DUSHANBE, July 23, 2013, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan’s media self-regulation body, Media Council, has begun to issue monthly reports based on monitoring observance of ethical standards in journalistic activity.
The reports will be posted on the Media Council’s updated website (Odob.tj) and distributed in a form of information bulletins, the Media Council head Qironshoh Sharifzoda said.
According to him, this has become possible due to a partnership agreement,
Ethical Standards
, between Media Council and the OSCE Office.
“Within the framework of the project, our experts will monitor observance of ethical standards in 40 print and electronic media and will prepare recommendations on how to remove introduced errors,” Sharifzoda said.
The OSCE Office in Tajikistan has cooperatively supported the Tajik journalist community to formulate a code of ethics and to establish strong self-regulation mechanisms that help build trust with audiences and state authorities. Support to this initiative resulted in October 2009 in the election of the Tajik Media Council, the first media-self regulation body in the country. In 2010 the Office supported the Media Council to start its work and provided opportunities that enabled it to promote professional ethics in Tajik journalism. In 2010, additional 15 media outlets signed up to the mechanism and agreed to its code of ethics. Over 230 journalists discussed professional ethics in 13 media self-regulation body open meetings held in Dushanbe, Istaravshan, Khujand, Konibodom, Isfara, Qurghon Teppa, and Kulob. .
