Nara Shlepchyan: Creation of mind and spirit is not a market product

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS: On the first day of opening of the Armenian television November 29,1956 the first television anchorwoman Nara Shlepchyan went on the air. Armenpress news agency spoke with People’s artist of the Republic, member of the Public Television and Radio Company’s Council Nara Shlepchyan about the way she passed, television, the current issues.

- How it happened that you were the one to become the first television anchorwoman?

- Director Zhirayr Avetisyan, who was already working in the television, offered me to just see how television anchors are being selected. We went together. When about 250 participants were checked, a commission from Moscow noted me and called. Without getting prepared I made up a program and presented it but as far as it was necessary to present it in two languages – Armenian and Russian – I read out Chukovski’s “Chop-Chopik”. Everyone approached and unanimously told that I would be the first anchorwoman. Of course, I was surprised.

- What is the difference between today’s television audience and the previous one?

- The difference is in times. Previously the programs were called to educate, bring up, inject taste in people. The TV audience was more demanding and we were more responsible.

- Being a professional in this sphere do you see high-quality anchors in our television?

- Of course I see. There was a time when I was very concerned. If not the exceptions, there were no professionals in the television and no good programs. But time edits everything. Now I see both good anchors and programs. Of course there is a big number of senseless, tasteless programs and shows. But let’s hope time will correct it too.

- Which is the issue of the Public Television and Radio Company Council and what is your role there?

- The council coordinates the activity of the Television and Radio Company. The council, consisting of five members, is an advisory body and the solution to all the issues are being given with the majority of voices. As usual, I will be devoted to my principles and will try to be convincing, to ensure variety, objectiveness in the air, programs with interesting content and taste to satisfy the demands of different layers of the public.

- Why aren’t you in the air?

- I am very often being asked this question and very often I am offered to go on air. Many people say that my voice injects feeling of trust among the people. Many things changed, standards have changed. I say with regret that in our days everything is measured in money. The creation of mind and spirit is not a market product. The television must form idea and taste. It is necessary to be able to catch the pulse of the time, understand what people want to watch and what attracts them. For attracting it is not necessary to import strange, unknown elements, it is necessary first of all to form professionalism and be devoted to own principles. The devotedness to the profession is being expressed in hard work. - Will you tell us a funny interesting case connected with your work? - On the very first day of the opening of the television November 29, 1956 before going to the air, director Marat Marinosyan told me he would give me a sign which would mean that I was out of air. I congratulated the Armenian people on the opening of the television and read the program. That time I saw the sign of the director and thinking that I was out of air, called exhausted “ой, не могу!” (“oh, I cant’ anymore”). It appeared that I was in the air.

- Were there losses, harms on your way or was there anything you regret?

- I regret for having just one son. As far I was the only daughter of my parents, I always dreamt of having a big family but because of my business it was impossible. I also regret that I did not continue my education in post-graduate course.

- Are you happy? What is happiness for you?

- Happiness is a relative category. For one person it is a gold bracelet or a mansion, for another child or success and for the other human relations. For me it is my son and his family, second is my working success and one of my biggest achievements is the love of the people and respect toward me. Of course I am happy.