The Broadcasting Committee under the government of Tajikistan has installed 15 transmitters of different capacities in densely populated areas of the country to ensure quality rebroadcasting of the state TV channels Safina, Bakhoriston and Jahonnamo.

Speaking at a press conference in Dushanbe, deputy chairman of the Committee Abdurakhmon Abdumanonov told the media that the TV channel Jahonnamo has expanded its activities and now has its resident correspondents working abroad.
During the reporting period the Committee’s licensing commission has considered applications from 15 private TV companies. Four of them have received their licenses for the first time, and licenses of other four stations have been prolonged. The other applications were rejected in view of incompliance with the legislation.

http://www.khovar.tj/

The Institute of War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) organized a seminar for young journalists in Dushanbe on the topic of analytical news writing.

Lola Kholikjanova, an IWPR trainer presented contemporary methodologies of news writing. Young journalists also analyzed various types of writing applied in leading news agencies around the World.

http://www.khovar.tj/

On 8 April, the Tajik National Association of Independent Media (NANSMIT) celebrated its 10-th anniversary. Ten years ago, a group of likeminded people gathered in the city of Kairakum to protect their professional rights and make their input in the development of the free press in Tajikistan.

Ten years is just a small step in the history; however, over the last decade, NANSMIT has turned into a sustainable and functional organization with its own structure, a constant staff and its own ideological position in the Tajik society. Annually, NANSMIT implements 3-5 projects, out of which at least two are implemented on a volunteer or self-financing basis.

At the current stage, NANSMIT’s main priorities are focused on legal and ethical standards of journalism. Along with that, NANSMIT is involved in the development of media legislation, especially in the issues of decriminalization of libel, defamation, business reputation – issues widely seen as controversial and serving as a ground for persecution of journalists for criticism of public servants.

Another important task is professional training of young journalists and cooperation with media organizations. NANSMIT focuses its educational efforts on the investigative journalism, trying to increase the number of publications in the domestic media covering the issues of socio-political developments, economy and politics.
The Association is also involved in the creation of a media trade union in order to facilitate in protecting professional rights of journalists and improving their social conditions.
“We are receiving appreciation from our colleagues, partners and donors”, — says Nuriddin Karshibaev, chairman of NANSMIT. – “However, we have achieved just a little of what had been planned. Confucius said: “A thousand-mile way starts from a little step”, and our Association has already made a few sound steps. We are not going to turn aside from this way – the way of development of the free media in Tajikistan”.

Additional information about NANSMIT can be received from NANSMIT office in Dushanbe, 34 Khuseinzoda St.
Contact person: Abdufattokh Vokhidov, coordinator of the Monitoring Service
Tel/Fax: (992 37) 221-37-11, 223-09-68; e-mail: coordinator@nansmit.tj

www.nansmit.tj

Participants of the XII CIS Interstate Council on Cooperation in the Sphere of Book Publishing Industry adopted a draft agreement on the creation of a CIS joint printing body.
The meeting was held on 1 and 2 April in Dushanbe under the chairmanship of Azerbaijan.
Participants of the meeting also adopted a work plan for the Council for 2009. The next meeting of the Council will be held in November-December 2009 in Minsk, Belarus. It will be chaired by Tajikistan.
The meeting in Dushanbe was attended by representatives from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia and the Council’s Executive Committee.

http://asiaplus.tj/

U.S. Embassy Dushanbe is soliciting statements of interest from newspapers published in Tajikistan to host a resident trainer to help improve the professional reporting skills and increase circulation.

The Embassy will fund an American print media trainer who will spend a total of 3 months (over a 6 month period) with one print outlet with the purpose to improve reporting standards, news room operations, and business management of the newspaper through marketing and advertising. The program is a great professional training opportunity for the newspaper staff to get hands on practice on writing better news reports, investigative pieces and articles based on the internationally used reporting norms. The expert is expected to work closely on daily basis with reporters of the newspaper, editors and business managers. The training is offered in English with Tajik and/or Russian interpretation, as needed. Strong commitment from the newspaper’s management to the program is required.

Eligibility criteria:

· Management commitment to core values of fair and accurate journalism;

· Willingness to consider new approaches and to change;

· A minimum of five staff members;

· Established advertising department or a staff member dedicated to advertising issues;

· Readiness to accommodate the international trainer in the office of the newspaper;

· Preference given to a newspaper with a Web site or a plan to launch one.

Application requirements:

· Letter stating what the newspaper wants to improve and why (1 page maximum);

· Organizational structure and lines of authority;

· Resumes of editor in chief, editor, and/or deputy editor.

The complete applications should be submitted either in Russian, Tajik or English by April 8, 2009.

Electronic or paper applications should be submitted to the following address:

U.S. Embassy Dushanbe, Public Affairs Section

109 A Ismoili Somoni Avenue

Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Attention: Jackie McKennan, Public Affairs Officer

Emails: McKennanJK@state.gov, AlievaNS@state.gov

For questions please contact Jackie McKennan at 229-2351 or Nigina Alieva at 229-2318 and 90700 5001.

U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan

On 30 March the Tajik NGO Khoma launched a training session for a group of future trainers on TV journalism. The ToT session is supported by Internews Network and the Open Society Institute.

The initial course is designed for five days. Participants will study methodologies of work in the multimedia sphere, techniques of news writing for TV stations, writing of text for videos, etc.
Organizers invited Oleg Dmitriev, professor of the Moscow State Linguistic University to facilitate the first training session.

NANSMIT

Presentation of the concept of the Tajik media coalition was made by Zafar Abdullaev, secretary of the Tajik Media Alliance. He described the potential and benefits of the media coalition in achieving common strategic goals – legal reform, protection of rights among journalists, adoption of the code of ethics, and efficient interaction with the authorities.
“So far, casual attempts of adopting new laws in the sphere of media laws and establishing a code of ethics by certain media organizations have not brought any positive outcomes. One of the reasons for that is the “fragmentation” of the domestic media. The coalition would ensure the coherence of our efforts”, — said Abdullaev.
It should be noted that this idea is not something brand new. In 2006, such a coalition named “Partnership in the name of democracy” was created by three associations – NANSMIT, ANESMI and the Media Alliance, but shortly afterwards, was self-liquidated.
Doubts about the viability of the coalition were expressed again. Chairman of NANSMIT, Nuriddin Karshibaev suggested to reserve the independent nature of all media unions, but – when necessary – to unite for definite projects or in certain situations.
Akbarali Sattorov, chairman of the Tajik Union of Journalists thinks that “the idea of setting up the coalition is quite acceptable, but the projects requires thorough consideration and attraction of many potential stakeholders – editors and NGOs”.
Umed Bobokhanov, director of the Asia Plus media group considers that the coalition is needed, but within its framework, there should be a freedom of implementing both joint and individual projects”.
The parties decided to get back to the issue of the coalition in April. The round table was organized by the Media Alliance of Tajikistan with support of Internews Network.

http://www.avesta.tj/

Launched in September 2007, this program trains students how to cover the fast-changing world of global business, economics and finance, with a focus on China’s role in the global marketplace.

The program, a joint initiative between the International Center for Journalists and Beijing-based Tsinghua School of Journalism and Communication, is taught fully in English to international standards by noted faculty in the fields of journalism, business and economics.

IJNET

The International Center for Journalists seeks nominations for the 2009 Knight International Journalism Awards. The Awards recognize outstanding international journalists who demonstrate an extraordinary devotion to the craft by upholding and promoting the highest journalistic standards, despite overwhelming challenges. Deadline: April 13, 2009

Who qualifies: Professional journalists, media managers, citizen journalists and digital news innovators who demonstrate an extraordinary devotion to the craft, often in the face of extreme hardship. Recent award winners include a free-press champion and editor from Belarus, a human rights reporter from Uganda, a blogger monitoring police abuse in Egypt and an investigative reporter in Burma. Honorees receive a trip to the United States and a $1,000 cash prize, presented at ICFJ’s 25th Anniversary Awards Dinner on Nov. 12, 2009, in Washington, DC.

IJNET

The International Activist Award

Nomination Form for the Year 2009

«Few will have the greatness to bend history itself;
but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and
in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.»
— Robert F. Kennedy

The Gleitsman Program in Leadership for Social Change encourages individual commitment and leadership by recognizing the exceptional achievement of those who have initiated positive social change. We seek those individuals whose vision and courage inspire others to join with them in confronting and challenging injustice.

As we begin our search for nominees for the 2009 International Activist Award, we invite you to advise us of those individuals whose efforts you feel should be recognized.

The 2009 International Activist Award will honor those who have struggled to correct social injustice in the world (US activists are the focus of our award in alternate years). The honorees will receive $125,000 and will receive a specially commissioned sculpture designed by Maya Lin, creator of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC. The award is not presented posthumously, nor is it granted to groups or organizations.

Please complete this nomination form and forward it with supporting materials to us postmarked not later than APRIL 17, 2009. The honoree for the 2009 International Activist Award will be announced in the summer of 2009 and must be available to travel to Cambridge, MA for the award presentation in early fall.

We thank you for helping us to reinforce the timeless message that one lone individual can not only inspire profound change, but can motivate others to make a positive difference as well. And in the above quoted words of Robert Kennedy, the sum of those individual acts will, hopefully, help to build a better life for all of us.

International Activist Award Honorees:

1993
• Nelson Mandela, then African National Congress President
• Wei Jingsheng, advocate of democracy in China
• Posthumous Awards in memory of Helen Joseph and Petra Kelly

1995
• Jose Ramos-Horta, East Timor independence advocate
• Beate and Serge Klarsfeld, prominent Nazi hunters

1997
• Maria Adela Antokoletz, Argentinean founder of the Madres de Plaza de Mayo
• Muhammad Yunus, founder, Grameen Bank

1999
Advocates for reconciliation in the Middle East:
• Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), Yossi Beilin, Bassem Eid, Yitzhak Frankenthal, Galia Golan, Faisel Husseini, Terje Rod Larsen and Mona Juul, Ahmed Qurie (Abu Ala), Uri Savir and Stanley Sheinbaum, posthumous awards in memory of Anwar Sadat, Yitzhak Rabin and King Hussein

2001
• Bernie Krisher, Creator of schools in Cambodia
• Martin Macwan, Advocate of Dalits («Untouchables») Rights

2003
Leaders in the struggle against poverty:
• Fazle Abed, founder of BRAC (Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee)
• Jaya Arunachalam, founder of the Working Women’s Forum
• Roman Imboden, visionary developer of the Multifunctional Platform
• Roy Prosterman, founder of the Rural Development Institute

2005
• Han Dongfang, international advocate of the worker’s movement in China
• Patrick Alley, Charmian Gooch and Simon Taylor, founders of Global Witness

2007
• Sakena Yacoobi, executive director of the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL)

FORMER MEMBERS of the INTERNATIONAL ACTIVIST AWARD BOARD OF JUDGES

David Gergen, Director, Center for Public Leadership, Harvard Kennedy School
Dr. Fang Lizhi, astrophysicist and Chinese democracy advocate
Mairead Corrigan Maguire, 1976 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
Jacqueline Novogratz, Chief Executive Officer, Acumen Fund
Mrs. Sadako Ogata, President, Japan International Cooperation Agency
Shimon Peres, 1994 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, former Secretary General of the United Nations
Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, 1980 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 1984 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

http://content.ksg.harvard.edu/leadership/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=200&Itemid=65