A Milestone in the Armenian Press: Hairenik Celebrates 100th Year of
Publication

By Garo Adanalian

BOSTON, MA-Imagine the following scenario: three hardworking, patriotic, and determined Armenians decide to publish their own newspaper, raise the necessary funds, and print it in the back room of a tailor shop. They do not print the paper to simply earn an income, they print it to spread news about the Armenian-American community in the name of their motherland that they left behind, in search of a better life without oppression. They work to spread the message of democracy and freedom for their people.

This scenario describes the genesis of Hairenik, which celebrated its 100th year of publication in 1999. The Hairenik, an Armenian-language paper, has been in print since its debut issue on May 1, 1899. It is the oldest continuous-running Armenian newspaper in the world.

Hairenik was conceived in the rear of Ghoomrigian's Tailor Shop in New York City on 41st Street by Tovmas Charshafjian, the first editor and publisher, and Ghoomrigian. They had worked together on a newspaper only two years before with publisher H. Eginian called Tigris. However, Charshafjian and Eginian split over political differences, and Charshafjian set off to start his own newspaper, with Ghoomrigian's assistance, that promoted the ideals of the emerging political party in the Armenian community, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Dashnaktsutiun.

The newspaper was a success and gained modest support rather quickly. It was a semi-official newspaper of the ARF, until a decision was made in early 1900 to make it the official organ. The newspaper was then moved from New York to Boston, and Charshafjian stepped down from his role as editor to make way for Arshag Vramian, who would propel the newspaper to be the forerunning Armenian-American publication.

Hairenik made its debut as a weekly and later was printed biweekly. It began publishing as a daily on December 6, 1915. It remained a daily publication until the early 1990s, when it reverted to being a weekly. The newspaper changed its address several times before moving its offices in 1919 to 13-15 Shawmut Street, the former location of a Presbyterian church.

It was the first building purchased and owned by the newspaper since its inception. In 1939, a fire gutted the building, but renovations were made, adding a third floor. The main address of the building was moved to 212 Stuart Street, the "back" of the building, where Hairenik was published until 1984. In January 1986, after a brief period of printing out of the St. Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church parish house in Watertown, the newspaper moved to its newly constructed quarters one block up at 80 Bigelow Avenue, where it remains today.

"Of course, this is a momentous occasion," said Garo Melkonian,
representative of the ARF Central Committee of the Eastern United States. "It is not every day that we can honor a valuable, internationally respected news organ such as Hairenik. For 100 years, it has been the voice of the Armenian people."

The newspaper also spawned several other publications, including the Hairenik Monthly in 1922, which printed scholarly and intellectual essays in Armenian, the English-language Hairenik Weekly, now called the Armenian Weekly, and the Armenian Review, an English-language quarterly printing various historical, scholarly, and literary articles. The core of all these publications, however, has always been the Armenian-American community.

"In many ways, the Hairenik is the Armenian-American community," stated John Megerdichian, a former Hairenik Association business manager for 18 years. "The community has supported it to such an extent over the years that the Hairenik Association is totally reliant on the community, and the community in turn is reliant on the Hairenik. They need each other to strengthen their identity."

The Hairenik has had dozens of editors that have contributed to its legacy and longevity, including the genius Reuben Darbinian, famed poet Siamanto, and intellectuals Kourken Mikhitarian and Minas Tololyan. Notable figures in the English-language publications include the great James Mandalian, longtime editor James H. Tashjian, columnist Tom Vartabedian, and the multifaceted contributor Tatul Sonentz-Papazian. Hundreds of employees have also worked for the newspapers, including writers, assistant editors, typesetters, proofreaders, newspaper carriers, secretaries, and business managers.

Today, editors Khajag Mgrdichian and Jason Sohigian hold the reins in spreading the word of the Armenian nation and its cause to the community. "It's important to realize our potential in the world of journalism," said Sohigian, editor of the Armenian Weekly. "Although there much more competition today with the Internet for the community to obtain daily news about Armenians, we offer feature stories about Armenia and the community that can't be found elsewhere."

Both the Hairenik and Armenian Weekly have faithful supporters, similar in their loyalty to those that supported Hairenik 100 years ago. But funding is always encouraged, since the publications generally operate with funds collected from subscriptions and advertisements. In 1997, the Hairenik Endowment Fund was established to ensure the longevity of the publication.

By contributing to the fund, donors assist in providing the latest technological improvements to the press operations and maintaining the costs of daily operations.

Hairenik is still a beacon of hope and pride for the Armenian-American community. Perhaps Prof. H. H. Chakmakjian, former Hairenik editor, summed it up best when he wrote, "All those who have worked at the Hairenik have accepted and labored for the cause of freedom." The same can be said of its thousands of readers from the past 100 years.