DUSHANBE, December 9, Asia-Plus — Promoting press freedom and the shaping of a modern media policy in Tajikistan were major topics at an OSCE-supported conference that was held at Russian-Tajik Slavic University (RTSU) in Dushanbe Friday, December 8.
The conference formally titled “Freedom of Speech: Formation of Modern Media Policy” was staged by RTSU, Tajikistan’s National News Agency Khovar, Journalists’ Union and the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit) under support of the OSCE Center in Dushanbe.
Professor Abdusattor Nuraliyev, head of the journalism department at RTSU, told Asia-Plus that that the main objective of the conference was to exchange views on the problems facing mass media development and freedom of media in Tajikistan. “Representatives from the government bodies have also been invited to attend the conference but unfortunately, the majority of them did not come,” Nuraliyev said, noting that they intended to draw wider popular attention to those problems. He added, ”Today, there are still many unsolved problems in the filed of development of media. Among them are poor legal awareness of journalists themselves and uncertainness of some notions and formulations in the country’s laws that should be reviewed.”
Akbarali Sattorov, head of Tajik Journalists’ Union, noted that the low periodicity of publications, improper access to socially significant information, self-censorship by journalists of their works, poor knowledge of young journalists and some aspects of legislative nature are among the main obstacles in the way of development of independent media in the country.
Michael Unland, Media Officer in the OSCE Center in Dushanbe noted, “Freedom of speech and media freedom are among the most basic human rights granted formal recognition by the laws and international commitments of most nations, including Tajikistan. In order to fully benefit from the strengths and advantages of media, modern media policies must be developed and implemented.”
The event brought together representatives of government agencies, academic institutions, mass media and non-governmental organizations who presented reports and discussed issues ranging from globalization of information to gender stereotypes in the media.
According to the OSCE Center in Dushanbe, contributions and presentations by more than 20 scientists and media experts will be selected for publication in a brochure that will serve as a base for discussion on media policy shaping in Tajikistan.
