So far, the contest of cartoons “The second ancient…” has been a national Kazakhstani event annually held by the Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan and the Freedom of Speech Foundation “Adyl Soz” to celebrate the World Free Press Day.

Last year, the contest went beyond the boundaries of Kazakhstan. In 2008, the Third Cartoon Contest has obtained a status of regional in Central Asia.

Organizers of the contest are: IFEX, the Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan, the Freedom of Speech Foundation “Adyl Soz”, Fredric Ebert Foundation, the Tajik National Association of Independent Media (NANSMIT), and the Kyrgyz public unit “Journalists”.

Journalists and artists are invited to take part in the contest.

Detailed information is available at: http://www.nansmit.tj/?page=events&id=68

NANSMIT

A two-day workshop for the mass media covering the issues of TB prevention and control took place on 13-14 March in Dushanbe.

The workshop was organized by the Republican TB Control Center under support of Project HOPE, a partner of the US Agency on International Development (USAID) and the Global Fund.

The workshop emphasized the role of journalists in mobilizing the society to prevent and counter tuberculosis, and to stress the potential threat of this dangerous disease. The organizers presented basic information about the ailment and essential data on the National TB Control and Prevention Program. Dr. S. Saidaliev, Director of the Republican TB Control Center said that the system of testing and registration of patients has improved countrywide; however, during the last two years, the TB mortality rate remains at the level of 6,5 per 100 thousand citizens.

Participants of the workshop also discussed the issues of ethics in publications and reports on TB issues in the media.

“Despite the recent progress, tuberculosis remains a global health problem, — said Tracy Jacobson, the US Ambassador to Tajikistan. — About 9 million new cases are registered annually around the globe, and about 1,5 million people die every year. The US government is committed to continuing its support to the healthcare partners and will keep helping Tajikistan to strengthen its healthcare capacities”.

TB Control Program implemented by Project HOPE is one of the many programs funded by USAID. Since 1993, USAID has spent about $300 million to implement projects in the spheres of economy, health care, education and democratic reforms in Tajikistan.

NANSMIT

By 2015, Tajikistan will change over to digital broadcasting. This statement was made at a meeting of the Regional Cooperation Commission on the Regulations of International Broadcasting. The meeting took place in Minsk, capital of Belarus.

It is expected that by 2015, the digital broadcasting will completely supersede the currently applied analogue broadcasting. This innovation will allow to broadcast more programs within the same frequency domains; the quality of such broadcasting is significantly better, and the energy expenditures are much lower. However, TV viewers would need to change their antiquated TV-receivers or to buy special accessories transferring analogue signals into digital ones.

“The whole world is changing over to digital broadcasting”, — said Obidjon Karimov, official of the Tajik Ministry of Transport and Communication, and a participant of the forum in Minsk. Karimov noted that Tajikistan pays due attention to the development and adoption of the latest technologies, access to the Internet and mobile communications. He stressed that the telecommunication domain in the country economy requires long-term decisions in order to be prepared to the rapidly changing technologies around the globe. “It is very appropriate that communication experts on the post-Soviet space are coordinating their approaches for the period up to 2011,” – said Karimov.

http://www.khovar.tj/

Young media professionals and university students have been trained on standards of international journalism.

During a two-day workshop conducted by the British Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) 15 employees of Tajik media outlets and students of jourmalism faculties of the Tajik State University and the Russian-Tajik Slavic University learned about the international standards of journalism and writing.

Representatives of IWPR office in Dushanbe told the Asia Plus news agency that the IWPR standards are adopted in different countries around the globe, including Tajikistan.

Lola Khalikjanova, one of the trainers of the workshop explained that the international standards in journalism have two aspects: ethical and professional norms. These standards also contain various genres adopted by the Western media; however, these genres are applied elsewhere in the world. “Young Tajik journalists have learned that the main demand of these standards are accuracy, objectiveness, equilibrium and impartiality”, — said Khalikjanova.

IWPR actively works with Tajik media in the sphere of training. In online publications, IWPR contributors cover geopolitical, economic and cultural developments in Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa. Detailed information and subscription to the online version of IWPR materials are available at: www.iwpr.net

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

On 26 February, public organization “Khoma” and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) held a conference in Dushanbe on the issues of implementation of the media legislation in Tajikistan.

Among other topics, participants also discussed the problems of licensing of private TV and radio companies, protection of dignity and professional interests of journalists, access to information, violations of professional rights of journalists, and problems of registration of media.

The participants issued an appeal to the Tajik government where they expressed their opinions on the enhancement of Tajikistan’s media legislation.

Inter Press Service

The Tajik Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Culture and the Committee on Radio and Television under the government are planning to conduct an international conference “Tajik Language and Information Technologies”.

Tolib Rozi, chairman of the Committee on Terminology under the Tajik Academy of Sciences told the Khovar news agency that the Conference is scheduled for 28-29 May; it will be held in Dushanbe.

The main goal of the forthcoming event is to attract the attention of the society to the problems of adaptation and coherence of Tajik language in the sphere of information technologies.

Participants of the Conference will discuss the use of Tajik language in the Internet, computer lexicography, linguistics, online and distant learning methodologies, problems of web design, spell checking, exchange of data in Tajik language, mobile technologies (WAP), etc.

According to Tolib Rozi, such a forum will be convened for the first time in the country, and its organizers consider that it will of benefit not only to Tajik-speaking people, but also to the international community.

http://www.khovar.tj/

Appeal of the participants of the National Scientific-Practical Conference “Implementation of the Media Legislation in Tajikistan”

Dushanbe, 28 February 2008

Dear Mr. President,
We, the participants of the National Scientific-Practical Conference “Implementation of the Media Legislation in Tajikistan” that took place on 28 February 2008 in Dushanbe, fully support your policy targeted towards the creation of a democratic and secular State and the construction of a civil society. Due to your participation and support, more than 10 media laws have been endorsed; these laws facilitate to appropriate and democratic development of the media sector.
Of course, the laws are not dogmas, and along with the development of the country and the mass media, the legislation must improve. Regrettably, the incorrect implementation of many of these laws, and, at times, poor application of the legislation enables a negative influence of the foreign media on Tajik citizens. Taking this situation into consideration, we apply to you, Mr. President, and to Majlisi Oli (Parliament), to the Government of Tajikistan, to the Constitutional Court, and to the Supreme Court of the Republic of Tajikistan with the following proposals:
1. In view of inactivity, non-transparency of activities, non-compliance with requirements of the legislation of the democratic Tajikistan, taking into account the constitutional provision of equity of all media entities, to oust the Licensing Commission from the Committee on Radio and Television under the government of the Republic of Tajikistan. To transform this Commission into the Council on Licensing of TV and Radio entities under the President’s Office. The Council should comprise representatives of the President’s Office, Majlisi Oli, the Supreme Court, and organizations protecting interests of the mass media.
2. Majlisi Oli should make comments on the concepts of “criticism” and “insult”, which exist in the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan.

3. The Constitutional Court should define the compliance of the media bylaws with the Constitution, laws of Tajikistan and the international legislation.

4. In view of the non-compliance with the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan, to amend the Resolution of the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court #8 dated 4 June 1992 “On practical application of the legislation on protection of honor and dignity of individuals and organizations”.
5. The government of Tajikistan – taking into consideration its rights on lawmaking, and also considering peculiarities of media activities – should establish the terms of response to applications from journalists about provision of information within as “within three working days”. The draft law on access to information should establish administrative responsibility for violation of provisions of the law on access to information.
Dushanbe,
28.02.2008

NANSMIT

On 15-16 February, the Tajik National Olympic Committee held a workshop for sportscasters.

This is the fourth seminar organized by the Association of Sportscasters jointly with the National Olympic Committee and the Committee on Sports, Youth and Tourism. The purpose of this workshop is to improve professional skills among journalists writing about sports events. Currently, there are more than 40 journalists specializing in this field. “We have young and perspective journalists who need assistance and new knowledge”, — said Narzullo Latipov, chairman of the Sportscasters’ Association.

Bakhrullo Rajabaliev, chairman of the National Olympic Committee says that close cooperation between the Tajik sports institutions and the Association of Sportscasters is widely seen as a support – a moral support in the first turn – to Tajik sportsmen. “We would like to improve the quality of coverage of sports events”, — said Rajabaliev.

Chairman of the Sportscasters’ Association said that his institution is intending to expand the coverage of the preparation to the forthcoming Olympic Games in China.

http://www.gazeta.tj/

Some of Kulyabi officials ignore the directives of the Tajik President obliging local authorities to hold press conference.

Among the ten districts of the Kulyabi administrative region, only Kulyab city and in Vose district authorities hold press conferences regularly. Very often, officials schedule press conferences on the very same days, for which they are criticized by journalists.

So far, very little is known about the final press conferences on economic and social outcomes in 2007 in Dangara, Muminabad, Shurabad, Khovaling, Farkhor, Timurmalik, and Baljuvan districts. Journalists complain that the authorities poorly inform the media about the planned press conferences and briefings.

For example, in October 2007, the author of this story was in a field trip visiting Farkhor district. He learned from his colleagues about a press conference to be held by the local administration on 24 October. When he came to the municipal office, he was told by public servants that they are not aware of the event. However, in the reports submitted to the province authorities, there was information about “a press conference held on that very day”.

Similar false information is included in the January reports from the district authorities in the Kulyab region. Allegedly, they “held” press conferences involving heads of main industrial and agricultural enterprises, but none of them attended any press conference.

http://www.toptj.com/

The incident occurred during the evening news broadcast. The cockroach ran along the whole surface of the anchor’s desk. The news broadcast was rebroadcast a few hours later, and the morning after.

The next morning, officials of a special revision group under the Ministry of Culture noticed the insect, which resulted in dismissals and administrative punishments of almost thirty employees of the TV company – directors, managers, editors and technicians.

It should be noted that the Turkmen President, Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov repeatedly criticized the national media for “dull and unanimated materials”. He also criticized the Cultue Ministry for “weakening of control over the national television”. Since the inauguration of Berdymuhammedov in February 2007, he has sacked two Minister of Culture.

http://www.toptj.com/