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Introduction
by W. Jayaweera, Asia
and Pacific Desk, Communication Division,
M. Hadlow, Regional Communication Adviser.
Many Central Asian
countries are in transition from the previous totalitarian systems and
are expected to become effective democracies. While among the countries
concerned the development towards this transformation is uneven, the number
of common problems which hinder the work of the communication media are
equally evident through out the region. These include: o inadequate training
opportunities o high cost of newsprint o outmoded broadcasting technology
o lack of re-orientation to the changing management requirements o insufficient
intra-regional co-operation o limited knowledge of international languages
o scarcity of international news and information o lack of understanding
of the role and the responsibilities of independent media. In line with
the ĞDeclaration of Alma-Atağ adopted at the Seminar on Promoting Independent
and Pluralistic Asian Media, held in Kazakstan in October 1992, UNESCO
has implemented a number of regional and national projects to support
communication development in Central Asia. These projects are instrumental
in the establishment of media resource centres and networks of media professionals.
Some projects have helped university faculties of journalism to modernise
their curricula and to re-orient media research. A number of projects
were established to support private sector initiatives to operate broadcasting
stations. All the regional projects supported news and programme exchanges
within and outside the region, encouraging national media organisations
to break their isolation by joining with Asiawide regional organisations
such as Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and Organisation of Asia-Pacific
news agencies. UNESCO has been instrumental in establishing the Association
of Independent Electronic Mass Media in Central Asia (ANESMICA), which
represents more than 70 radio and television stations. Similarly UNESCO
enabled the establishment of Regional Women in Media Centre and the Print
Media Association of Central Asia and provided assistance to a number
of their activities. A considerable thrust has been placed on assisting
mass media in a period of reform and transition. Funded by UNDP and UNFPA,
UNESCO undertook to implement a major project in Kyrgistan to support
this transformation. The project has provided an international wire service
and upgraded computer facilities at the national KABAR news agency, developed
and equipped a news production studio at the national television station,
established a television programme for business people and entrepreneurs
and has provided craft skill training and English language instructions
for hundreds of journalists and media practitioners. UNESCO is especially
active in devising and implementing strategies which add a communication
component to catalyse specific development programmes. Intensive inter
UN agency co-operation to increase flow of information in the region has
been established by UNESCO with the assistance from UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA
and UNAIDS. In fact, 53% of the total funds of UNESCO extrabudgetary communication
projects in Central Asia are solicited through inter-agency co-operation.
A number of them relate to population and AIDS communication projects.
The countries in Central Asia are at various stages of transforming their
media structures and practices. It is rather important that efforts of
Central Asian media professionals to improve their skills and working
conditions are adequately supported. The recognition of mass media as
a critical force in establishing healthy democracies has been the major
driving factor for many UNESCO communication projects and activities in
Central Asia. As for extra-budgetary informatics activities are oriented
towards developing informatics infrastructure for use by training institutions,
paying special attention to applications in the fields of business.
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