Asbarez

Asbarez
Name	Asbarez
Type	Daily newspaper
Format	Broadsheet
Foundation	1908
Language	Western Armenian
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California

Asbarez is an Armenian-language newspaper founded in 1908 that has served the Armenian diaspora in the United States, particularly the community centered in Los Angeles. It has reported on events involving Armenian Genocide, Republic of Armenia, Turkish War of Independence, Ottoman Empire, and United States diplomatic relations, while covering diasporan affairs connected to Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Homenetmen, Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian National Committee of America, and Armenian Studies Program campuses. The paper has engaged with cultural figures and institutions such as William Saroyan, Charles Aznavour, Serj Tankian, Aram Khachaturian, Komitas, Yerevan State University, Haigazian University, and Caltech alumni of Armenian descent.

History

Asbarez was established in the early 20th century amid waves of migration following the Hamidian massacres, the Young Turk Revolution, and rising tensions in the Armenian Question during the late Ottoman Empire period. Early editors and publishers navigated reporting on the Armenian Genocide, refugee resettlement linked to organizations like Near East Relief and Armenian Relief Society, and advocacy that intersected with figures such as Aram Manoogian, Aram Andonian, and activists associated with the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. Throughout the 20th century Asbarez chronicled Armenian-American civic mobilization in cities like Boston, New York City, Detroit, Chicago, and later the expansion to Los Angeles amid post-World War II migrations and the aftermath of the Soviet Union collapse. The paper documented key events including the First Republic of Armenia, the Sovietization of Armenia, the Sumgait pogroms, the Spitak earthquake, and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, while interacting with American institutions such as the United States Congress, the State Department, and diaspora advocacy groups.

Editorial profile and content

Asbarez publishes content in Western Armenian and has included reportage, opinion, cultural criticism, and community announcements reflecting strains within Armenian political life, including debates involving the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Social Democrat Hunchakian Party, and Armenian Democratic Liberal Party. Coverage spans international relations involving Turkey, Azerbaijan, Russia, United States, and France, and cultural reporting on artists like William Saroyan, Onnik Dinkjian, Arto Tunçboyacıyan, Charles Aznavour, and composers such as Aram Khachaturian. The newspaper has integrated coverage of diasporan institutions such as St. Gregory Armenian Church (Pasadena), St. James Armenian Church (Los Angeles), Holy Etchmiadzin, and educational centers like Haigazian University and Yerevan State University. Editorial pages have featured commentary on legal and political milestones involving the United States Congress recognition debates, resolutions concerning the Armenian Genocide, lobbying efforts by Armenian National Committee of America and Armenian Assembly of America, and cultural preservation initiatives tied to Western Armenian language revitalization and diasporic heritage.

Distribution and circulation

Originally circulated in port cities and immigrant hubs such as New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago, the publication expanded its primary base to Los Angeles as Southern California became a major Armenian-American center. The paper has been distributed through subscription, community centers, kiosks at Armenian cultural festivals like Norooz events and Armenian Food Festival gatherings, and partnerships with organizations including Armenian General Benevolent Union and Homenetmen. As communication shifted, the title adapted to changes introduced by Internet Explorer‑era web publishing and later platforms linked to Facebook, Twitter, and community listservs used by diaspora networks, reaching readers in Canada, France, Lebanon, Syria, and Argentina.

Political and cultural influence

Asbarez has played a role in shaping opinion within Armenian-American political networks that interact with institutions like United States Congress, California State Assembly, and municipal governments in Los Angeles and Glendale, California. The newspaper’s advocacy and reportage have intersected with campaigns for recognition of the Armenian Genocide, commemoration initiatives tied to April 24, and municipal measures influenced by activists from groups such as Armenian National Committee of America and Armenian Assembly of America. Culturally, it has promoted festivals, exhibitions at venues like the Armenian Museum of America and Craft and Folk Art Museum (Los Angeles), and supported artists who exhibited at institutions such as Getty Museum and LACMA.

Notable contributors and staff

Over the decades contributors and staff have included journalists, poets, historians, and community leaders who reported on diasporic affairs and Armenian heritage. Figures associated with diasporan literature and scholarship—such as William Saroyan (coverage), historians linked to Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, and scholars affiliated with Haigazian University and Yerevan State University—have appeared in or been covered by the paper. Editorial interplay involved leaders from Armenian Revolutionary Federation, civic organizers from Armenian General Benevolent Union, and cultural figures including Onnik Dinkjian, Charles Aznavour, Arto Tunçboyacıyan, and academics lecturing at UCLA and USC.

Awards and recognition

Asbarez has received recognition within Armenian-American circles and from community organizations for its longevity and service to diaspora journalism, receiving commendations from entities like Armenian General Benevolent Union, municipal proclamations from the City of Los Angeles and Glendale, California councils, and acknowledgments during commemorations of the Armenian Genocide and anniversaries of the First Republic of Armenia. Its journalists have been honored by cultural institutions such as Armenian Museum of America, academic centers including UCLA Armenian Studies Program, and civic organizations like Armenian National Committee of America for contributions to community information and preservation of Western Armenian language.

Category:Armenian newspapers Category:Newspapers published in California