Rakhmon Ulmasov, publisher of the new private magazine says that the main goal of his outlet is to help the government institutions find solutions of problems the Tajik labor migrant are facing.

Apart from feature stories, the magazine introduces a number of legal documents regarding labor migration issues adopted in Tajikistan and other countries. The magazine also contains statistical data on various aspects of labor migration.

Migrant_tj also contains samples of labor certificates, migration cards and information on rates on services for migrants.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

The main goal of the project was to enhance professionalism and maintain efficient cooperation between the media and the government institutions in Tajikistan.

The project lasted for six months. Implementers held working meetings involving Tajik media professionals, government officials, representatives of the civil sector and international organizations accredited in Tajikistan. Apart from that, they conducted a series of training sessions and master classes for 40 media practitioners – journalists and government institutions’ pres secretaries.

Independent School of Journalism “Tajikistan – XXI Century”

Washington — Improved knowledge of human rights is giving young reporters an additional tool as they approach a variety of stories, says Peter Spielmann, founder of the Human Rights Reporting Seminar at Columbia University’s Graduate School for Journalism, one of the most respected journalism schools in the United States.

Spielmann, a veteran journalist who launched the seminar in 2000, told America.gov: “I think that, at most, 20 percent of my work has had some human rights aspect, even if I didn’t think of it in those terms at that time.”

Looking back on his career, Spielmann, who is currently an editor and supervisor on the Associated Press’ North America Desk, said it was the crisis in East Timor during the late 1990s that really raised for him the question about the effect principled journalism could have on dangerous, abusive situations. That crisis also inspired Spielmann to develop the Human Rights Reporting Seminar.

“The militia situation in East Timor benefited from fairly prompt and dramatic media coverage,” Spielmann said. The Australian government was impelled by the publicity, he said, to send a peacekeeping force that helped disband the militia and to encourage the Timorese government to pursue a truth and reconciliation process.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRINCIPLES

“Human rights give reporters a litmus test, a framework to work with,” Spielmann said. “It gives you a broad perspective. When you get into these confusing, individual situations, you have some principles to fall back on — some commandments, as it were.”

Those “commandments,” he said, are the broadly agreed upon values as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.

Spielmann, who worked as an AP correspondent at the United Nations for five years, said reporters also should be guided by other major documents defining human rights, such as France’s Declaration of the Rights of Man, the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the British Magna Carta.

“These establish standards against which government, corporations, entities like the United Nations, and other institutions can be evaluated. Are the people in their care receiving their civil, political, social and cultural rights?”

Spielmann said he devoted one session of his seminar to the trauma journalists must face when covering wars and other violent events. Here again, human rights knowledge helps.

“I think if you have in mind a number of principles that you believe in, it helps you to live through the exposure to difficult and disturbing situations.

“It helps, I hope, that despite what you are seeing in front of you, there is such a thing as decency; there are moral principles that one can argue for and try to uphold and even enforce, if it gets to that,” he said.

DEVELOPING A PASSION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Although he still advises graduate students, Spielmann turned over the Human Rights Reporting Seminar to Bill Berkeley in 2006.

As a journalist, Berkeley has worked mostly in Africa and covered events dealing with genocide, torture, summary killings, state tyranny and state terror for major newspapers and magazines. He also worked for several years for a human rights organization investigating human rights abuses in southern Africa. He has written two books about Africa and is working on another about Iran.

“A major objective for the class for me is to turn students on to great journalism on human rights and great reporters who have written profoundly on the subject,” Berkeley told America.gov. “The major thrust of my course is to get students fired up and give them a sense of the power of the stories and the possibility of storytelling.”

Apartheid in South Africa initially triggered Berkeley’s interest in human rights.

“I was somebody who found racism profoundly offensive but also fascinating. I was drawn to the struggle going on in the 1980s in South Africa,” he said.

Berkeley said the work of journalists can and does reach decisionmakers who can make a difference in world affairs and the area of human rights. He noted the satisfaction he felt when former U.S. President Bill Clinton read and praised Berkeley’s book explaining the Rwanda genocide.

“As dispassionate and cynical as they claim to be, ultimately what motivates many journalists is the fantasy of saving the world,” Berkeley said.

US Embassy in Dushanbe

Источник: US Embassy in Dushanbe

Video journalists interested in freelance opportunities with an online international news network are being invited to send their resumes and work samples to the Video Journalism Movement.

Journalists will be expected to complete local news stories in a 1 to 2 week period. Stories should have an international angle and be for a worldwide audience. VJ Movement will pay journalists a flat fee for every story submitted.

There is no deadline for application, as VJ Movement is constantly looking for freelancers.

For more information contact Emily Kopp at ekopp@vjmovement.com.

https://www.ijnet.org/ijnet/training_opportunities/freelance_opportunity_offered_for_video_journalis

In preparation for the launch of new resources for journalists on reporting on climate change, Reuters AlertNet is asking for journalists’ input.

AlertNet is asking: «What would help you report on global warming from a humanitarian perspective: a climate change ‘Heads Up’, a database of climate and disaster experts, a regular summary of key research, a diary of events, training?»

To see AlertNet’s current resources, go to http://www.alertnet.org/db/crisisprofiles/climate.htm.

E-mail suggestions to Megan Rowling at megan.rowling@thomsonreuters.com.
Print

https://www.ijnet.org/ijnet/training_opportunities/journalists_ideas_sought_for_climate_change_resou

A new Google feature brings truth to the phrase «World Wide Web» by allowing users to access news and information in languages that they do not speak.

Google Reader has leveraged Google Translate technology to automatically convert any RSS feed to a user’s preferred language.

To use the new offering, subscribe to any feed. Once subscribed, select ‘Translate into my language’ from ‘Feed settings…’ and the feed will be automatically translated to the best of Google’s ability, based on a user’s default language preference.

To learn more go to http://googlereader.blogspot.com/2008/11/is-your-web-truly-world-wide.html.

https://www.ijnet.org/ijnet/training_opportunities/google_unveils_rss_feed_translator_feature

The Open Society Institute organized a round table in Dushanbe and held a presentation of a study on the level of education among Tajik journalists.

The main methodology applied in the study was interviewing of experts. Twenty experts took part in the study – professors of faculties of journalism in Tajik universities, correspondents, editors and managers of the Tajik media, representatives of educational institutions and employees of international organizations.

The study says that since the early 1990-s, there have not been any daily newspapers in Tajikistan. Akbarali Sattorov, chairman of the Union of Journalists and publisher of several newspapers says that the country does not have a network for dissemination of printing outlets, and periodicals cannot be timely delivered to remote areas, whilst the government does not make any allocations to improve the system of postal deliveries.

Experts stressed that the absence of daily newspapers impedes development of the printing media market. Among the main problems experts indicated the lack of professionals, problems with advertisers, and insufficient legal education.

Many newspapers, mainly the Tajik-language ones violate ethical principles, and their publications contain offensive statements, which can lead to trials in court.

Experts also noted that the local private radio companies work with information in a more efficient manner since they have to compete with foreign electronic media available within Tajikistan’s information space.

At the same time, there are no radio stations working in the format of talk radio. Most of the FM stations prefer music to news and serious analytical programs. Experts say that radio stations in provinces are more interesting and informative rather than in the capital.

http://www.khovar.tj/

Tajik media professionals are concerned about the recent amendments in the domestic Criminal Code establishing responsibility for “libel” and “defamation”. Eight articles of the Criminal Code have been amended regardless of numerous appeals by the media and public organizations. Moreover, the lawmakers have “equated” online outlets with printing and broadcasting media.
“The new legal provisions are ridiculous, — says an IT specialist from a web providing company in Dushanbe. — It is extremely difficult – almost impossible – to trace online authors. Technically speaking, the authorities would need to encharge the local Internet providers to hunt down the sources, from which “aspersive postings” are coming to the web”.
According to the Asia Plus weekly, during the last three years, public officials and government bodies have initiated 8 criminal cases and 14 civil suits against journalists and editors. All these cases are related to the journalists’ professional activities and “facts of defamation” in their publications where they dared to criticize certain public servants.
The most recent is the case of Dodojon Atovullo, a 53-year old journalist, the founder of the first private newspaper in Tajikistan and the leader of the Vatandor (Patriot) opposition movement in exile. For many years, Atovullo has been living abroad – mainly in Russia and Germany. In October, he decided to move from Moscow to France apprehending revenge from the Tajik authorities, who called him “information terrorist” and promised to bring him to justice by any available means. In his newspaper “Charogi Rouz” (it mainly exists in online version), Atovullo unmasks corruption in Tajikistan. The authorities accuse the dissident – inter alia – of defamation of the President’s family and attempts to undermine the constitutional order in Tajikistan.
Media communities and human rights watchdogs say that the recent alterations in the legislation expand possibilities for persecution of journalists for “slander and insult”. Any publication containing criticism of the power can be seen as a deliberate offence. These limitations only strengthen self-censorship, which has become commonplace in the Tajik media. The New York-based NGO Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has invoked the Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon to set a veto on the introduction of these amendments in the legislation.
A similar concern was voiced recently by Miklosh Kharashti, the OSCE Representative for Freedom of Media in Vienna. He said that such concepts as “the Internet”, “information” and “dissemination” in the new Tajik legislation are very nebulous. “This might lead to wide interpretation and discretionary application of the new provisions for criminalization of discussions on socially important themes”, — said Kharashti. He called the Tajik authorities to canceling the recent amendments in the Criminal Code limiting the freedom of speech. He also spoke about the necessity of bringing Tajikistan’s legislation to conformity with the country’s membership commitments to OSCE.
The OSCE experts repeatedly criticized the Tajik system of registration of media outlets, and emphasized that artificial impediments and multi-staged process of registration impede the development of mass media in the country. Similar concerns about the freedom of expression in Tajikistan have been voiced by authoritative international NGOs, such as the Freedom House.
Nuriddin Karshibayev, Chair of Tajikistan’s National Association of Independent Media (NANSMIT) said that “the overall situation with freedom of expression in the country has not had essential positive changes over the last years, while artificial obstacles created by bureaucracy of relevant state agencies with regard to licensing and registration of new media entities interfere with development of new independent mass media”. Karshibayev says that the two major concerns among his colleagues are the lack of access to information and the licensing of broadcasting entities.
According to NANSMIT, more than a dozen of private TV and radio companies have been waiting for their licenses for years. In response to numerous complaints, the licensing commission under the State Committee on Television and Radio says that “applicants cannot properly fill in the application forms” or “unable to collect and present needed registration documents”. The NANSMIT Monitoring Service interviewed several managers of Tajikistan’s private TV and radio stations, who complained that the licensing commission servants impose ridiculous technical and logistical requirements, which are impossible to fulfill. Last year, the licensing officials carried out a raid at two private radio stations in Dushanbe, where they were checking even play lists, “recommending” to remove certain music (which they personally didn’t like) from the air.
Tajik media organizations repeatedly applied to the government and parliament with a proposal to discharge the licensing body since its very existence is not justified – over the last several years, the commission gave only two new licenses to small provincial broadcasting companies. Media professionals also suggested to replace the commission with a public council – similarly to what has been done in many of the CIS countries.
However, broadcasters keep fighting for their rights. In October, the Dushanbe Economic Court held a hearing on the statement of claim from the Somoniyon TV (the first private Tajik TV company founded in 1993) against the State TV and Radio Committee. All eleven members of the licensing commission were called to the court as codefendants.
Managers of TV Somoniyon stated that the ungrounded termination of its broadcasting license has led to a material loss in the amount of 88 thousand Somoni (about $26 thousand). The court proceedings are under way, and if the judges determine the guilt of the licensing body it will dilapidate itself.

According to the newly adopted amendments in Tajikistan’s Criminal Code, “libel, offence or false information, as well as indecent words humiliating human dignity and disseminated not only via public speeches and media, but also through the Internet, are considered a crime in Tajikistan”. The law prescribes compulsory physical work (180-240 hours), or penalty in the amount from 500 to 1 thousand minimal monthly wages, or imprisonment up to two years.

Defamation is not considered a crime in the US legislation. Criminal responsibility for libel and offence is not prescribed in most of the EU States. Over the last several years, a number of post-Soviet countries – Estonia, the Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and Azerbaijan have abolished criminal punishment for defamation. Legislation in these countries establishes only civil responsibility for dissemination of slanderous information.

Konstantin Parshin

Источник: NANSMIT

The TV channel Jahonnamo is the fourth state TV channel launched on the eve of Tajikistan’s Constitution Day. The new channel will be working 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Initially, the channel will be covering 60 percent of Tajikistan’s territory. It is planned for the future to switch Jahonnamo to the satellite broadcasting.

The Committee on TV and Radio Broadcasting under the government says that the new TV channel received equipment for the amount of $320 thousand.

Apart from Jahonnamo, three other TV channels operate in Tajikistan – Shabakai Yakoum (First Channel), TV Safina, and a children’s TV Bakhoriston.

The TV and Radio Broadcasting Committee also declared the opening of a new FM radio channel – Farkhang.

This is also the fourth state radio channel. The three others are: Tojikiston, Sadoi Dushanbe, and Ovozi Tojik.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

Governments of Tajikistan and Japan signed an agreement on the improvement of broadcasting of the Tajik State TV Safina

The government of Japan provided Tajikistan with a grant in the amount of $360,9 thousand to promote cultural and educational activities in Tajikistan by means of broadcasting.

http://www.toptj.com/