The Impact of Almaty The Impact of Almaty Declaration 1991 on Media Declaration 1991 on Media

Development:Development:

The Case of KazakhstanThe Case of Kazakhstan

Rafis Abazov, PhD, Columbia Rafis Abazov, PhD, Columbia University, USAUniversity, USA

Visiting Professor, Al Farabi Visiting Professor, Al Farabi KazNU, Kazakhstan KazNU, Kazakhstan

Abstract Abstract

• This paper assesses the impact of Almaty This paper assesses the impact of Almaty Declaration (1991) on media development in Declaration (1991) on media development in Kazakhstan and on the dynamics of media policies Kazakhstan and on the dynamics of media policies and interaction between the government and and interaction between the government and Kazakhstan’s media since 1991. The author argue Kazakhstan’s media since 1991. The author argue that the main contribution of the Almaty Declaration that the main contribution of the Almaty Declaration has been the development of policy framework for a has been the development of policy framework for a dialogue between government officials and state dialogue between government officials and state institutions on the one hand and media community institutions on the one hand and media community on the other hand. The establishment of this on the other hand. The establishment of this framework has helped to institutionalize those framework has helped to institutionalize those relations and had following impacts on media relations and had following impacts on media development in the countrydevelopment in the country

Impact 1Impact 1

• Established public policy and legal Established public policy and legal frameworks for replacing frameworks for replacing “redundant press laws inherited at “redundant press laws inherited at independence” with laws that independence” with laws that reflected new political realities and reflected new political realities and new information environmentnew information environment

Impact 2Impact 2

• Facilitated the establishment of a Facilitated the establishment of a series of national in-country and series of national in-country and sub-regional training programs and sub-regional training programs and seminars which covered many seminars which covered many training needs;training needs;

Impact 3Impact 3

• Identified the needs for new media Identified the needs for new media skills including skills in skills including skills in management, marketing and management, marketing and various technical skills facilitating various technical skills facilitating the introduction of those training the introduction of those training programs at various universities programs at various universities across the country;across the country;

Impact 4Impact 4

• Identified the need for establishment Identified the need for establishment and promotion of access for and promotion of access for independent journalists to training independent journalists to training programs and facilities;programs and facilities;

Impact 5Impact 5

• Highlighted the needs for rights of Highlighted the needs for rights of women in the media and rights of women in the media and rights of minority groups within the societies minority groups within the societies that in turn led to creating a better that in turn led to creating a better environment for protecting rights of environment for protecting rights of women in the mediawomen in the media

Impact 6Impact 6

• Supported the establishment of Supported the establishment of various independent media various independent media resource centers in Kazakhstan, resource centers in Kazakhstan, including programs ran by various including programs ran by various international entities such as OSI international entities such as OSI and some others;and some others;

Impact 7Impact 7

• Identified the need for publishing Identified the need for publishing new training materials, including new training materials, including manuals,, textbooks and various manuals,, textbooks and various study materials, which helped to study materials, which helped to educate a new generatin of educate a new generatin of journalists;journalists;

Impact 8Impact 8

• Identified the need for development Identified the need for development of English language as a language of of English language as a language of instruction in formal and non-formal instruction in formal and non-formal education programs and helped the education programs and helped the introduction of those programs at introduction of those programs at university levelsuniversity levels

Impact 9Impact 9

• Encouraged the state authorities to Encouraged the state authorities to open media market and national open media market and national media space for international media space for international players and international media players and international media outlets in printed media, TV and outlets in printed media, TV and Radio;Radio;

Impact 10Impact 10

• Identified the needs for support and Identified the needs for support and development of an inter-country development of an inter-country news exchanges and continuity of news exchanges and continuity of professional relations and professional relations and cooperation between than newly cooperation between than newly independent republicsindependent republics

Looking forward Looking forward

• Work out follow up actions;Work out follow up actions;• Develop recommendations, including Develop recommendations, including

policy recommendations;policy recommendations;• Think about the development of Think about the development of

framework in dealing with new media;framework in dealing with new media;• Establish an executive team or Establish an executive team or

executive committee which work on executive committee which work on new action plannew action plan

• Make this conference a regular eventMake this conference a regular event