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 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 Tuesday, March 31, 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.

US Embassy

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

After joint appeal with Amnesty International for an end to online censorship, Reporters Without Borders issues report on “Enemies of the Internet”

Reporters Without Borders today issued a report entitled “Enemies of the Internet” in which it examines Internet censorship and other threats to online free expression in 22 countries.
“The 12 ‘Enemies of the Internet’ — Burma, China, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam — have all transformed their Internet into an Intranet in order to prevent their population from accessing ‘undesirable’ online information,” Reporters Without Borders said.
“All these countries distinguish themselves not only by their ability to censor online news and information but also by their virtually systematic persecution of troublesome Internet users,” the press freedom organisation said. Reporters Without Borders has placed 10 other governments “under surveillance” for adopting worrying measures that could open the way to abuses. The organisation draws particular attention to Australia and South Korea, where recent measures may endanger online free expression.
“Not only is the Internet more and more controlled, but new forms of censorship are emerging based on the manipulation of information,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Orchestrating the posting of comments on popular websites or organising hacker attacks is also used by repressive regimes to scramble or jam online content.”
A total of 70 cyber-dissidents are currently detained because of what they posted online. China is the world’s biggest prison for cyber-dissidents, followed by Vietnam and Iran.

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=30543

97 years ago, on 11 March 1912, the first issue of the Tajik newspaper Bukhoroi Sharif (Sacred Bukhara) came off the press.

Five Tajik journalists have received the national Lakhuti prize for their input in the development of Tajikistan’s media. The prestigious award is named after Abdulkosim Lakhuti, one of the founders of the contemporary Farsi-language literature.

NANSMIT monitoring service

The Tajik National news agency Khovar and the Azerbaijani TREND news agency signed a partnership agreement.

The agreement defines aspects of cooperation in the spheres of information and multimedia, and professional exchange of experience between journalists. The agreement enables the Tajik Khovar news agency to enhance its international image and expand dissemination of its information.

TREND is an international news agency founded in 1995 in Azerbaijan. TREND produces information in five languages, including English, Russian, Farsi and Arabic. The news are placed at the web portal www.trendaz.com TREND provides its subscribers quality video and photo materials, analytical publications and experts’ opinions.

NANSMIT monitoring service

Tajikistan seems determined to obtain financial assistance one way or another from Russia. After President Imomali Rahmon’s recent trip to Moscow did not produce any promises of Kremlin largesse, officials in Dushanbe seem to have found a way to take what they could not receive.
The Tajik State Broadcasting Committee decided March 2 to pull the plug on RTR-Planeta, the commercial arm of Russia’s state broadcaster. Local authorities cited an increase in fixed costs and demanded more money from the All-Russia State Television and Radio Company (VGTRK).
Local experts believe the dispute is something more than just about money. «I see a political aspect in the termination of RTR’s rebroadcast in Tajikistan,» Nuriddin Karshibaev, chairman of the Tajik National Association of Independent Media, told EurasiaNet.
In explaining the official decision, Tajik state committee head Asadullo Rakhmonov said RTR-Planeta did not have a valid contract covering broadcasting rights in Tajikistan for 2009, adding that the channel also owed Tajikistan 4.8 million Russian rubles (about $130,000) for relaying services.
A VGTRK representative, Sergey Koshlyakov, complained that the Tajiks were not playing by the rules. «The increase is unscheduled and not included in our company’s budget; this is why the negotiations are slack,» the Asia-Plus news agency reported Koshlyakov as saying. All grumbling aside, however, it seems that Russia is not eager to lose a major lever to sway public opinion inside Tajikistan, and so VGTRK officials have reportedly agreed to pay a hefty 50 percent rate increase for 2009.
Precise terms of the preliminary agreement were not immediately released. As soon as a contract is signed RTR-Planeta should be back on the air, Tajik officials have indicated.
Despite the apparent fast resolution of the dispute, Tajik officials seem interested in diversifying the country’s media landscape — something that could have the net effect of reducing Russian influence in the Central Asian nation. In February, Tajik broadcasting officials met with top Iranian television representatives to discuss relaying more Iranian programs in the Persian-speaking country.
RTR-Planeta is the only Russian television channel that is rebroadcast in Tajikistan. Other Russian channels can be viewed only via satellite transmission.
Posted March 5, 2009 © Eurasianet
http://www.eurasianet.org

EurasiaNet

Источник: http://eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav030509a.shtml

A New Media and Internet Publishing seminar sponsored by Transitions will take place in Dushanbe on 27-29 March 2009.

Participants in the event, designed for citizens of Tajikistan, will learn the latest trends in online media — including blogging, podcasting, community-building, citizen journalism, and online promotion — from some of Central Asia’s leaders in the field.

Application deadline: March 9, 2009For more information or to apply, go to: http://training.tol.org

http://training.tol.org

Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Azimov’s recent visit to Tajikistan, made in connection with a rare session of an inter-governmental commission, raises the possibility of a thaw in relations between the two Central Asian states, Tajik experts say. The ability of Dushanbe and Tashkent to address their many differences could have important implications for ongoing military operations in Afghanistan to contain the Taliban.
The commission session on February 19 marked the first bilateral, high-level contact between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in seven years. Despite that encouraging signal, doubt continues to hover over the future of Tajik-Uzbek relations. Skeptics point to the fact that participants failed to address some of the most intractable problems plaguing the two countries’ relations. In addition, media access to the Tajik-Uzbek intergovernmental commission was restricted, and a post-meeting news conference was cancelled due to the abrupt departure of the Uzbek delegation.
The bilateral commission meeting followed Uzbek President Islam Karimov’s surprise February 13 announcement that Tashkent was willing to reconsider its long opposition to the construction of the Rogun hydropower plants in upstream Tajikistan, provided that international auditors verified the viability of the project. Uzbekistan could even become an investor in Rogun and other upstream energy development schemes, he suggested. Dushanbe’s Asia-Plus news agency characterized Karimov’s comments as «sensational.»
«In the event of positive outcomes in international water-environmental studies, Uzbekistan can participate in the construction of big hydropower plants in the neighboring countries, including in Tajikistan,» Karimov told a cabinet meeting. At the same time, he emphasized that while every state had a sovereign right to build a power plant, «it is necessary to take into consideration ecological and water problems, which might emerge in the downstream countries.»
On February 25, with Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov in Tashkent, Karimov repeated the essence of his new position.
Tajik officials are committed to building the 347-meter-tall Rogun dam and see the project as essential to resurrecting the country’s crisis-plagued economy.
As recently as late January, Uzbekistan was working feverishly to block Rogun’s construction. Karimov at that point appeared to score a diplomatic coup, when Russian President Dmitry Medvedev endorsed the Uzbek position that large-scale, water-related projects in Central Asia should require the consent of all the states in the region. Tashkent has long been wary that massive dam projects, such as Rogun, would limit the flow of water into Uzbekistan, thus endangering the country’s crucial cotton crop.
The motive for Karimov’s sudden shift in thinking remains vague. But circumstantial evidence points to a rapid change in geopolitical conditions, namely Russia’s success in inducing Kyrgyzstan to close an American air base outside of Bishkek. In what many experts see as a quid-pro-quo, Russia promised to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to complete a Kyrgyz hydro-power project. With the Kremlin no longer supporting a de facto hydro-power project freeze in Central Asia, Karimov may well have decided to soften his own stance.
According to local media outlets, the February 19 Tajik-Uzbek meeting managed to agree on the issues of delimitation and demarcation of 97 percent of the two countries’ 1,200 kilometer shared border. The parties also signed a protocol regarding the schedule of the Kairakkum water reservoir in northern Tajikistan. Under this agreement, Tajikistan will store and conserve water yearly until May 31 to aid the Uzbek growing season.
But the more protracted and emotional water and energy issues remained unresolved.
Independent political expert Parviz Mullojanov says the fact the visit occurred at all was a «very positive» step that could help defuse bilateral tension. While he is optimistic regarding future resolution of «secondary problems,» such as the cancellation of the visa regime and resumption of air communication, he says the two countries have a long way to go before coming to terms on bigger issues. «It will be difficult to resolve the regional controversies, such as the trans-boundary water use and construction of hydropower plants,» Mullojanov told EurasiaNet.
Another Dushanbe-based observer, Nuriddin Karshibaev, chairman of the National Association of Independent Media (NANSMIT), believes the key to improved relations is Tashkent’s ability to readjust its regional ambitions. «On many occasions, especially when it concerns trans-boundary water, Uzbekistan referred to international treaties, interpreting these documents for its own benefit,» Karshibaev said. «But the country (Uzbekistan) totally forgets about other legally binding international documents when it concerns export and transition of Tajik electricity.»
While some fault the personal ambitions of the Uzbek and Tajik leaders — rather than economic and political factors — for tense bilateral relations, Mullojanov suggests a major factor is Uzbekistan’s desire for influence. «Uzbekistan wants to be the number one in Central Asia, and it has contradictions and unresolved problems not only with Tajikistan,» he said. «These problems will remain even if other leaders come to power.»
Despite the tensions, Uzbekistan remains one of Tajikistan’s most important trading partners, as Tajik deputy Prime Minister Murodali Alimardon acknowledged in his opening remarks. Bound by their common history, facing the global economic crisis, the two countries cannot afford confrontation, he said.
One factor that may be encouraging the restoration of trust and a collaborative mood is US efforts to establish a northern supply network to support military operations in Afghanistan. Both Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are participating in the network, and both have a vital interest in seeing it succeed, given that both states share long borders with strife-torn Afghanistan. Resupply efforts will require Dushanbe and Tashkent to cooperate.
If Uzbekistan and Tajikistan continue to bicker, the hostility could end up hampering the United States’ ability to deliver supplies to American forces fighting the Taliban.
Editor’s Note: Konstantin Parshin is a freelance journalist based in Dushanbe.

Konstantin Parshin, EurasiaNet

Источник: http://www.eurasianet.org

A team of researchers representing the Tajik branch of the US-based NGO Urban Institute has started a study titled “Relations between authorities, population and the media”.

The research will be carried out in the city of Kulyab, Khatlon province. Zafar Mirzoev, manager of the local Urban Institute office in Kulyab says that this work will be accomplished by means of an anonymous opinion poll involving questioners.

Upon the accomplishment of the study, Urban Institute intends to carry out practical seminars – initially “training for trainers”, who later will be working with representatives of local administrations, the media and public at large.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

This monitoring presents a compilation of reports from Tajikistan’s media and private reports from the NANSMIT monitoring network in the country

Coordinator of the Monitoring Network in Tajikistan:
Abdufattokh Vokhidov

Head of the Legal Service:
Orifjon Azimov

Head of the Project in Tajikistan:
Nuriddin Karshibayev

Freedom of Speech in Tajikistan
Situation in February 2009

In February 2009 the NANSMIT Monitoring Service received 17 reports. Fourteen of them describe the factual situation in the media in the light of socio-legal and political environment; two reports describe direct violations of rights of media professionals; and one report describes conflicts and accusations against the media and journalists.

I. PECULIARITIES OF POLITICAL, SOCIAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL CLIMATE IN THE COUNTRY DEFINING THE FACTUAL SITUATION IN THE MEDIA

1. Public speeches and statements of superior officials defining the factual situation in the mass media

4 February
Khikoyatmo Khakimova, deputy head of Khatlon province, Kurgan-Tube

On 4 February the new deputy head of Khatlon province, Khikoyatmo Khakimovs held a meeting with the media. Khakimova informed journalists about the intentions and desire of the authorities to cooperate with the media.
“Journalists are creative individuals, and people trust them”, — she said. — “The media is the best source of information about the ongoing problems, events and developments”.

7 February
Emomali Rakhmon, President of Tajikistan, Dushanbe

President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon signed a decree “On response of officials to critical and analytical publications in the media».
The President’s Office press service informs that the decree pursues the goals of strengthening executive discipline and enhancing the role of the media in public, political and socio-economic life of the society.
Ministers and managers of enterprises are charged to take urgent measures on critical remarks and suggestions voice in the media.

9 February
All media, Dushanbe

“In case of non-fulfillment of the President’s decree, officials will be brought to responsibility in accordance with the law “On applications of citizens”, — said Saidali Siddikov, head of the information-analytical unit under the President’s office. He made this statement at a round table organized by the Tajik Union of Journalists.
Siddikov also told the media that the decree signed on 7 February has been sent to 700 relevant institutions in Tajikistan.
“I am confident that this initiative will be an impulse in resolving the most relevant issues touched upon in the media”, — said Siddikov. – “This is the evidence of the government’s support to the media”.

11 February
Ilkhom Jamolov, head of the information-analytical center of the Sughd province authorities

On 11 February head of the information-analytical center of the Sughd province authorities Ilkhom Jamolov held a meeting with representatives of the regional and local media to familiarize them with the President decree “On response of officials to critical and analytical publications in the media».

24 February
Narzullo Dadabaev, head of press service, Ministry of Agriculture, Dushanbe

“The Ministry of Agriculture calls journalists to a closer cooperation, and is ready to respond to critical and analytical materials in the media”, — said Narzullo Dadabaev, head of the Ministry’s press service. He also stated that the Minister of Agriculture Kosim Kosimov considers that the media should fully participate in resolving problems in this sector.

3. Evaluation of the factual situation in the media and the freedom of speech

12 February
All media, Dushanbe

“Most of the Tajik media have partner relations with the authorities”, — said professor Ibragim Usmanov at a round table “Media and the authorities: partnership or dissent?” organized by a public unit “Journalist” jointly with the Tajik Union of journalists. (Farazh newspaper, #6, 12.02.09).

Usmonov said that in the relations between the media and the authorities the latter always prevail. Having listed a number of factors, which have had a negative influence on the Tajik media, the professor said that the absence of daily newspapers in the country is the most essential problem.

18 February
All media

“The project of a unified center of electronic communication, which has been repeatedly proposed for implementation, brings into a question the existence of the freedom of speech in the country”, — stated Mikhail Petrushkov, executive director of the Tajik Association of Small and Medium Business Ventures. The statement was made at a press conference for representatives of telecom companies. Experts say that the implementation of such a project would imply a total control over the national communication. Another troublesome fact is that the national communication operator “Tojiktelecom”, the author of this idea would have monopolist rights in this sector.

25 February
Radio Sadoi Dushanbe

Radio program “Speak Russian” on the city Radio Sadoi Dushanbe has been dormant for several months. Tatyana German, head of the Pushkin society in Tajikistan says that the main reason for termination of the program is the absence of funds.

4. Journalists protecting their civil and professional rights

5 February
Tajik Union of Journalists, Dushanbe

The Tajik Union of Journalists is launching a series of meetings dedicated to its 50-th anniversary. The Union is planning to hold meetings with veterans of the domestic journalism.

II. VIOLATION OF RIGHTS IN THE MEDIA

1. Impediments to professional activities

5 February
Bakhtior Valiev, correspondent, Asia Plus, Khujand, Sughd province

Bakhtior Valiev, freelance correspondent of Asia Plus news agency was invited to the Sughd province Health department.
The reason for the invitation was a publication about problems with power supply at the province cardiological center, where physicians had to terminate surgical operations.
Health officials, previously interviewed by the correspondent, recommended him to make additional clarifications to the published story.

COMMENT

Article 30 of the Tajik Constitution, Articles 2 and 36 of the law “On printing and other mass media” and Article 3 of the law “On TV and Radio” guarantee and protect the freedom of speech and the right to use the mass media.

According to Article 31 of the law “On printing and other mass media”, journalists have the right to receive and disseminate information, to produce any records, including those performed with the help of audio, photo and video equipment, except for cases described in the legislation.
Impediments in any professional activities, as well as coercion to dissemination or refusal of dissemination of information forms corpus delicti according to Article 162 of the Tajik Criminal Code.

3. Ungrounded limitations in provision of publicly important information

22 February
Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Dushanbe

At a press conference in January journalists complained that they cannot timely receive publicly important information from persons in charge at the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.

COMMENT

The freedom of speech and the right to use information are guaranteed by Article 30 of the Tajik Constitution. Exceptions are the data containing elements of national secrecy.
Article 31 of the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On printing and other mass media” enables journalists to look for, receive and disseminate information applying any legal means. And Article 5 of the Law in question obliges state, political and public organizations, entities and their officials to provide the media with requested information. Denial in provision of information, according to Article 27 of the Law in question, can be discussed between the medium and the relevant official, and also can be considered in court.

III. CONFLICTS. VIOLATIONS INCRIMINATED TO MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS

1. Protection of honor, dignity and business reputation

19 February
Gulbakhor Gafforova, actress of the Khandinkamon theater studio, Kulyab, Khatlon province

Gulbakhor Gafforova, actress of the Khandinkamon theater in the city of Kulyab is going to apply to the court against the Pazhvok newspaper accusing it of insult of her honor and dignity.
Gafforova is concerned about a publication containing false information about her private life. She says that during the tour in Khatlon province she did not have any contacts with any mass medium, and the printed articles is an insult against her.
The actress also complains that the Sughd newspaper published in Sughd province reprinted Pazhvok’s article.

COMMENT

According to Articles 24, 26 of the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On printing and other mass media”, the individual who considers that the published material contains untrue or unreliable information, has the right to demand publication pf an answer or refutation of the previously made statement. In case of refusal or avoidance of the medium to publish the answer (explanation), or in case of untimely publication (beyond the established term), the individual or legal entity can appeal to the court.

This report is based on compiled materials from the media and private information presented by correspondents of the NANSMIT Monitoring Network

Coordinator of the Monitoring Service
Abdufattokh Vokhidov

Project Manager
Nuriddin Karshibaev