DUSHANBE, October 31, 2009, Asia-Plus — Delegates from Tajik media have elected Tajikistan’s first media self-regulation body.
Tajik Media Council was elected at a constituent assembly with participation of representatives from the majority of the country’s medial outlet that was held in Dushanbe on October 30 with support from the OSCE Office in Tajikistan.
Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Nouriddin Qarshiboyev, chairman of the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit), said that the Media Council is dedicated to promote improvement of quality of journalism in Tajikistan, monitor observance of ethic norms in journalistic activity and assist with settling conflicts in the sphere of media.
Organized by Tajik Journalists’ Union and Nansmit in cooperation with media groups Asia-Plus, Charkhi Gardun and Oil under support of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, the constituent assembly brought together delegates from two-thirds of all media outlets in Tajikistan, Qarshiboyev said. They elected a nine-member Tajik Media Council and Professor Ibrohim Usmonov, head of the International Journalism Department at the Faculty of Journalism, Tajik National University was elected chairman of a nine-member Media Council.
The meeting also considered and endorsed the basic document of the Council – ethic norms of journalistic activity in Tajikistan.
In the meantime, press release issued by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan says the OSCE support included a series of training seminars and discussions in which media representatives drafted and endorsed a Code of Ethics, by-laws and regulations for the Media Council. Media self-regulation specialists from Bulgaria and Germany provided advice. The German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development provided financial support.
“Every community is strengthened by defining, sharing and imparting common values. Today, Tajik media professionals have done this. They have established a strong basis for a shared concept of professionalism based on strong commitments,” said Michael Unland, the OSCE Office”s Media Officer, at the opening session of the Council”s constituent assembly.
The Nansmit head Qarshiboyev added: “It is necessary to answer the call for moral responsibility of the media appropriately: with a mechanism that reacts with moral sanctions from our peers, not criminal prosecution. This will promote freedom of expression.”
In discussions at the meeting, journalists noted the importance of shared, internally-negotiated standards to improve the credibility of Tajik media and the level of trust between independent media and state officials.
