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Media Watch and Journalism Rights Organisations as Advocates of Press Freedom in Post-Soviet Central Asia

Richard Shafer, Eric Freedman

Journal of Development Communication, volume 23, issue 1 (2012), pp. 56-75

"In the bleak press rights territory of post-Soviet Central Asia, domestic and international nong-overnmental organisations, foreign governments, news outlets, and multinational entities such as the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe (OSCE) and UNESCO monitor constraints on the pres ... more

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After the Czars and Commissars: Journalism in Authoritarian Post-Soviet Central Asia

Eric Freedman, Richard Shafer (eds.)

East Lansing: Michigan State University Press (2011), 299 pp.

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New Developments in Central Asian Mass Media Research

Eric Freedman, Richard Shafer

Central Asia and the Caucasus, volume 12, issue 4 (2011), pp. 128-143

"This wide range of contemporary mass media research illustrates how Central Asia press outlets remain tightly controlled and manipulated, first under the czars, then under the Soviets, and now under authoritarian regimes. Over the past two decades, the press systems have not achieved even minimal d ... emocratization and independence by international standards. Perhaps the Internet and other technologies will have a better chance of circumventing censors and the economic obstacles that deny the great mass of Central Asians the ability to participate in a useful dialog leading to more transparent and participatory governance. Several overarching observations emerge from this synthesized examination of recent research. The five separate press systems that replaced the single Soviet system share many commonalities, although significant differences also exist. These studies indicate varying but not decisive degrees of external influences from multi-governmental entities, media-building foundations, and promoters of civil society; such influences on Central Asian media development originate with mostly Western-based journalism and mass media trainers. Another observation concerns regimes’ use and abuse of laws to control information about public affairs and public issues. That pattern evident from several studies reflects a disconnect between constitutional and statutory guarantees of press freedom on one side and actual threats to those guarantees on the other side due to libel and “honor and dignity” suits, criminal prosecutions, and tightening regulation of the Internet. Examined collectively, these studies suggest the following obstacles to democratic and independent media development in Central Asia: strict governmental and extra-governmental restraints on the press, regardless of the type of medium—print, broadcast, or Internet; inadequate professional training, leadership, resources, financial incentives, and ethical standards for journalists and prospective journalists; limitations on the ability of domestic and international press and human rights defenders to compel changes in policies and laws; insufficient market resources to create and sustain independent news organizations; and a resulting lack of credibility and public trust in the press." (Summary and conclusions, page 142) more

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Controversy on the Airwaves: Public Diplomacy, Portraying America, and Public Outreach Through the Voice of America Uzbek Service

Navbahor Imamova, Richard J. Schaefer, Richard Shafer, Eric Freedman

Central Asia and the Caucasus, volume 11, issue 4 (2010), pp. 110-125

"From a research perspective, this case study highlights the need for further research into BBG-sponsored international broadcast services, both individually and collectively. Such studies could include quantitative content analyses of program content, survey research of listeners and viewers, inter ... more

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Press Constraints as Obstacles to Establishing Civil Societies in Central Asia: Developing a New Model of Analysis

Richard Shafer, Eric Freedman

Journalism Studies, volume 10, issue 6 (2009), pp. 851-869

"More than a decade and a half after independence, none of the press systems in Central Asia's five former Soviet republics are categorized as free, nor have any of these countries transitioned to democracy. The question becomes: Why have they failed to evolve into democratic nations after successfu ... more

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Defending the Inverted Pyramid Style: Advocating an Emphasis on Teaching Traditional Practices in International Journalism Education

Richard Shafer, Eric Freedman, Stepehn Rendahl

Communication & Social Change, volume 2, issue 1 (2008), pp. 140-158

"The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization has prepared model curricula intended to improve international journalism education. While the overall goal is worthy, serious obstacles exist to its implementation in the "developing countries and emerging democracies" if it is ... more

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Covering Religion-Related News and Conflicts in the Caucasus: A Case Study of a Western “Christian Initiative” News Service

Eric Freedman, Kuang-Kuo Chang, Richard Shafer

Caucasus Journal of Social Sciences, volume 1, issue 1 (2008), pp. 150-175

"This study examines how a Christian-oriented Western press organization [Forum 18 News Service, Norway] covers religion-related news in the Caucasus. Coverage in 2005 overwhelmingly focused on Christianity. Although governmental sources are more likely to be cited than religiously affiliated source ... more

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Obstacles to the Professionalization of Mass Media in Post-Soviet Central Asia: A Case Study of Uzbekistan

Richard Shafer, Eric Freedman

Journalism Studies, volume 4, issue 1 (2003), pp. 91-103

"Uzbekistan is the most populous and economically significant of the five Central Asian republics of the former USSR. Although authoritarian, its government appears to recognize the need to train journalists in Western journalistic theory and practice. The observations and experiences of the authors ... more

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Journalists for Change: Development Communication for a Free Press

Richard Shafer

Manila: Philippine Press Institute (1991), 138 pp.