DUSHANBE. May 26. “Asia-Plus” — Results of a poll conducted among heads of Russian-language newspapers and journals were presented yesterday at the scientific and practical conference “Problems of Russian-language media in Tajikistan”.
According to the report, the demand for Russian-language media in Tajikistan is lower than some 10 years ago, organizers of the conference told the AP. This is the view of 54% of respondents. The decrease is mainly affected by the outflow of educated population (30%), the collapse of culture and reading (27%), loss of trust to the media (23%) and the Law of language (13%).
At the moment Russian-language editions need in material (9%), technical (14%), material and technical (48%) and moral (29%) support. Respondents believe that the media feel acute need in professional staff (34%), funds (29%), educated managers (16%) and reorganization of work (16%).
57% of respondents do not face problems with professional staff, but other 43% face an extreme lack of personnel.
Apart from lack of professional staff Russian-language media lack funds and equipment (17%), distributors (15%), taxes and weak activity of readers (12%), the quality of press (10%).
29% of respondents said they are facing the threat of closure, 15% are still confident that they are able to survive at Tajikistan’s media market and 43% did not reply to the question if they are facing threat of closure.
14 heads of central and regional Russian-language editions of Tajikistan took part in the poll.

