Media trends and challenges in Kazakhstan focus of OSCE-supported forum

A two-day forum co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana to discuss contemporary challenges faced by the media in Kazakhstan was held in Almaty on 5 and 6 December 2011.

The forum brought together more than 100 representatives of media, civil society, international organizations and diplomatic missions from different regions of Kazakhstan. Meeting with experts from Kazakhstan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia, they discussed current media developments and challenges, issues of censorship, matters related to promoting Kazakh-language media and questions related to the relationship between media and politics, as well as the country’s digital broadcasting switchover and citizen journalism.

“The forum has provided an excellent opportunity for representatives of different segments of Kazakhstan’s society and journalists to discuss issues with which media outlets have to deal today,” said Andrew Offenbacher, the Political Officer at the OSCE Centre in Astana.

Slava Abramov, the Director of Freedom House Kazakhstan, added: “The continuing dialogue between the government and the media contributes to the development of civil society and the state. In order to ensure effective communication, it is necessary to substantially reform media legislation, enhance the transparency of government interaction with media outlets, re-activate the discussion on public broadcasting and encourage media outlets to disclose ownership information.”

The forum was organized by the Golos Respubliki newspaper with support from the OSCE Centre in Astana and the Soros Foundation-Kazakhstan. The event was part of the Centre’s work to support Kazakhstan’s efforts to promote freedom of expression and freedom of the media.