OSCE Centre promotes media self-regulation in Kazakhstan
KARAGANDA, Kazakhstan, 26 November 2008 - Journalists, officials and experts discussed how to introduce and develop media self-regulation in Kazakhstan at a roundtable event that started in Karaganda today.
The discussion, organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana and the Karaganda-based public foundation Medialife, brought together more than 40 participants from the Karaganda region to help raise awareness about the importance of media self-regulation as a mechanism to promote professional standards in journalism and to strengthen media credibility.
Participants included journalists, state officials and experts as well as representatives from international organizations.
"Self-regulatory mechanisms and observance of basic ethical norms improve the quality of journalism and enhances accountability of media," said Valeriu Chiveri, Political and Media Officer at the OSCE Centre in Astana. "In addition to this, it helps to advance the transition from a state-owned to an independent press."
Presenting the Handbook on media self-regulation published by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Alexander Boldyrev, Senior Adviser to the Representative emphasised that "following the highest quality standards in their work, media outlets automatically become more independent from any external influence. In a long-term perspective, such practices help media outlets to achieve economic sustainability."
The event is a part of an initiative in the Karaganda region, supported by the OSCE Centre, to identify self-regulatory mechanisms among media.