Hetq is an investigative media outlet founded by the NGO Investigative Journalists. The team has participated in international investigations including the Panama Papers. It publishes articles in English and Armenian.

"Investigative Journalists" NGO was founded in 2000. Since 2001, the organization has been publishing the "Hetq" newspaper (www.hetq.am). The mission of "Investigative Journalists" NGO and Hetq media is the development of investigative journalism in Armenia, the strengthening, development of freedom of speech, democratic principles.

Hetq has adopted self-regulatory concepts: Code of ethics, Fact-checking policy. Hetq founded the School of Investigative Journalism, formed and coordinates the "InFact" network of fact-checkers in Armenia.

Hetq has produced hundreds of and investigative stories and documentaries that uncover hidden information, expose corruption and crime, bring justice to victims of human rights abuses. Our stories have brought critical issues to public attention, promoting transparency, public discourse, and social change.

The activity of Hetq is also of great importance to international organizations, which follow the ongoing reforms in Armenia. In the Human Rights 2023 report of the US State Department, there is a reference to the findings of Hetq, which show the existing problems in the field of public procurement. Freedom House's 2023 report on Armenia refers to six Hetq publications presenting cases of corruption. RSF's report published on World Press Freedom Day, May 3, 2024, mentions Hetq as an independent media outlet that fulfills its watchdog role.

The organisation has received many awards over the years. In 2004, the Armenian branch of Transparency International awarded the NGO a prize for contributing to the fight against corruption in Armenia. The same year, the series of films Hrazdan Gorge: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow won the second prize in a competition organised by the Aarhus Armenian Centre of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on Environmental Themes Represented in Media.

In 2007, Hetq received the Incentive Award from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in the Environmental Journalism Competition category. For five consecutive years (2015–2019), Hetq reporters won the Tvapatum award in the category Observer: Investigative Reportage for the best investigative journalism piece, including twice in 2016 for two different investigative stories.

The team also works on investigative documentary films, often broadcast on TV stations in the Republic of Armenia.

In 2017, the NGO started an effort to help reporters working in Central Asia develop investigative journalism stories.

Last updated date: February 2025

Location:
Yerevan, Armenia
Year the organisation started publishing:
2001
Languages:
English
Armenian
Russian
Type of coverage:
International
Countries of coverage:
Albania
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
France
Germany
Greece
Italy
Kosovo
Lithuania
Malta
Netherlands
North Macedonia
Poland
Serbia
Slovakia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom
Turkey
Belarus
Ukraine
Georgia
Other
Montenegro
Norway
Portugal
Romania
Slovenia
Bulgaria
Switzerland
Denmark
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Finland
Other countries of coverage:
Lebanon, Syria, Iran, US, Middle East, Africa

Content

Type of content produced by theme:
Science
Entertainment and culture
Sports
Economy and business
Entrepreneurship
Economy and finance
Journalism industry
Education
Law and crime
Environment
Politics
Health and well-being
Society and human rights
Gender
Feminism
LGBTIQ+
Ethnic minorities
Religious minorities
DEIA: Diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility
Refugees
Migration
War crimes and transitional justice
Technology
Journalism genres:
Chronicles and non-fiction
Essays
Interviews and reporting
Opinion
Investigative journalism
Narrative journalism
Reviews
Journalism coverage types and techniques:
Crowdsourcing
Solutions or constructive journalism
Engaged, community-driven or participatory journalism
Explanatory journalism
Cross-border journalism
Collaborative journalism
Fact-checking
Breaking news
Live coverage of events
Data journalism
Tech platforms and other mediums used:
Website
Newsletter
Messaging service
Telegram
Social media platforms
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
Podcast
YouTube
Vodcast or other video platforms
Primary tech platform or medium used to publish content:
Website

Audience and reach

Social media audience

Facebook number of followers:
250000
Twitter number of followers:
17000
Instagram number of followers:
18600
YouTube number of followers:
62500

Management and team

Founders

Female:
4
Male:
2
Founders:
Edik Baghdasaryan, Lianna Sayadyan, Araksya Hambardzumyan, Kristine Barseghyan,
Directors:
Edik Baghdasaryan, Kristine Barseghyan

Team

Full-time employees:
15
Volunteers:
5

Business structure and revenue sources

Organisation tax status:
Hybrid model
All revenue sources reported by media leaders:
Consultancy services
Services for clients and other private corporations
Services for nonprofit organisations
Training services for journalists
Training services for other clients
Technology development services
Content services for others
Content development for other media
Content development for other non-journalistic companies
Content development for NGOs
Audience support / reader revenue
Crowdfunding campaigns for fundraising
Individual donations
Grants
Grants from private donor organisations
Grants or investment from philanthropic organisations
Grants from foreign governments
Grants from United Nations, UNESCO, and other agencies
Advertising
Affiliate advertising
Branded content or native advertising
Local advertising sold by own team
National advertising sold by own team
Advertising sold by an external agency
The primary source of revenue reported by media leaders:
Grants
The second most important revenue source reported:
Grants from foreign governments

Transparency

Publishes information about annual revenue
Publishes the names of donors
Has an ethics policy / manual
Publishes an ethics policy / manual
Has a data privacy policy
Doesn’t publish a data privacy policy
Has a whistleblower policy
Has a complaints policy
Doesn’t publish a complaints policy
Has a sexual harassment or institutional violence policy
Doesn’t publish a sexual harassment or institutional violence policy
Is signed up to a press regulator, trust initiative, or part of a press association
Publishes up to date information about its team
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