A round table was held at the center for media content preparation with the participation of heads and employees of print media, as well as chief editors and responsible persons. This event was organized in a hybrid format via video conferencing, which included representatives from local publications' editorial offices from various regions of the republic online.
Key Directions for Media Development
During the live, sincere, and constructive dialogue, the head of the Uzbekistan Journalists Association, the renowned figure Shuhrat Oripov, emphasized that ensuring freedom of speech and the press, as well as increasing the role of the media in society's life, are among the stable directions of state policy in the country in recent years.
It was acknowledged that systematic work is being carried out in the country to modernize the media space and raise the quality of national content to international standards. Furthermore, legal guarantees aimed at protecting the legitimate interests of the media and strengthening their material and technical base are gradually being expanded.
Digitalization and Personnel Training
The system for providing the population with timely and quality information has significantly improved due to the widespread introduction of digital technologies into the national media sphere. Special attention is paid to training young and talented personnel capable of meeting the requirements of modern journalism, as well as organizing their internships abroad.
The activities of state bodies and institutions in the field of information provision have been radically activated, and an open dialogue has been established between them, the media, and the public. The practice of holding open discussions and preparing analytical and critical materials on current socio-economic problems in local publications and television channels is expanding.
Legal Framework and Initiatives
The regulatory framework governing the information sphere is being improved in accordance with modern requirements, creating a free creative environment for industry participants. The development of internet journalism and the blogosphere contributes to strengthening public control as an institution of civil society.
The opportunities for widely promoting our national values on the international arena are expanding through increasing the competitiveness of local media products. Participants highly appreciated that the discussion was dedicated to comprehensive issues of modern press development and support for industry workers.
Support for Media Workers
During the round table, special attention was paid to the priority tasks outlined in the state leader's holiday greeting for press and media workers. It was noted that it is extremely important to ensure social protection, stimulate labor, improve health, and enhance the living conditions of media workers.
An initiative has been put forward to develop a new comprehensive conceptual and normative document by the Department of Communications of the Presidential Administration. Within this initiative, a number of issues are planned to be studied, including identifying problems in the development of media activities, creating modern mechanisms for the legal and social protection of journalists, implementing fundamental models for personnel training, organizing systematic professional development and supporting young journalists, as well as improving the activities of the Uzbekistan Journalists Association.
It is important that the draft of this normative document will be formed not only based on the views of one organization but also on the opinions and proposals of the journalists themselves, as they best know the industry and feel its pain points.
Results and Future Plans
Today's meeting was organized precisely for this purpose. Round table participants shared their views on expanding the audience of print media, improving content quality, integration with digital platforms, and discussed the real difficulties faced by editorial offices and ways to solve them.
The proposed solutions will contribute to creating a system that serves the interests of journalists and contributes to the development of the country's media space. It is planned that such meetings will be held regularly, with future stages involving representatives of internet publications, bloggers, and independent media experts.
