On September 25, Tashkent hosted an international conference “Prospects of national journalism: theory and practice (international expertise)”.
The event was organized by the Committee of the Legislative Chamber (lower house) of Uzbekistan’s Oliy Majlis (parliament) on Information and Communication Technologies, the Parliamentary Commission for the Management of Assets of the Public Fund for the Support of NGOs and Other Civil Society Institutions, Ministry for the Development of Information Technologies and Communications, the National Association of Electronic Mass Media (NAEMM) and the Creative Union of Journalists of Uzbekistan. Members of the Senate and Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, chiefs of media outlets and information agencies, representatives of international and nongovernmental organizations, foreign experts and the faculty of journalism schools attended the conference.
Deputy Speaker of the lower house of Uzbekistan’s parliament Sarvar Otamurodov, Chairman of NAEMM Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Chairman of the Creative Union of Journalists Ibrohim Khalimbekov, OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan György Szabó, Head of the UNESCO Office in Uzbekistan Krista Pikkat and others noted that special significance is attached in Uzbekistan under the leadership of President Islam Karimov to the freedom of press and information, steadfast advancement of mass media.
The Constitution of our country provides for freedom of the media, everyone has the right to seek, receive and disseminate information. These standards are reflected in such laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan as “On mass media”, “On guarantees and freedom of access to information”, “On principles and guarantees of freedom of information”, “On information”.
Today the non-state media make up about 60 percent of the outlets in our country, 67% of TV and radio channels, and 95% of online press. The development of internet journalism helps to further extend the coverage of national information space and enriches its content.
Traditional contests and creative projects play an important role in promoting the achievements of modern journalism, raising the professional skills of media personnel, boosting the economic and technical capacities of news outlets.
The Law “On transparency in the activities of government and management bodies”, which was passed in May 2014 in accordance with the Concept of the Intensification of Democratic Reforms and Formation of Civil Society in the Country, initiated by the head of our state, further consolidated the role and effectiveness of media in ensuring the rights and interests of citizens in the sphere of information, establishment of an open and effective dialogue between the government and the citizenry.
Participants of the conference stressed the mounting role of media in the global information space, the importance of creating conditions and opportunities for their activity on a modern basis, the development of international relations in the sphere. Real-time spread of materials produced by information agencies, TV and radio channels, operation of web sites by all media outlets indicate that our national journalism has been marching in step with global trends.
“The Uzbek press make their own input into the international media space,” Michael Brassert, creative director of a media studio Houpla (USA), said. “Creation of conditions for a free and fruitful activity of journalists in Uzbekistan and comprehensive support for them are important factors in the development of media in general. Today’s conference offered an opportunity to get acquainted with the trends and innovations in the evolution of journalism in Uzbekistan and the world in general, and exchange views and experiences.”
In turn, great emphasis is placed in Uzbekistan on the introduction of the world’s best practices and achievements in journalism. To this end, trainings and seminars are being held with the participation of leading media companies in the world. Every year, many local journalists improve their skills abroad.
“Uzbekistan has formed a solid legislative basis that ensures the advancement of media and fully meets the democratic standards and requirements,” Ognian Zlatev, expert on media development in South-Eastern Europe, President of the Association for Social Communications “Seecom” (Bulgaria), suggested. “As a result of enormous significance attached in this country to the promotion of non-state media companies, they have been increasing in number. All this contributes to the formation of a free competitive atmosphere in the information space, of pluralism and the consistent improvement of journalism in Uzbekistan.”
In the course of the forum and its panel discussions, participants exchanged views on the prospects of the media, issues related to training journalists of international level and advanced training of specialists. Also, contributors to the forum deliberated on the current large-scale measures designed to introduce cutting-edge information and communication technologies and international experience into Uzbek journalism.