OSCE Office in Tajikistan trains young journalists on role of independent, pluralistic and professional media

OSCE-organized workshops for young journalists were held in Kurgan-Tube and Kulyab cities of Tajikistan’s Khatlon region from 29 February to 4 March 2016.

Some 45 young journalists were acquainted with the role of independent, pluralistic and professional media in a democratic society and the practical skills required by journalists in a modern media environment.

Lecturers from the National University of Tajikistan in Dushanbe and experienced journalists from the BBC World Service in Tajikistan familiarized journalists with the technical and practical aspects of their work, such as the creation and dissemination of information via print media, radio and television as well as blogs, social networks, user-generated content and Open Journalism on the internet. Also discussed were the legal framework, media self-regulation and the code of ethics for journalists.

“By educating and training young journalists and enhancing professional journalism online and offline, the OSCE Office in Tajikistan is promoting the freedom of expression in the country,” said Ewald Orf, Media Officer at the OSCE Office.

Esfandiar Adinabay, Head of the BBC World Service Bureau in Dushanbe, emphasized the importance of Open Journalism and the impact that user-generated material has on the work of professional journalists.

The workshop placed special emphasis on practical training covering reporting through audio, video, online and print media, and the use of search engines for research.

During the training course, participants were divided into teams and tasked with completing a number of different journalistic assignments. These assignments were presented in an open session on the last day of the course and evaluated by the participants and the trainers.