DUSHANBE, December 12, Asia-Plus — Dr. Peter Gross, a journalism professor who specializes in international communication, yesterday afternoon met with representatives from Tajik print and electronic media in Dushanbe.
The meeting was dedicated to issues related to freedom of media.
Speaking about the freedom of media in the United States, Professor Gross said that journalists were protected by law in their professional activities. “Official do not have right to conceal information from the general public,” Dr. Gross said, adding that several cases of concealment of information were reported recently and a number of officials were dismissed for that and criminal proceedings were instituted against some of them.
At the same time, American professor noted that that there were issues, on which there were restrictions. It concerns state and military secrets.
Answering the question if there is any special body in the United States to review release of TV programs, Professor Gross said that such a body was in the United States in the middle of the last century but now, there is no such body in the United States.
Commenting on the issue of the possibility of opening media, Dr Gross said that everything depended on funds and intentions of a founder, etc.
Representatives from Tajik media noted that Tajikistan’s legislation also obligated official to provide journalists with socially important information but there were cases when some officials refused or attempted to limit access to information of significance for society.
“Such issues should be resolved in concord and it depends to a large extent on professionalism of journalists,” Dr. Gross said.
The meeting was organized by the US Embassy in Dushanbe.
