Forty years ago today, with a decision from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western US Central Committee, Asbarez unveiled its new English edition.
“We believe that the need to unite our political and cultural forces is growing bigger every day, and that such a unity would prove to be extremely instrumental in the task of creating an atmosphere where constructive actions could be possible on all levels,” reads the statement on the publication of the first English Section of the Asbarez.
“The pages of Asbarez are open to all who have the interests of our people at heart; Asbarez is, and it always has been, the newspaper for all Armenians,” continues the statement.
As the English Section celebrates its 40th anniversary, the guiding principles for its publication remain true. The aforementioned excerpts outlining the need for this edition clearly outline our mission as it stands today.
By introducing the English Section back on May 1, 1970, Asbarez opened a new arena to a more-established Armenian-American community. It also opened the Armenian world to the non-Armenian—so-called mainstream—community, where that presence today is ubiquitous… Just search Google.
The evolution of the Asbarez English Section has made it a younger publication with the unique benefit of historical hindsight. The events and issues are too numerous to enumerate, but they have defined us as Armenians, and thus given Asbarez the opportunity to serve its readers and truly bridge our struggles, our tragedies, our victories and our aspirations.
Four decades ago, Asbarez English Section entered the Armenian-American living room on a weekly basis and today we enter our readers’ in-boxes on a daily basis (and sometimes hourly if the need is there).
In launching the English Edition, Asbarez editors saw the English Section as a vessel for California Armenians to become acquainted with other Diaspora communities, especially those in the Americas. The Asbarez English section of 2010 reaches far beyond the California borders and has taken on a more global scope in its readership and in the manner in which we present the news.
The English Section became a daily presence when we began publishing an insert in the Armenian Section in 1993 and an augmented weekend edition, which moved outside to wrap the Armenian section on Saturdays. In 1997, Asbarez launched its online edition and later that year, its first Web site—asbarez.com. In 2009, with the revamp of asbarez.com and the introduction of the Asbarez Post, we ceased the publication of the daily English insert and became a mainly online publication, with a redesigned, full-color weekly print edition. In a short time since then, asbarez.com has seen its visitors climb the one million mark, ushering in a new page in our storied history.
As we mark our 40th anniversary, the English Section is rejuvenated and still committed to the principles that lay its foundations on May 1, 1970. We move forward as a proud component of the venerable 102-year-old Asbarez.
Outstanding job. Happy Birthday to Asbarez and a million thanks to all the editors for keeping us informed and engaged.