Youths at the core of media development in Tajikistan
For almost a decade IMS has been actively involved in media-development in Central Asia. A recent IMS-visit to Tajikistan demonstrated a serious need for support to new journalism initiatives instigated by young people in a country dominated by state media
In the 2010 Press Freedom Index from Freedom House, Tajikistan ranks 170 out of 196 countries. The country of roughly 8 million people is fraught with poverty issues and political, ethnic and religious turmoil and is marked by a lack of freedom of speech.
IMS’ media assessment mission to the country in May 2011 thus encountered a dominant state media mainly used as a propaganda tool and independent media struggling for survival in all spheres of the sector.
Few platforms for expression
There is also a pronounced lack of job opportunities and a severe shortage of platforms from which young people can express themselves. This leads some young people to be drawn to religion influenced by the religious radicalization taking place in nearby Afghanistan and Pakistan as a way of seeking comfort and hope. However, the IMS team found that young people are active online and that there is a potential to link new media initiatives with traditional media as a means to strengthen and develop both.
Self-censorship
Self-censorship is prevalent and stems from a widespread fear of repression. One editor-in-chief who spoke to the IMS team, described the situation as such: “We can choose to survive and inform our audience on some of the important events in society or we can try to give the full picture and close down”.
Despite these harsh circumstances there are positive signs. More than two thirds of all Tajiks have access to a mobile phone, and it is estimated that 85% of the urban and 34% of the rural inhabitants have used the Internet. While access is still expensive and slow, the country’s Internet community has become more cohesive, sharing information on how to access blocked servers. Independent media plurality has also grown, and online media are beginning to overtake traditional sources of information although TV and radio are still the most popular media in the country.
Young potential
These positive developments hold much potential for media development in the country. If provided with training and understanding of the democratic potential of media, Tajik youth can develop their expertise and regarding ways of communicating and being in dialogue with civil society.This, coupled with a strengthening of the professional competencies of traditional media workers can strengthen the sector as a whole and contribute to preventing radicalisation and civil conflict.
