OSCE Office in Baku to offer training to State broadcaster

BAKU, 30 October 2007 - The OSCE Office will help train employees of Azerbaijan's Public Television and Radio Company (ITV). A memorandum of understanding on this was signed by Ambassador Jose Luis Herrero, Head of OSCE Office in Baku, and Ismail Omarov, Director General of ITV, in Baku today.

"The development of an independent public broadcasting service that reflects the full plurality of Azerbaijani society is a key priority. High journalistic standards and an independent editorial policy increase the credibility and the quality of the service that a public television channel should offer to the taxpayer," said Ambassador Herrero.

The training programme aims to help ITV to realize its potential as a catalyst for democratic processes in Azerbaijan by developing its public service values in the six following fields: editorial guidelines, programming and scheduling, newsroom management, news gathering, election reporting and understanding audiences.

The new project is part of long-term media programme of the OSCE Office in Baku. The first phase of the project will be completed in December, while the second will continue until April 2008.