DUSHANBE, October 9, 2009, Asia-Plus — Heads of a number of leading print media of Tajikistan, including limited liability company Newspaper Asia-Plus, limited liability company, Charkhi Gardoun, and limited liability company, Oila, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on creation of alternative print media distribution system in the country.
The document, in particular, notes that the current print media distribution system in Tajikistan does not meet requirements of private publications and the population; it is ineffective and does not meet legal norms. “The current system of distribution of print media does not allow publications to control their prices and geographical extent or get called-for information for making acceptable business decisions,” the memorandum said.
Heads of these publications agreed to make basic changes that will help independent media of Tajikistan create alternative system of spread of print media and create conditions for efficient access of the population to the socially significant information.
They, in particular, agreed to create efficient print media distribution system that would meet legal norms and be based on principles of free market and fair and sound competition, create cooperative business that will promote creation of new news stalls and improvement of the exiting ones.
We will recall that a practical training on creation of an alternative print media distribution system in Tajikistan, conducted by the director of the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIN) in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH), Mr. Drew Sullivan, was held in Dushanbe on September 28. During the training, Mr. Sullivan presented his program of distribution of printed output. This program provides for establishment of corporate organization for distribution of newspapers and magazines as well as creation of the network of news stalls and licensing of newspaper distributors. According to the media development specialist, these measures could create conditions for foundation of daily newspapers in Tajikistan.
