| Type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Berliner |
| Owner | Arpik Missakian |
| Editor | Arpik Missakian |
| Founded | 1925 by Schavarch Missakian |
| Language | Armenian |
| Headquarters | 83, rue d'Hauteville, 75010 Paris |
| Official website | None |
Haratch (Armenian: Յառաջ) was an Armenian daily newspaper based in France. Haratch was founded in 1925 by Schavarch Missakian.
It has been renowned in attracting high profile names in Armenian literature including Shahan Shahnour, Schavarch Nartouni, Zareh Vorpouni, Hrant Samvel, Hrant Zartarian, Nchan Bechiktachlian, Bédouch.
In 1940, by the initiative and zealous efforts of the founder and chief editor of the newspaper Mr. Schavarch Missakian, a contribution campaign was organized among the Armenians living in France. As a result, the "Haratch" Elementary School was built next to the newly established St.Paul church in Anjar, Lebanon. The school was considered a gift from the Armenians living in France. The official opening of the school took place in 1941. It was later on renamed "Haratch Calouste Gulbenkian Secondary School".
Haratch stopped publication on 9 June 1940 because of World War II and resumed publication on 8 April 1945 after the liberation of France from Nazi occupation.
On 26 January 1957, the founder of the paper Schavarch Missakian died and his daughter Arpik Missakian assumed the responsibilities of publishing the daily.
In 1976, Haratch added a literary and arts supplement entitled Midk yèv Arvest (Armenian: Միտք եւ Արուեստ) .
Due to decreasing readership and in the last years with a circulation of less than one thousand per day, Arpik Missakian, the owner and the last editor-in-chief of the paper decided to close it down[1] and the last issue of "Haratch" was published dated 30-31 May 2009. The paper published overall 22,214 issues.[2]
Five months after the daily ceased publication, a new group of intellectuals started publishing of Nor Haratch (Armenian: Նոր Յառաջ, literally New Haratch). The first issue of Nor Haratch was published on 27 October 2009. With its new, independent staff, administration and ownership, Nor Haratch should be considered a separate new publication, rather than a continuation of the historical Haratch.