Bobojon Bobokhonov, prosecutor general of Tajikistan named Dodojon Atovullo, the leader of the Tajik political movement “Vatandor” (“Patriot”) and editor of the newspaper “Charogi Rouz”, “information terrorist”.

At a press conference held on 11 July, Bobojonov said that Avotullo, residing abroad, far away from his homeland, makes controversial statements in his publications defaming and humiliating the Tajik nation and undermining the image of the Tajik State. “Avotullo is a man with no motherland, and he will never be a leader”, — sated the prosecutor.

Bobokhonov also said that “…unless Avotullo stops his calumnious activities, the Tajik authorities would need to bring an action and detain him by any means available to bring him to responsibility”.

At the end of June, at the Rosbalt news agency in Moscow, Avotullo held a press conference. The Russian media were quoting the leader of the Vatandor movement as saying that his country is “on the verge of a civil war”. “We would like the global community to learn what’s going on in this poor, unhappy, corrupt, scorched and poached country, — he said. — A typical image of a contemporary Tajik: old and shabby clothes, dim extinct look, and no smile on the face…”

Avotullo said that he is heading the Tajik opposition in exile, and since 2004, he has not have opportunities to visit Tajikistan. He also voiced his concern: “In fall and winter 2008, there will be mass meetings and actions of civil disobedience.”

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

The first workshop “Internet & Journalism” organized by a local NGO “Women of the East” under support of the Helsinki-Norwegian Committee is being held in the city of Penjikent, Sughd province of Tajikistan.

Zukhra Sharipova, a trainer at the seminar told the Asia Plus news agency that the main goal of this event is to provide local journalists with information on how to properly and efficiently use the global online resources.

Among the topics discussed at the seminar are “Variety of the media”, “The Internet as a medium”, “E-mail and access to it”, “Development of web sites”, “The level of online journalism in Tajikistan”, “Access of media professional to online journalism” and “Online outlets”.

Sharipova also told that the workshop is being conducted within the framework of a bigger, six-month project, which also will include seminars “Online Journalism”, “Legal Aspects”, “Ethical Standards in Journalism” and “Censorship and Self-censorship”.

The non-governmental organization “Women of the East” has been active in Zeravshan valley for more than 10 years. The NGO has been cooperating with IREX, OSCE, UNDP and other foreign organizations and donor agencies. The main program goal of the NGO is promotion and support of civic values in Zeravshan valley, creation of opportunities and jobs for women and legal education.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

An upcoming course four journalists will focus on the writing of international news, with an emphasis on improving basic reporting skills including accuracy, impartiality, speed, clarity and structure. Deadline to apply: August 31.
The program, a training course of the Reuters Foundation, will take place from September 22 to October 3. It will be held in London.
Applicants must currently be working as journalists or regular contributors to print, broadcast or online media organizations. They must be able to demonstrate a commitment to a career in journalism in their country, have at least two years’ professional experience and have a good level in spoken and written English.
Applicants will be required to submit a biography, work samples, and a personal statement. Reuters Foundation offers full and part-funded bursaries for journalists from the developing world.
For more information, e-mail foundation@reuters.com or go to http://www.reuterslink.org/courses/WIN_london_Sept08.htm.

http://www.ijnet.org/Director.aspx?P=Article&ID=307914&LID=1

Print and online journalists in developing countries are invited to apply for the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships (AFPF) and Daniel Pearl Fellowships 2009. Deadline for the submission of applications: August 1.
Successful candidates will report for American newspapers from March to August 2009. In the United States, fellows will learn practices, standards and values of U.S. journalism which they can adapt, share and apply in their own countries.

Applicants for the fellowships must be between 25- and 35-years-old and currently employed full time for the news or editorial department of an independent newspaper, wire service, online publication, or magazine.

Applicants must be fluent in both written and spoken English.

For more information and applications forms, go to http://www.pressfellowships.org/application.html

http://www.ijnet.org/Director.aspx?P=Article&ID=307902&LID=1

The National Conference on the topic “Expansion of free dialogue between the licensing bodies and broadcasting entities on the basis of mutual understanding” is taking place at the Centre of Strategic Research under the President in Dushanbe today.

Organizers of the Conference are the OSCE Center in Dushanbe, the Tajik Public Council, the Tajik National Association of Independent Electronic Media, Internews network, and the Ebert Foundation.

The Conference is attended by Mavlon Mukhtorov, advisor to the President, Makhmudkhon Sarayev, expert from the information-analytical department of the President’s office, representatives of TV and radio companies, political parties, and journalists.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

On 4 July, Association of Teachers of Journalism “Jomea va Tamaddun” (Society & Civilization) will present three new curricula on journalism for universities.

The main goal of this presentation is to discuss the developed curricula, and, possibly, to receive recommendations on amendments to them. The three curricula were developed within the framework of the program supported by Open Society Institute and implemented by Association of Teachers of Journalism comprising professors of three Tajik universities.

The Association has also organized the “Second Summer Camp” to discuss contemporary methodologies of teaching with 20 teachers and professors of Tajik universities. In June 2008, three working groups presented curricula on the following topics: “Professional ethics of journalists”, “Management and the media”, and “Legal bases of journalism”.

NANSMIT Monitoring Service

The Free Network Project has released Freenet, software which allows journalists to acquire and publish information for free on the Internet without facing censorship. The network is decentralized and publishers and users are kept anonymous.

Freenet is different from other software in that it allows users to upload content and disconnect from the site if they choose. Users are not allowed to control what is stored; content is kept based on its usage, and the least popular content is removed to allow newer information to be posted.

Freenet began in 1999. It is available for Windows, Linux, and OSX.

To download Freenet 0.7.0, visit http://freenetproject.org/download.html.

http://www.ijnet.org/Director.aspx?P=Article&ID=307873&LID=1

Up to 15 female print and broadcast professionals from developing countries across the globe will be invited to participate in an international network of journalists interested in women’s health and development. Application deadline: August 1.

The Women’s Edition Program, run by the U.S.-based Population Reference Bureau (PRB), will provide information on family planning, safe motherhood, and reproductive health issues to help participants better cover these issues for their media outlets. The program’s seminars and conferences will take place around the world.

Participants can write or broadcast in any language, but they must be able to communicate efficiently in English. Participants will be selected on a competitive basis, and full sponsorships will be available.

To find out more information about the program, visit PRB’s website, www.prb.org.

www.prb.org

The quarterly magazine Caucasus Environment is looking to publish articles that cover global environment problems, lifestyle, travel and ethnic groups. Each article should be accompanied by eight or more high quality photos. Deadlines are July 7 and August 9.

Articles must be written in English or Russian. Only articles developed especially for the magazine and never published before will be accepted.

Authors of articles selected for publication will receive honorarium between US$60 and $100.

For more information, visit http://www.cenn.org/index.php?id=99.

http://www.ijnet.org/Director.aspx?P=Article&ID=307828&LID=1

On 26 June, in Dushanbe, representatives of the government press services met with the Tajik media to discuss the issues of public awareness and timely provision of information.
The round table was organized by the Independent School of Journalism “Tajikistan, XXI Century” within the framework of the project “Access to Information: Cooperation and Transparency”.

Safo Safarov, director of the Independent School of Journalism told Asia Plus news agency that the project on access to information is being implemented under support of the Norwegian branch of Helsinki Committee.

The main goal of the project is to facilitate in access to publicly important information through efficient cooperation among the media and the government press offices.

Safarov says that the project is designed as a series of workshops and master classes to cover approximately 40 media professionals and employees of press services.

Implementers of the project are planning to design a unified thematic textbook in Russian and Tajik languages to provide technical, information and consulting assistance to the target group.

It is expected that representatives of the president’s office, the parliament, the national government, the supreme court, media structures, public and international organizations will take place in the workshops.

Note: Public organization Independent School of Journalism “Tajikistan, XXI Century” was founded in June 1999. The main goals of the agency are: vocational training for media professionals, development of the information market in Tajikistan, and strengthening of competition among journalists. The school has implemented about 20 various projects, including “Tajikistan – Afghanistan: Bridges of Friendship”, “Tajik Journalism in New Century”, “Media Management”, etc.

NANSMIT