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/

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/

The training program consisted of such topics as “improvement of computer skills”, “preparation of computer presentations”, “posting of articles on web sites” and “dissemination of press releases via e-mail”. Using the School’s technical facilities, participants studied various software and enhanced their Internet skills.

Prior to that, students attended master classes on the topics of “successful communication”, “interrelations between press secretaries and the media”, “presentational skills” and “the art of public relations”.

These master classes and training sessions are educational components of the project “Access to information: cooperation and transparence” conducted by the Independent School of Journalism “Tajikistan – XXI Century” under support of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

Prior to the appeal to the government, journalists attended a round table “Problems of public awareness in conditions of energy crisis and relevant response measures”. The discussion was organized by the Tajik Union of Journalists. Participants stressed the necessity of informing the population in any conditions for the purpose of the national security. Hey came to the conclusion that it is necessary to demand from the government the inclusion of the “Sharki Ozod” Media Complex in the list of strategic objects.

The appeal also says that the government and international organizations accredited in Tajikistan should support the opening of resource centers in other cities of Tajikistan – so that local media professionals would be able to keep the population informed about ongoing events.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

Eurasian journalists and students who are interested in studying in the United States can apply for the 2009 Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program. Deadline: October 31.

Funded by the U.S. Congress and administered by International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), the Muskie Fellowship selects applicants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Fields of study include business, environmental management, international affairs, and journalism and mass communications.

Participants will begin their fellowships with an orientation in early August 2009 in Washington, D.C., before arriving at their host institutions.

Applications are available at http://www.irex.org/programs/muskie/muskie_info.asp.

For more details on the program, including requirements, visit http://www.irex.org/programs/muskie/index.asp.

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

Mid-career journalists in Eastern and Central Europe are encouraged to apply for the European Journalism Fellowships to study at the Free University of Berlin in Germany. Deadline: December 15.

The program allows journalists from Europe and the United States to take a break from their professional positions to work on a research project for a year.

Three levels of fellowship are available: junior, standard, and superior. The junior fellowships are for journalists with about five years of journalism experience; and the standard fellowships are for more senior journalists. The superior fellowship goes to an outstanding journalist with a doctoral degree. The deadline for the fellowship is December 10.

Applications can be submitted in German or English, but participants must be fluent in German.

For more information, visit http://www.polsoz.fu-berlin.de/en/kommwiss/institut/journalistenkolleg/ejf/index.html or contact ejf@zedat.fu-berlin.de.

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

Photographers worldwide who plan to cover the aftermath of a conflict have until November 3 to compete for the Aftermath Project grants.

The competition’s goal is to promote photographic projects that tell the other half of the story of conflict: what it takes for individuals to learn to live again and to rebuild and restore civil society.

Sponsored by the Open Society Institute and the Compton Foundation, two grants of US$25,000 and US$15,000 each will be given for work to be carried in 2009.

Proposals should include an explanation of the aftermath issues related to the project, as well as an overview of the applicant’s plans during the course of the grant year.

The Aftermath Project is a California-based nonprofit that seeks to help broaden the public’s understanding of the true cost of war.

For more information, download the application, contact info@theaftermathproject.org or visit http://www.theaftermathproject.org/index.htm.

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

A video contest aimed at promoting democracy is encouraging submissions from all over the world. Deadline: January 31, 2009.

Launched by the U.S. State Department, the competition asks contestants to complete the phrase, “Democracy is…” through video.

Videos can be fiction, documentary, animated or live action, but must be no longer than three minutes, and have English subtitles if not in English.

The prize is an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., New York, and Hollywood. Eight winners will have their videos screened and meet with leaders of the U.S. film industry.

Submissions must be uploaded to the YouTube Contest site at http://www.youtube.com/democracychallenge.

For more information, visit http://www.videochallenge.america.gov/index.html.

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

Saidali Siddikov, Head of Information-Analytical Unit under the President’s Office says that “public television is present in this or that form in a country, where television as such exists”. Siddikov made this statement speaking at the Tenth Media Conference of Central Asian Countries “New challenges in the sphere of broadcasting, including public broadcasting, and transition to digital broadcasting” held in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Siddikov considers that any medium – to a certain extent – belongs to the society, and should meet requirements of this society; otherwise, it cannot exist. “There is a specific model of public television in Tajikistan, which – like many public TV channels in Europe – is funded by the State. However, public servants do not interfere in professional matters of TV personnel – it is prohibited by Article 6 of the Law “On TV and radio broadcasting”, — he added.

Currently, there are 28 TV organizations registered at the Tajik Ministry of Justice, out of which 8 are State TV companies, and 20 – are non-state (private, corporate, etc.). The most popular, according to the public rating, are the First State Channel, TV “Safina” and the Children’s “Bakhoriston” channel. They cover 91-99 percent of the country population. Siddikov says that such a popularity is the evidence of existence of the public television.

The Conference in Almaty was organized by the OSCE Center in Almaty. Among the participants were media experts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The participants discussed the issues of creating a regional broadcasting infrastructure based on editorial autonomy, financial independence and legal guarantees.

Chairman of NANSMIT Nuriddin Karshibayev and professor of the Tajik State University Jovid Mukim presented reports on the Tajik media.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/