Media Ombudsman to be established in Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Uzbekistan is planning to establish a Media Ombudsman Institute, which will work to strengthen the guarantees for protecting the rights and legitimate interests of the media, preventing ungrounded interference of government bodies in their activities, and resolving disputes between the media and state bodies, physical, legal entities.

Providing legal support to the media in violation of their rights, the Media Ombudsman, however, will also monitor the compliance of the media with the current legislation of the republic, including in the information sphere. In this regard, he or she will work with complaints from readers, viewers and legal entities on any controversial media materials.

At the same time, the Media Ombudsman, adhering to the ideas of media independence and freedom of speech, will act as a kind of mediator for resolving such disputes and solve the pre-trial problems between the media and government agencies, individuals, and legal entities.

The criteria that the Media Ombudsman should have are independence, rich practical experience, good knowledge of legal regulations and editorial work, reputation of a competent professional, as well as diplomacy.

Establishment of the Media Ombudsman Institute, which has access to both readers and the media, will significantly strengthen the legal and ethical culture of our journalists.