More Than a Facelift

Today we are unveiling our new Web site, which goes beyond a facelift and thrusts us, and you—our readers—on to a more technologically efficient platform for daily news, information commentary and community participation. So, welcome to the new asbarez.com.

Last August, we celebrated our 100th anniversary and as a present to our readers we introduced the Asbarez English Weekly—the sixth daily edition of the publication. Today, as the English Section enters its 40th year of publication, we are giving our readers yet another present, or rather an improved platform through which information will flow—in both English and Armenian—enabling us to continue our mission of informing, educating and bridging our communities close and far.

Launched in 1997, asbarez.com became the first Armenian newspaper Web site. In 2006 we re-launched asbarez.com as a bi-lingual site and we continue our commitment with a more expanded Armenian presence. Our foray into the Web was a big deal back then and our reformatted Web site today constitutes a similar achievement.

We are committed to continuing our tradition of up-to-the-minute coverage of news from and about Armenia and Armenians, providing thought-provoking commentary and editorials, as well as enlightening and entertaining features and interviews that examine the cultural, educational and other aspects of our diverse and broad community, through our new website and our one-year-old Asbarez Post, which makes it all available with a click.

Today, our readers can also follow us on myriad social-networking sites as we are a presence on Facebook, Twitter, and others, bringing our news and views to a more diverse and multi-faceted readership than ever before.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the hard-work and dedication of several individuals:

Asbarez’s own Allen Yekikian shepherded this process by working with our partners and following up on all of its dimensions, while still fulfilling his day-to-day responsibilities and always keeping an eye out for new and improved elements that can get our word out to more people more efficiently. He not only gets our thanks but deserves yours.

Aram Hovagimian from Philadelphia lent us his tremendous talents and technical expertise to revise and revamp our Web site and create the new asbarez.com. We wholeheartedly thank him and greatly appreciate his commitment and dedication.

Our long-time partners Sevak Chilinguirian and Vahe Shahinian of Neardata and ArmenianCalendar.com who for years not only have hosted our online components and created the previous site, but have been an invaluable technical partner in our efforts to continuously advance and expand our presence. We appreciate their unwavering support and look forward to continuing and strengthening our partnership.

Our new website also provides a unique opportunity for us to hear your comments on all that is Asbarez. We encourage and welcome your participation and look forward to hear from you and create a true forum for discourse in our reality. Once again, welcome to the new asbarez.com.

Leave a comment and tell us what you think of the new website.