Meet Van Der Megerdichian | Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Van Der Megerdichian and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Van, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Zartonk Media provides the public with a more digestible and palatable way to stay up-to-date and abreast about what’s transpiring in and around the Armenian homeland and across the Armenian diaspora. We’ve acknowledged that the method in which people consume their news has changed across generations and through multimedia productions, we aim to create an arena and culture of debate and discourse that not only accurately represents the Armenian reality, but directly contributes to its development. As an industry disruptor, we reiterate our commitment and dedication to getting the future right. In addition, we look to ignite conversations and influence culture through journalism, storytelling, and commentary on current events, history, and the greater political reality the Armenian nation finds itself in.

We are a pro-Armenian voice, amplifying the Armenian narrative in an otherwise contested media landscape dominated by entities, governments, and actors, such as representatives and acolytes of the Turkish and Azeri lobby. 

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I think what separates us from everyone else is presentation and delivery. Our founding story is predicated upon us acknowledging the gap in the way Armenians consume news and media. We wanted to create a medium that would make the consumption of media appealing to a modern audience. Hence, the idea behind Zartonk was born. Zartonk, means awakening or renaissance in Armenian. Zartonk represents the awakening of the Armenian psyche that gave birth to the Armenian national liberation movement in the nineteenth century. We wanted to create our own zartonk—albeit on a smaller scale, where the Armenian national conscience could be galvanized to allow Armenians across the world a medium to develop their interest in their history, their culture, their homeland reinforcing a sense of responsibility for Armenians to further our struggle and to leave this world with an Armenian nation in a better situation than when we entered it. We wanted our outlet to champion Armenia and Armenians in all arenas, but especially in the realm of media.

We’re most excited about a plethora of concepts we’re ideating and iterating throughout the content pipeline. With our inception, we began as more of a news outlet, but since then we’ve expanded and branched out into media. Ultimately, we want to engage in more storytelling efforts and curate high-quality content that includes highlights of historical Armenian figures, spotlighting chapters of Armenian history, creating educational Armenian content and working towards becoming the home for all things Armenian.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Every tourist comes to LA with the desire of visiting what they have heard of as being LA – from Hollywood Blvd., Malibu and the beach, the Westside, Universal, Beverly Hills to some of the cultural venues including The Getty and LACMA. For me, LA’s diversity is what makes it great. Every suburb and neighborhood has its own flair and ethnic pockets which make LA so unique. It’s a blessing and a curse—you have access to so much culture, but at the expense of a considerable amount of traffic. But, if I’m trying to show someone my LA, food and experience is the main attraction. Of course, In-N-Out is a staple, sushi somewhere on Ventura Blvd. in the Valley, tacos in Glendale, Argentine steaks at one of the best spots in the city, and of course I’ll invite them over to mine, because my mom and grandma always fashion the best meals. The key to experiencing LA is through its food I think.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Absolutely. To begin, I’d like to recognize and highlight the efforts of my parents and my family in general, for ingraining in me the values of being Armenian, reminding me of what it means to be a conscientious Armenian, and reiterating the importance of remembering our past as Armenians as we shape our future. In this vein, they enrolled me in Holy Martyrs Ferrahian Armenian School, a private Armenian school in Encino, CA. This allowed me to be immersed in an Armenian environment which acted as an incubator that helped instill and uphold the principles of being a cognizant Armenian. It was at Ferrahian, where my love for Armenia and all things Armenian was fostered and ultimately where I met my Zartonk Media co-founder, Zaven Keuroghlian. For me, Armenia acts as a telos, or raison d’etre, and that concept could not have been cultivated in me if it weren’t for my family and my community.

Website: zartonkmedia.com

Instagram: @zartonkmedia

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Twitter: @zartonkmedia

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