshop with Erin Mahoney, Director of Client Services at a US-based global communications firm.

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for sharing your experiences, exchanging perspectives, and filling the room with thoughtful questions about storytelling, media relations, and how Armenian tech companies can gain international visibility.

Drawing on years of experience working with international media, Erin shared practical insights into what makes journalists care, what editors are really looking for, and how startups can turn their work into compelling stories that resonate beyond Armenia.

Heartfelt thanks to Picsart Armenia and Madlene Minassian for hosting the workshop and welcoming us into their space. And, of course, it would have been a crime to leave without a tour. Participants left impressed not only by the company’s remarkable journey, but also by a workspace so inspiring that even Angela Merkel once joked she would happily work there.

The ballots for the 2026 Armenian parliamentary election have been counted, and Armenia's youth remain one of the country's biggest political question marks.

Ahead of the vote, TAP intern Luan Rogers () explored why many young Armenians feel increasingly disconnected from politics, speaking with voters, political scientists, civil society leaders, and emerging political movements.

The story examines how the optimism many young Armenians felt during the Velvet Revolution shifted after the 2020 war, and what that means for political participation today.

One source said, "Young people feel an incredible burden and a high level of uncertainty in this environment."

As discussions begin about what the election results mean for Armenia's future, understanding the perspectives of younger voters may be more important than ever.

🔗 Read the full story in . Link in bio.

🇦🇲 We’re excited to welcome Luan Rogers () to Armenia as part of our 2026 International Journalism Program.

Originally from Ireland 🇮🇪and currently based in New York City, Luan has reporting experience at the Queens Chronicle, where he covers local government, housing, energy, and community issues.

Beyond journalism, Luan is also a documentary filmmaker. His short documentary, People of the Plaza, was nominated for Best Documentary Short at the 2023 Dublin International Film Festival.

We’re proud to partner with EVN Report for Luan’s internship. Known for its thoughtful and in-depth reporting, EVN Report offers interns the opportunity to gain firsthand experience covering Armenia and the wider region.

📌 Over the next 10 weeks, Luan will be reporting from Armenia and adding a new chapter to his journalism journey.

👉 We look forward to sharing his work soon.

What does it take to get Armenia's tech stories into international media?

TAP - The Armenia Project is hosting Erin Mahoney in Yerevan on June 9th for a practical, small-group workshop on how Armenian tech companies and startups can position their stories for international media coverage.

If you are a tech founder handling your own communications, or a PR and media professional working with Armenian tech companies, or someone who has tried pitching an Armenia story to international media and wondered why it didn’t land, this workshop is for you.
Space is limited. Registration is required. Reserve your spot by June 5.

Date: June 9, Tuesday
Time: 5 PM - 7 PM
Location: Picsart
Hosted by: TAP - The Armenia Project

Register here: https://luma.com/8169k4qp

What does it mean to document war, displacement, and survival through a camera lens?

Join us for an evening in conversation with Giles Nicholas Clarke, award-winning war photojournalist and visual storyteller whose work has documented humanitarian crises across more than 80 countries, including Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Ukraine, and Sudan.

Moderated by TAP Founding Board Member Tatiana Der Avedissian (Tatiana DA) the discussion will explore visual storytelling, ethical journalism, international reporting, and the realities of documenting life under conflict and crisis.

Open to young journalists, journalism students, photojournalists, reporters, and aspiring storytellers.

🗓 June 5, 2026
🕔 17:00 – 19:00
📍 Media Initiatives Centre, Yerevan
🌍 Language: English

Seats are limited. Registration required.
More details and the registration form here: https://www.armeniaproject.org/training/fireside-chat-with-giles-clarke

Media Initiatives Center

We're proud to announce as the winner of our 2026 Micro-Grant Program.

Directed by Inna Sahakyan and Ruben Ghazaryan (.sunrise), the film is set in a Yerevan retirement home where theater director Garnik stages an original play with a cast of elderly residents.

"Initially a story about the healing power of theater for the elderly, Outliving Shakespeare has grown into a tool for social awareness. We are now committed to making a tangible impact in a society where such conversations are urgently needed," said Vardan Hovhannisyan, founder of Bars Media.

Stories like this deserve a universal audience. We're glad to play a part.

Read the full announcement here: https://shorturl.at/NRtQh
Find the official trailer in the comments.

111 Years Since the Armenian Genocide.

For the rest of the world, April 24th is merely a date on a calendar. For Armenians, it’s a collective memory carried by every one of us, in Yerevan, in Los Angeles, in Beirut, in Paris, and everywhere in between.

We remember the 1.5 million lives lost. We stand with those who kept the story alive. And we continue building the bridges that make sure the world never forgets.

Armenia is quietly building a sustainable and resilient AI ecosystem, integrating energy, infrastructure, and advanced technology from the ground up.

Suzanna Shamakhyan, executive director of the FAST - Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology, explores how the country is taking a smart, strategic approach to compete on a global level.

In her guest post for Computer Weekly, Shamakhyan writes:

“In a global AI race often framed as a contest of size alone, our country is pursuing a different form of competitiveness: building large where it matters, integrating energy and compute from the outset and insisting that infrastructure serve long-term national coherence.”

🔗 Full article here: https://shorturl.at/o3CUO