How coverage of the Presidential elections has done in the Republic of Uzbekistan by non-governmental television and radio studios? Whether independent studios in Uzbekistan comply with international standards? Is the time to candidates for the Presidency allocated equally and are any rights of parties and candidates violated during their campaign activities?

The international “round table” on the theme “Implementation of international standards in the coverage of elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan by non-governmental television and radio studios of the country: national experience and world practice” was opened with these questions by the Chairman of the National Association of Electronic Mass Media of Uzbekistan Firdavs Abduhalikov.

Local and international experts in the media sphere from Bulgaria, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, France and other countries, as well as representatives of NAEMM partner on the event - the Central Election Commission, the regional office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, UNESCO Office in Uzbekistan, representatives of political parties, public and government organizations searched for answers to these and other questions during the forum.

After signing the bilateral agreement on the Presidential election coverage between the Central Electoral Commission and the Association, journalists of non-governmental television and radio studios are seriously thinking not only about the amount of media content, which bet the records last year, creating serious competition to the governmental TV, but also on quality of content on electoral issues and its compliance with international standards. Comments of Andreys Shvedovs - chief editor of the “Telegraph” magazine (Latvia) are given below:

“I think that the agreement between the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan and non-governmental television is very important, as private TV channels are often effective, they quickly reach their audiences in more creative way. The involvement of private non-governmental channels to election coverage will allow voters of Uzbekistan to learn more about the election process itself, the candidates who apply for the post of head of state. Here I do not see any differences from Riga, Latvia, from my media environment, where I was able to cover the elections. I think everything here is well respected, and the rest depends on the candidates for the Presidency. In this case, the media reflects the situation, in my opinion, quite objectively, well, elections will show.”

In order to enrich their own content on the elections only in the last few months there were organized 8 seminar-trainings aimed at improving the professional skills of journalists on electoral issues with the participation of renowned international experts.

Such efforts are well-grounded, because it is a matter of honor for every self-respecting media people - the day of Presidential elections. And this responsibility is well understood by journalists of private sector: to date, nearly 450 media units are produced, which were broadcasted more than 2 thousand times on the air of
non-governmental television and radio studios throughout the country. In order to clarify the nature and significance of the elections, the main provisions and the order of voting process, the work of precincts and other issues, there were generated more than 40 public service announcements and aired more than 4500 times.

In this regard, the non-governmental sector has traditionally made a bet on international experience, and, apparently, has not lost. The Association has invited the best international experts in the media sphere from abroad to Uzbekistan to teach young journalists. After talking with them, they have learned how they evaluate compliance of the non-governmental sector with international standards in covering the Presidential campaign in 2016.

As the senior adviser and Consultant of UNESCO, former Director of UNESCO on freedom of speech (Denmark) Mogens Schmidt has noted:

“It is extremely important that a large number of international experts attended the process of election coverage and media activities. For example, I am from Denmark. There are experts from Australia, France, Germany, Latvia and Lithuania. That is, in such a way combining all experts with different experiences, here, in one country, there is an opportunity to enrich the professional experience, the experience of journalists in Uzbekistan.”

The study of up-to-date experience and its application in the creation of the content becomes the number 1 task for the media sector. Media Development Expert in South-eastern Europe, President of SEECOM, member of the European Association of Communication Directors Associations (EACD) (Bulgaria) Ognian Zlatev appreciates this initiative:

“It is good that the media in Uzbekistan is adopting international experience, inviting experts, this is important. This means that the media in your country is following the best practice, it will help them in their work. I think all the work conforms to international standards. As emphasized by experts, media work when covering the elections is balanced, honest, as all candidates had equal opportunities and equal access to the media and to the public, so I think in that sense, everything is in its place”, - said the expert from Bulgaria.

Another new project of television winter 2016 was made by “private owners”, they have decided to make fashionable in the west - talk shows. “Mening ovozim” - "My voice" with the participation of representatives of the Central Election Commission, deputies of the Uzbek parliament, representatives of political parties, and proposers of candidates for the post of the President, as well as students gaining more fans. Today, the rank of the program achieved one of the highest places in the air of nongovernmental broadcasters. And its main “fans”, as well as anchor people, which is also important, are the representatives of the younger generation, because for many of them - it is a convenient platform to openly ask questions.

“Today we are witnessing how the non-governmental media in Uzbekistan is becoming more popular political force to form a public opinion among the population. As for me, for example, as a Danish journalist was very nice to come and observe the preparations for the elections in Uzbekistan. Especially after the American elections, where they have used obscene language, threats and anything. Candidates almost killed each other directly during the talk shows. I am very pleased that your republic was, and continues to go in a completely different way,” -  said Dr. Eugene Eteris, professor of the Faculty of European Studies at the Stradins University of Riga, an international observer of the online magazine Baltic-Course.com. (Denmark).

Chief editor of foreign news agency BNS, a commentator in the newspaper Dienas bizness and Diena (Latvia) - Alvis Eglītis also supported this idea,

“I have witnessed, as one of the private TV stations filmed talk show dedicated to elections, where representatives of the parties have argued that they want their candidate to become a President. I have also seen that the media widely covered the position of political parties and electoral programs. This allows me to say that today in Uzbekistan modern techniques and journalistic standards are actively used in the coverage of the election campaigns.”

In the opinions of international experts - participants of the “round table” - repeatedly heard the comments addressed to young people of non-governmental television and radio studios. Betting on the youth – is a major advantage of private sector not only, because of the vanguard of creative and technical staff of non-governmental TV - people hardly overcome a mark of 25 years, but also the fact that more than 60% of Uzbekistan’s population - young people up to 30 years. And, it is obvious that the format of “youth for young” in this case - the most advantageous. Here’s the evaluation the “young” potential by the President of the Association of local television stations in Germany, managing director of TV Company “Sachsen Fernshen GmbH & Co. Fernseh-Betriebs KG” German – Rene Falkner:

“Journalists of your country are working well, I feel that they are the fourth power, they love their work and they are motivated. And I see interesting results as in the work of journalists on TV and radio, as in newspapers. I am glad that the media in Uzbekistan are open to new knowledge. And love for their profession is one of the most important positive qualities, in journalism and in the media industry as a whole.”

International experts expressed recommendations in the context of the provision of information to citizens, especially to young people. As the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media in Vienna, Chairman of the Lithuanian Union of Journalists, a member of the Council of Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission - Dainius Radzevicius has noted: “Media development today - is firstly the development of new technologies. It was the most interesting for me to find out how young people relate to elections. The European experience shows that not all of 19-20 years old young people go to vote, sometimes only 15-20% of them come to the election precincts. Interest in politics and social life, to be honest, is not at the first place. Therefore, to arouse interest of younger generation in elections is now the most difficult task for journalists." Lithuanian expert has talked about the need to obtain a content by young people “where they are used to get the info” - smartphones, tablets, various media sites on the Internet. It’s time to think about the technical side of the issue. “It is important to attract both young and older people to use multimedia products: graphics, facts about candidates, their political programs – it’s not an easy task even for modern journalists. And also - to provide them with access to Internet platforms, to make sure that young people are not counting “wasted” megabytes. Maybe that experience of NAEMM and the agreement with the CEC would help in the future to prepare in advance a special training program, certain interactive media platforms that would help people quickly, conveniently, in a variety of formats to be kept informed about the elections."

Non-governmental sector is gaining momentum every day, including the work that is not only what has already existed in the coverage of election campaigns of previous years, but the new techniques and technologies. Interesting comment was given by freelance journalist, an expert on Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Birgit Wetzel:

- The content that we see here, demonstrates the excellent preparation of independent mass media and their readiness to cover the elections in all aspects. This shows the enormous efforts have done in the sector of non-governmental media in the coverage of the Presidential elections. You are surely providing the information for voters about what kind of rights they have, as a citizen of this country. Also, there is a huge coverage through by talk show. This is a big step towards global standards in the coverage of the upcoming elections. A lot of work has been done that shows, every citizen has the right to vote.

According to experts, on the eve of Presidential elections in the Uzbek media people have a clear understanding that without the active expression of their citizenship position, demonstration of opportunities and conditions created in Uzbekistan for a comprehensive coverage of electoral processes, genuine democracy cannot be exist. And this can be achieved only constantly improving their work and getting experience, learning from the world. This outcome was also supported by Amandine Ambregni, chief editor of the «Agence France Presse» Information Agency in Paris: “I am acquainted with what kind of changes are taking place in the media space. I was impressed by the level of international experts who collaborate with NAEMM, how the Uzbek side is openly cooperating with the world community. As a journalist, would like to note is that the openness of cooperation.”

Release that important for nowadays, the social media production, television and radio devoted the explanation of essence and significance of the elections, the main provisions and procedure of voting, the activities of polling stations, the rights of citizens - of all this is the work of more than one dozen professionals, “burning” with their profession. And let their shoulders has not a multi-year work experience in the media, but there is, perhaps, the most important thing in the profession - the pursuit of new knowledge, a clear understanding of the task and responsibility for their work. According to the Head of UNESCO Office in Uzbekistan Krista Pikkat, “The creative team NAEMM has done a great job in this direction. They had a responsible attitude to this politically important process. I witnessed the debate that took place within the framework of the campaign. NAEMM covers the elections in accordance with international standards."The international “round table” on the theme “Implementation of international standards in the coverage of elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan by non-governmental television and radio studios of the country: national experience and world practice” was opened with these questions by the Chairman of the National Association of Electronic Mass Media of Uzbekistan Firdavs Abduhalikov.

Local and international experts in the media sphere from Bulgaria, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, France and other countries, as well as representatives of NAEMM partner on the event - the Central Election Commission, the regional office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, UNESCO Office in Uzbekistan, representatives of political parties, public and government organizations searched for answers to these and other questions during the forum.

After signing the bilateral agreement on the Presidential election coverage between the Central Electoral Commission and the Association, journalists of non-governmental television and radio studios are seriously thinking not only about the amount of media content, which bet the records last year, creating serious competition to the governmental TV, but also on quality of content on electoral issues and its compliance with international standards. Comments of Andreys Shvedovs - chief editor of the “Telegraph” magazine (Latvia) are given below:

“I think that the agreement between the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan and non-governmental television is very important, as private TV channels are often effective, they quickly reach their audiences in more creative way. The involvement of private non-governmental channels to election coverage will allow voters of Uzbekistan to learn more about the election process itself, the candidates who apply for the post of head of state. Here I do not see any differences from Riga, Latvia, from my media environment, where I was able to cover the elections. I think everything here is well respected, and the rest depends on the candidates for the Presidency. In this case, the media reflects the situation, in my opinion, quite objectively, well, elections will show.”

In order to enrich their own content on the elections only in the last few months there were organized 8 seminar-trainings aimed at improving the professional skills of journalists on electoral issues with the participation of renowned international experts.

Such efforts are well-grounded, because it is a matter of honor for every self-respecting media people - the day of Presidential elections. And this responsibility is well understood by journalists of private sector: to date, nearly 450 media units are produced, which were broadcasted more than 2 thousand times on the air of
non-governmental television and radio studios throughout the country. In order to clarify the nature and significance of the elections, the main provisions and the order of voting process, the work of precincts and other issues, there were generated more than 40 public service announcements and aired more than 4500 times.

In this regard, the non-governmental sector has traditionally made a bet on international experience, and, apparently, has not lost. The Association has invited the best international experts in the media sphere from abroad to Uzbekistan to teach young journalists. After talking with them, they have learned how they evaluate compliance of the non-governmental sector with international standards in covering the Presidential campaign in 2016.

As the senior adviser and Consultant of UNESCO, former Director of UNESCO on freedom of speech (Denmark) Mogens Schmidt has noted:

“It is extremely important that a large number of international experts attended the process of election coverage and media activities. For example, I am from Denmark. There are experts from Australia, France, Germany, Latvia and Lithuania. That is, in such a way combining all experts with different experiences, here, in one country, there is an opportunity to enrich the professional experience, the experience of journalists in Uzbekistan.”

The study of up-to-date experience and its application in the creation of the content becomes the number 1 task for the media sector. Media Development Expert in South-eastern Europe, President of SEECOM, member of the European Association of Communication Directors Associations (EACD) (Bulgaria) Ognian Zlatev appreciates this initiative:

“It is good that the media in Uzbekistan is adopting international experience, inviting experts, this is important. This means that the media in your country is following the best practice, it will help them in their work. I think all the work conforms to international standards. As emphasized by experts, media work when covering the elections is balanced, honest, as all candidates had equal opportunities and equal access to the media and to the public, so I think in that sense, everything is in its place”, - said the expert from Bulgaria.

Another new project of television winter 2016 was made by “private owners”, they have decided to make fashionable in the west - talk shows. “Mening ovozim” - "My voice" with the participation of representatives of the Central Election Commission, deputies of the Uzbek parliament, representatives of political parties, and proposers of candidates for the post of the President, as well as students gaining more fans. Today, the rank of the program achieved one of the highest places in the air of nongovernmental broadcasters. And its main “fans”, as well as anchor people, which is also important, are the representatives of the younger generation, because for many of them - it is a convenient platform to openly ask questions.

“Today we are witnessing how the non-governmental media in Uzbekistan is becoming more popular political force to form a public opinion among the population. As for me, for example, as a Danish journalist was very nice to come and observe the preparations for the elections in Uzbekistan. Especially after the American elections, where they have used obscene language, threats and anything. Candidates almost killed each other directly during the talk shows. I am very pleased that your republic was, and continues to go in a completely different way,” -  said Dr. Eugene Eteris, professor of the Faculty of European Studies at the Stradins University of Riga, an international observer of the online magazine Baltic-Course.com. (Denmark).

Chief editor of foreign news agency BNS, a commentator in the newspaper Dienas bizness and Diena (Latvia) - Alvis Eglītis also supported this idea,

“I have witnessed, as one of the private TV stations filmed talk show dedicated to elections, where representatives of the parties have argued that they want their candidate to become a President. I have also seen that the media widely covered the position of political parties and electoral programs. This allows me to say that today in Uzbekistan modern techniques and journalistic standards are actively used in the coverage of the election campaigns.”

In the opinions of international experts - participants of the “round table” - repeatedly heard the comments addressed to young people of non-governmental television and radio studios. Betting on the youth – is a major advantage of private sector not only, because of the vanguard of creative and technical staff of non-governmental TV - people hardly overcome a mark of 25 years, but also the fact that more than 60% of Uzbekistan’s population - young people up to 30 years. And, it is obvious that the format of “youth for young” in this case - the most advantageous. Here’s the evaluation the “young” potential by the President of the Association of local television stations in Germany, managing director of TV Company “Sachsen Fernshen GmbH & Co. Fernseh-Betriebs KG” German – Rene Falkner:

“Journalists of your country are working well, I feel that they are the fourth power, they love their work and they are motivated. And I see interesting results as in the work of journalists on TV and radio, as in newspapers. I am glad that the media in Uzbekistan are open to new knowledge. And love for their profession is one of the most important positive qualities, in journalism and in the media industry as a whole.”

International experts expressed recommendations in the context of the provision of information to citizens, especially to young people. As the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media in Vienna, Chairman of the Lithuanian Union of Journalists, a member of the Council of Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission - Dainius Radzevicius has noted: “Media development today - is firstly the development of new technologies. It was the most interesting for me to find out how young people relate to elections. The European experience shows that not all of 19-20 years old young people go to vote, sometimes only 15-20% of them come to the election precincts. Interest in politics and social life, to be honest, is not at the first place. Therefore, to arouse interest of younger generation in elections is now the most difficult task for journalists." Lithuanian expert has talked about the need to obtain a content by young people “where they are used to get the info” - smartphones, tablets, various media sites on the Internet. It’s time to think about the technical side of the issue. “It is important to attract both young and older people to use multimedia products: graphics, facts about candidates, their political programs – it’s not an easy task even for modern journalists. And also - to provide them with access to Internet platforms, to make sure that young people are not counting “wasted” megabytes. Maybe that experience of NAEMM and the agreement with the CEC would help in the future to prepare in advance a special training program, certain interactive media platforms that would help people quickly, conveniently, in a variety of formats to be kept informed about the elections."

Non-governmental sector is gaining momentum every day, including the work that is not only what has already existed in the coverage of election campaigns of previous years, but the new techniques and technologies. Interesting comment was given by freelance journalist, an expert on Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Birgit Wetzel:

- The content that we see here, demonstrates the excellent preparation of independent mass media and their readiness to cover the elections in all aspects. This shows the enormous efforts have done in the sector of non-governmental media in the coverage of the Presidential elections. You are surely providing the information for voters about what kind of rights they have, as a citizen of this country. Also, there is a huge coverage through by talk show. This is a big step towards global standards in the coverage of the upcoming elections. A lot of work has been done that shows, every citizen has the right to vote.

According to experts, on the eve of Presidential elections in the Uzbek media people have a clear understanding that without the active expression of their citizenship position, demonstration of opportunities and conditions created in Uzbekistan for a comprehensive coverage of electoral processes, genuine democracy cannot be exist. And this can be achieved only constantly improving their work and getting experience, learning from the world. This outcome was also supported by Amandine Ambregni, chief editor of the «Agence France Presse» Information Agency in Paris: “I am acquainted with what kind of changes are taking place in the media space. I was impressed by the level of international experts who collaborate with NAEMM, how the Uzbek side is openly cooperating with the world community. As a journalist, would like to note is that the openness of cooperation.”

Release that important for nowadays, the social media production, television and radio devoted the explanation of essence and significance of the elections, the main provisions and procedure of voting, the activities of polling stations, the rights of citizens - of all this is the work of more than one dozen professionals, “burning” with their profession. And let their shoulders has not a multi-year work experience in the media, but there is, perhaps, the most important thing in the profession - the pursuit of new knowledge, a clear understanding of the task and responsibility for their work. According to the Head of UNESCO Office in Uzbekistan Krista Pikkat, “The creative team NAEMM has done a great job in this direction. They had a responsible attitude to this politically important process. I witnessed the debate that took place within the framework of the campaign. NAEMM covers the elections in accordance with international standards."