DUSHANBE, September 11, 2008, Asia-Plus — A number of media-support organizations in Central Asia have announced the regional freedom of speech contests, entitled “Freely about Freedom of Speech.”
According to the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit), the contest has been organized by International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech “Adil Soz” (Kazakhstan) in cooperation with the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), the Conrad Adenauer Foundation, Kazakh Journalists’ Union, the Public Association “Journalists” and the Nansmit.
The source at the Tajik media watchdog said that both staff members of media and freelance journalists from Central Asia’s states may participate in the contest in the following genres: sketch; interview; article; and journalistic investigation.
The themes of the contest are “Freedom of Speech: OSCE Standards and Home Practice,” “Who Is Freedom of Speech Needed For?” “Eternal Prohibitive Censorship,” “If It Is Not Revenge, What is It?” and “Half Kingdom for an Information.”
The contest launched on September 8 2008 runs until April 15, 2009 and its results will be announced on May 3, 2008.
