Third national forum “Press of Uzbekistan” held in Tashkent

Public fund for supporting and developing independent print media and information agencies in cooperation with the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, State Committee on communication, information and telecommunication technologies, Uzbek Agency for print and information, Independent institute on monitoring of forming civil society, International center for re-training journalists, OSCE Project Coordinator, National Democratic Institute (NDI) Office in Uzbekistan, UNESCO and UNICEF Offices in Uzbekistan organized the event.

Representatives of the Legislative Chamber and Senate, heads of information services of the ministries and departments, editors and journalists of mass media, NGOs and civil society institutes and others participated at the forum. Overall, 250 people participated in the event.

The forum is aimed at discussing issues of strengthening role of mass media in civil society institute, further improving legislative base in the sphere of mass media, strengthening their place in political and spiritual life of the society, guaranteeing social and legal protection of journalists’ activities, etc.

The forum participants considered issues of interaction between the mass media and state bodies, reforms in the sector, improving mechanism of operation of mass media, development of ethical code.

They also considered improvement of legal framework in mass media sphere, implementation of international norms into local legislation, liberalization of information sphere, and other issues.

During the forum, it was underlined that Uzbekistan adopted over 10 laws, which regulate activities of mass media. Uzbekistan also implemented norms of international legal acts into its legislation in mass media sphere. The event also considered issues of training journalists.

It was noted that number of mass media rose from 395 in 1991 to 1,367 now. Number of independent media grew 2.5 times and now makes up 62% of all registered media. Number of electronic media increased seven times. There are 300 websites, which were registered as electronic mass media. Local media publishes their materials in over 10 languages.

Parliamentary commission on management of resources of Public fund on support of NGOs and other institutes of civil society under the parliament of Uzbekistan, Public fund for supporting and developing independent print media and information agencies, Creative Union of Journalists and other organizations provided over 27 billion soums in 2008-2012 to support mass media, of which 7 billion soums were issued to independent media.

The forum participants underlined that number of national resources at UZ domain zone exceeds 17,000 and number of internet users exceeded 12 million people or 276 persons per 1000 habitants.

At the end of the forum, the awarding ceremony of the winners of national competition “Etirof-2013” was held. The contest is directed at stimulating journalists of the country.

The contest was organized by Public fund for supporting and developing independent print media and information agencies, Uzbekistan news agency and Uzbek Agency for Print and Information.