OSCE Centre marks World Press Freedom Day by supporting quiz night for Kyrgyz journalists

BISHKEK, 3 May 2016 – The OSCE Centre in Bishkek with the Kyrgyz Media Support Centre and Media Policy Institute, today marked World Press Freedom Day in Bishkek by conducting a quiz night for 75 Kyrgyz journalists, with the fun and games aiming to promote the ideas of free and independent media among the participants.

With journalists divided into 15 teams, they battled it out to reach the final three. The overall winner was then crowned following a special round. The winners were awarded with the OSCE Safety of Journalists guidebooks and removable chargers for phones and computers.

Head of the OSCE Centre Sergey Kapinos welcomed the participants, emphasizing their essential role in society.

“Media play a crucial role in the dissemination of knowledge and information. In this respect, the question on voluntary adoption of a code of conduct by journalists and the creation of self-regulatory mechanisms to articulate the principles of objectivity and impartiality remains on todays’ agenda,” he said. “It is also important that the State creates enabling conditions for the professional work of media, which in turn would lead to transparency and pluralism of opinions and views.”

The OSCE Centre in Bishkek has been working towards increasing access to information for both citizens and mass media with the aim of increasing accountability of government bodies. In 2016, the OSCE Centre’s focus is on professional development programmes for journalists in enhancing their skills in reporting on security issues.

The event is part of the OSCE Centre’s project on promoting national dialogue and capacity building on the information security needs of  Kyrgyzstan.