Communication and Information Activities 1995-2001

1 January 1999

Communication and Information Activities 1995-2001

Implemented projects

Central Asia

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Georgia

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

  • Documenation of petrogliphs of Saimaly Tash. Kyrgyzstan, 3/15/1999-2002, 204KYR60

  • Journalism training at Media Resource Centre in Bishkek and Osh, 6/22/1998-2002, 352KIZ81

Tajikistan

  • Tadjik State University
  • Somoniyon radio, 1994 to 95- terminated, 352TAD51
  • Establishment of independent radio station, 6/22/1998-2002, 352TAD81

Uzbekistan

Mongolia

  • Mongolia - Improvement of Mongolian radio and television services
  • Modernization of the Montsame News Agency, 1/27/2000-2002, 352MON91
  • Development of broadcasting series at MRTV, 5/15/1997-2002, 352MON71
  • Radio/TV training at the Press Institute of Mongolia, 9/11/1997-2002, 352MON72
  • Establishment of community radio in Uvureangal Province, Mongolia, 12/7/1998-2002, 352MON81

Turkmenistan

  • TKM:Establishment of an Independent Youth Radio Channel, 8/19/1998-2002, 352TKM81

The UNESCO Chair in Mass Media and Journalism at the Kazakh State University

The UNESCO Chair in Mass Media and Journalism at the Kazakh State University is the first UNESCO Chair in communication in Asia. It is equipped with computers and satellite television. For the period of two years students and teachers of the University are able to have free English lessons and computer training. All students and teachers could use e-mail at the Chair.

* * *

Internet Training on Journalism

The final stage of the project “Distance Learning Internet Training” is being implemented under the direction of UNESCO Almaty Office CI Sector, on the basis of UNESCO Chair for Journalism and Communication of Al-Farabi Kazakh State National University, within the framework of UNESCO Regular Programme “Training for Communication Specialists and Development of Professional Networks for Mass Communication”, approved on the UNESCO’s 30th General Conference.
Website: http://www.massmedia.kz
Report...

* * *

Kazakhstan - Children's web site

Within the framework of the subprogramme V.II.1 "Training of communication professionals and networking of communication": Editorial office newspapers "Detsky park" and "Balbobek" performed tasks of coordinating a design of children's web site. Activity end of 2001.
Website: http://www.dpark.narod.ru/
Report...

* * *

ANESMICA Development 1-st.gif (28981 bytes)

Under the direction “Support for Professional Organizations in the Field of Ethic Media Legislation and Action in Cultural Dimensions of Public Service Broadcasting” the Association of Independent Electronic Mass Media in Central Asia hold an International seminar “Dynamic of Development of Independent Mass Media in Central Asia”. Participants from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tadjikistan and Kyrgyzstan took part in the seminar. A range of questions concerning violation of journalist’s rights was discussed. The main idea of the seminar was to give the opportunity to mass media representatives and representatives of international donor organizations to discuss the most interesting projects.

In August 1998 ANESMI delegation took part in International Teleforum of CIS countries, which was held in Moscow, Russia. In November 1998 ANESMI delegation visirted Russia again in order to discuss the problem of journalists rights with the colleagues from CIS countries at the meeting in Central House of Journalists in Moscow.

* * *

WIMCA Development

Under the direction “Women in the Net” the Centre for Women in Media of Central Asia (WIMCA) has established a network for women-journalists in Central Asia. The National focal points were established in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tadjikistan and Kyrgyzstan and equipped with computers and e-mail connection.

Within the framework of a special project “women speaking to women” the National Focal points of WIMCA were gathered an information about women-journalists and women NGOs and their need. It was discovered that it is necessary to organize English and computer training. A plan of action was created and now is implementing.

A special puppet-show for schoolchildren was produced by WIMCA by story of Saymon Jenkins “My stubborn father”, published by UNHCR. The main idea of the show is tolerance. The puppet-show was recorder on 200 videocassetes and distributed through all schools of Kyrgyzstan.

In October 1998 WIMCA organized and held a seminar “Press Freedom in the period of reforms and transition in Kyrgyzstan”. Journalists, Kyrgyzstan congressmen and representatives of law advocacy organizations took part at the seminar. The seminar participants adopted an address to journalists of Central Asia where they invoked colleagues to stand for press freedom and democracy.

* * *

Tadjik State University

Under the direction “Community Radio and Support to Community Media” a group of teachers from the faculty of Journalism of Tadjik State University were trained at the Central Asian Media Resource Centre. The main directions of the training were the following: usage of special computer software for newspaper/magazine make-up; computer software for non-linear computer video editing; training on usage of Internet and e-mail communication.

* * *

Asiavision

Under the direction “Cooperation for Development” a group of 10 journalists from National Television companies of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan visited the headquarters of Asian Broadcasting Union in Malaysia in September 1998. The group passed special training aimed on development of professional skills of TV journalists. Also they took part in TV covering Asian games which held at the same time.

* * *

The UNESCO Chair in Communication at the Kazakh State National University

The first UNESCO Chair on communication in Asia was opened two years ago at the Faculty of Journalism of the Kazakh State National University. It has computer and other office equipment, e-mail and Internet connection and satellite television that are serving interests of the students and teachers of the University. Using the facilities of the Chair the Faculty issues miscellanea of scientific articles called “Journal of Media Studies” and the Faculty magazine “Journalist”. The Chair has become a centre of training and scientific exchange with the School of journalism of Ohio State University from USA. English lessons and computer/Internet training are regularly take place at the Chair.

But the Chair should be more opened for students and also should be more active in preparing scientific and educational projects for funding.

Internet Training on Journalism

On January 26, 2002 UNESCO Chair of Journalism and Communication of Al-Farabi Kazakh State National University under UNESCO/International Programme on Development Communication project Training of communication professionals and networking of communication launched a prototype website “Kazakhstan: Distance Education Training via Internet Technologies”.

Report in English
Report in Russian

* * *

A Town Newspaper for Kurchatov

There is a small town of Kurchatov in Kazakhstan. It is the centre of the former Soviet Union nuclear test fields near the oblast centre Semipalatinsk. Now Kurchatov is the centre of peace nuclear research of Kazakhstan. And Kurchatov has no one newspaper in the town.

Many people are suffering from various diseases connected with nuclear radiation. They have no source of information concerning possibilities of treatment. The town is surrounded with nuclear research businesses, which brings a potential danger for every citizen. But in case of danger people could not be informed because there is no newspaper in the town.

UNESCO Almaty Office is going to prepare a project aimed to help the town enthusiasts and authorities of Kurchatov to establish a newspaper. This project is supposed to be joint with the Semipalatinsk newspaper “Golos naroda” (“People’s voice”). The project is planning to be submitted to the next IPDC meeting for funding.

Media Development for HIV/AIDS advocacy and awareness: radio/TV; newspapers/magazines.

A lot of funds have been spent during the last several years on HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns. But we do not see tangible results. A number of HIV infected people in Kazakhstan is dramatically increasing. A majority of infected is young people.

A failure of HIV prevention campaigns happens partly because public awareness campaigns are conducted without a serious scientific approach and carried out by accidental people. (UN staff people are attracted very often as recourse personnel for training and conducting public campaigns. But UN people could be good managers of projects but a hard work of influencing public should be given to professionals). In the meantime a lot of professional public information techniques (and professionals) are successfully working in politics, advertising and other social spheres.

The idea of the project is to organize a strong professional team of sociologists and public relations specialists, which have to work out and realize under strong UN control a durable plan of action for HIV/AIDS advocacy and public awareness.

Communication in support of a Culture of Peace: a transverse programme bringing together the major UNESCO objectives in Kazakhstan: Environmental Protection, Education for All and overall Sustainable Human Development.

There is a necessity to provide a wide public awareness concerning the major UNESCO objectives and activities undertaking in Kazakhstan: Education for All, Environmental Protection and overall Sustainable Human Development. It is vital to bring the necessity of Education for All, Sustainable Human Development and Environmental Protection programmes to local and country administrative power bodies, to the minds of people who are making decisions in Kazakhstan. It is vital to bring these ideas to a broad range of non-government organizations, associations, groups and individuals. It is important to provide these people with circumspect and tested UNESCO guidelines.

This task is complicated and drawnout. In order to realize this task it is necessary to organize special groups of journalists, representing radio/TV and newspapers/magazines. These journalists should be specially trained. They have to work closely and permanently with UNESCO. They should know the objectives of UNESCO in Kazakhstan and approved ways of its implementation. They should be able to express these objectives trough their media institutions.

It is important that youth of Kazakhstan understands that self-development, education, environmental protection, making peace and non-violence should be part of daily life for all.

For schoolchildren probably would be better to prepare videofilms or to create a programme on TV where all mentioned problems would be shown in a simple role-playing form. It is better to have a permanent crew of journalists/producers. It is important to gain the heads of local media upon the support of UNESCO ideas and actions.

Round tables, view exchanges, informal seminars (local, al-country or international) and TV talk-shows could be organized f or students. This work could be coordinated through (or together) the Ministry of Education.

Active public campaigns (actions with film-, showbusinnes- and sport stars; concerts; mass sport events; art-, nation culture festivals and etc.) with wide participation of media (especially TV) could be organized for all stratums of population. Organization of various campaigns of social advertising (radio/TV, newspapers/magazines/ billboards, public transport, stadiums/discoclubs decoration and etc.). The scroll of possible ideas (as well as events) depends of funding. It is time to use modern expedients and methods of standing for peace, tolerance, education, development, and healthy lifestyle. Tobacco and alcohol producers (contrary pole of social field) had understood long ago that the best way to change people’s thinking, habits and behavior is to give them entertainment, wish, sense, color... But unfortunately the majority of antismoke events are as boring seminars or sleepy conferences.

So actions to support of a Culture of Peace should be modern, interesting, new and professional. UNESCO is trying to bring the best ideals to public. But we should not forget that another pole exists. This pole is poverty, hunger, health problems, drugmafia, unliteracy, apathy and etc. We have to understand that there is not possible to win carrying old-thinking, organizing endless seminars and paper events. We should not forget that there is a permanent battle between these two poles. And that we should act creatively, boldly and circumspectly in order to gain a victory.

* * *

Development training in media and communication techniques for unreached groups, minorities and the disadvantaged.

The project is now in the process of elaboration. There will be necessary to conduct serious public surveys. Wide consultations with specialists are planned.

* * *

Georgia: Independent radio news and information services for remote regions (Radio One)

Description: Radio One is one of the most popular and advanced radios of the country, which covers almost all the apsects of social life and provides with information relevant for all the Georgian people, especially those living in remote areas. The objectives of this project was providing people living in remote areas of Georgia with a timely, accurate and objective radio news and information service through purchasing up-to-date equipment for Radio One which is to use it for extending its broadcast outside Tbilisi.

Results: Radio One, the leading radio station in Tbilisi got a needed equipment, all frequencies were approved and the Radio extended its broadcast to the other provinces of Georgia.

* * *

Azerbaijan: Journalism training and development

Description: Azerbaijan massmedia was and is still undergoing a transformation period, as more open model of press is pursued. There is, therefore a strong need to ensure that a trained pool of journalists, skilled in modern media practices, is available within the country to enable the process to go forward. The immediate objectives were:
A. To upgrade the equipment facilities available for mass media training at Baku State University; B. To provide assistance to the Baku State University in the training of prospective journalists and radio/television producers.

Results: As a result of the project implementation the Faculty has been provided ancillary equipment for a Rizograph (stapling machine, cutter and binder), computers/printers, radio studio, television training equipment, TV training studio and computer center and a university-wide TV broadcasting system remotely controlled from the TV training studio was set up. A training on using the equipment was held.

Conclusion: The implementation of the project was IPDC contribution to the upgrade of the professional standards of print, radio and television journalism and development of an independent and pluralistic mass media environment in Azerbaijan.

Armenia: Development of journalism training

Description: The objectives of this project were:
- To enhance the training facilities at the Faculty of Journalism at the Yerevan State University through the provision of modern equipment;
- To develop training programmes and to consolidate study exchanges between the University and the other educational institutions and training organizations overseas.

Results: As a result of the project, a premises at the Journalism Faculty of the Yerevan University were renovated and equipped with up-to-date facilities, two postgraduate students made journalism-related researches in two European universities: one - in the University of Paul Valeric Montpellier III (France), the second one - in the Bournemouth University (Great Britain), manuals prepared by Western authors were translated and published. Articles and researches of local journalists were published as well.

Conclusion: The implementation of the project became a big contribution to the development of journalism training more corresponding to world journalism standards and meeting the Armenian contemporary society's needs and challenges.

Mongolia: Improvement of Mongolian radio and television (MRTV) services


Description: The objectives of this project were to organize and implement practical staff training and development courses in Ulaanbataar; to attach key senior personnel to overseas radio and TV organizations and agencies to study new management applications, programme production techniques, and enhance engineering capabilities; to identified experienced broadcasters as prospective trainers and provide specialized train the trainers course, thereby enabling MRTV to develop a comprehensive in-house human resource development plan.

Results: MRTV received all necessary equipment to implement back-upping Mongolian video archive.

Regional Central Asia: Silk Roads Radio News

Description: The project is planned to be implemented together with the Association of Independent Electronic Mass Media in Central Asia (ANESMICA), which has more than 80 members in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tadjikistan. The idea of the project is to organize news exchange through radio and television stations – members of ANESMICA. It is necessary because even every station is suffering from an information hunger concerning events that are taking place in the neighbouring republics. Now the news flow from the Central Asia is reaching each republic through Moscow or international news agencies. But not every news story of local interest is interested Moscow or London. So the idea to create the Central Asian news exchange seems to be very actual.

The “headquarters” of the Silk Roads News Exchange is planned to be in Almaty. All news stories from other countries would come to Almaty centre, edited and sent back as a special news package by e-mail.

The objectives of this project were to establish a daily regional radio news exchange network ("Silk Roads Radio News") for ANESMICA's member-station; to develop current affairs programmes and other information sequences for broadcast on a daily or weekly basis; to train journalists in modern reporting and presentation techniques.

Implementation: On June 28th 1998 the project was revised by Dr. F. Suasso, to Radio Netherlands Training Centre. The assessment of the regional situation taking into account problems definition and analysis factors, critical to success, considerations, local training facilities and communication technologies was made. Several meetings with ANESMICA members has been held. The initial phase of the project implementation was supervised by Mr. Martin Hadlow, former Head of UNESCO Almaty Office and later the supervising function passed to Ms. Christine Peronne, Regional Advisor for Communication. Ms. Peronne advised to reassess the project and adapt it to the current situation in mass media. Such factors as creation of National Associations of Broadcasters which mainly consist of former ANESMICA members should be taken into consideration. Also taking into account the fact that ICT have rapidly developed it is necessary to revise the technical approach to creation of the regional radio news exchange, especially in terms of the budget optimization. At the moment, according to the project documents and the above-mentioned factors CI staff of UNESCO Almaty Office is searching for a most optimal scheme of the project implementation.

Results:
As a result a request on changing partners and technical policy.

Conclusion:
The project is of big importance for Central Asia and it needs to be updated.

Kazakhstan: Newspaper for Farmers Living Near the Aral Sea”

The project was submitted by Syr-Darya Region Writer’s Organization. The project was approved by the IPDC Council at the end of the last year and got $30.000. Funds not yet available.

The objectives of the project are the following:

  • develop an independent, weekly newspaper covering agricultural and market information of interest to farmers in the Kzylorda oblast

  • increase the flow of information in an economically depressed and environmentally damaged area of Kazakhstan;

  • promote the development of sustainable agricultural practices, new farm management and free-market economy issues in the Aral Sea region;

  • provide new desk-top publishing technologies and training for journalists in Kzylorda oblast.

    • Kazakhstan: Development of the independent radio station Radio Maximum;

    Description: Radio Maximum is a privately owned radio station serving Almaty city. The station, which commenced operations in June 1991, was the first independent radio broadcasting outlet to be on-air following the proclamation of the country as a Republic the same year. The central importance of this free radio station is clear: a first independent and alternatice source of news, information and music.

    Project aims:

    Long-term

    a. To enhance the viability of Radion Maximum as an alternatice source of news, information and entertainment;

    b. To enable the station to establish professionally equipped studios in Almaty;

    c. To increase the capacity of the station to eventually provide national transmission.

    Short-term

    a. Provision of studio production equipment, portable news gathering tape recorders and a VHF studio transmitter link;

    b. Recruitment of short-time consultancy and training expertise for inservice workshops.

    Due to collaboration difficulties the two heads of Radio Maximum, Mr. Duvanov and Mr. Litvinov, unfortunately had to split in April 1995 around the time when the UNESCO equipment was finally ready to be taken into the daily production routines. As a result two separate radios Radio Max and Radio M appeared.

    Qualitative results of long-term objectives

    a. Radio Max and Radio M, the two heirs of Radion Maximum, have continued to develop as the alternative source of information, news and entertainment. They both keep the strong content-orientation high, although Radio M is said to be a little ahead of Radio Max.

    b. Both radio stations have been able to continue to work from professionally equipped studios - even though some compromises have had to be accepted after the split of the radio station and the equipment.

    c. Radio Max has kept up transmission to three of Kazakhstan's provinces, to Kyrgyzstan and soon to Uzbekistan.

    Guantitative results of the short-term objectives

    a. The equipment planned for has been purchased and is with the two radio stations originating from Radio Max.

    b. The training foreseen in the project document has been minimised to cover training in use of the new equipment. This has taken place as needed. Both stations have, however, mentioed with great appreciation the advice and consultations they have been able to get - for no pay - from the UNESCO Refional Communication Adviser.

    Several years ago both of the two stations were closed.

    Kyrgyz Republic: Journalism Training and Media Development

    The Central asian Media Resource Center (CAMRC) was established on the basis of UNESCO Media Resource Center, and registered as independent official institution since February 1998. UNESCO Media Resource Center has been established in the frames of UNDP, UNESCO, IPDC and UNFPA institutions project "KYR/94/005: MASS MEDIA IN A PERIOD OF REFORMS AND TRANSITION".

    The aim of this project was to assist and develop independent and pluralistic mass media in Kyrgyzstan.

    CAMRC - non-governmental organization, having set its goals on introducing modern approaches and technologies into the whole spectrum of of mass media activities in the region. CAMRC is a resource for the people of the Kyrgyz Republic, media professionals and ordinary people alike, who wish to be involved in any communication-related activities. It's living and breathing place where people can use new technological tools and develop their awareness of communication applications and processes, as well as the media as a whole. More...

    Uzbekistan - Media Resource Center

    The Media Resource center (MRC) has been established in Tashkent in accordance with the decision of the International Program for the Development of Communication in 1997. The project proposal for the establishment of MRC has been made by the National Commission fo the Republic of Uzbekistan for UNESCO as follow up activities of the 1992 Almaty Declaration pn the development of independent and pluralistic media in Central Asian countires. The Agency of Financial News, national independent mass media agency in Tashkent has supported MRC MRC by providing initial support in premises and staff members.

    The main goal of the MRC in Tashkent is to organize, in the form of training and seminars, permanent educational and informational Center in order to make contribution to the development of democratic institutions in society, increase the level of high-qulified mass media specialists, and journalists in particular.

    The Center obtains basically needed equipment, such as multimedia computers, digital audio and video studios. Several regional programs have been implemented in the MRC in Tashkent, such as, "Women and Mass Media in Central Asia", "AIDS/HIV Issue and Role of Mass Media", "Aral Sea Vision", "Distance Education and New Innovations on Informational Technologies". In addition, special TV programs have been created with assistance of MRC Tashkent.

    The activities of the MRC in Tashkent promoted the development of educational infrastructure in the field of journalism, and in accordance the decision of the Government of Uzbekistan, new Faculty on International Journalism has been created at the Uzbekistan State University on Foreign Languages (USUFL).

    * * *

    Permanent link: http://en.unesco.kz/communication-and-information-activities-1995-2001