What is Central Asian Media Support Project (CAMsP)?
Central Asian Media Support Project - CAMsP is a non-governmental and non-profit organization with the main goal
of media development in Central Asia. It is initiated by CIMERA NETWORK, Switzerland, Osh Media Resource Center,
Kyrghyzstan, the International In-Service Training Centre for Journalists, Uzbekistan. The Swiss Agency for Development
and Cooperation is the main source of generous funding for the project. It supports many other media and community
development programs in the region. Swiss Coordination Office in Bishkek is an important partner for CAMsP and
for other regional community development non-governmental organizations.
The project has an initial direct aim of breaking the isolation of journalists in the region. As a second - and
a longer-term aim- the project will provide basic skills and a wide of range of training, targeted to develop independent
media sector.
The focus group of the project are journalists from the regional media, in particular, the Ferghana Valley based
media representatives. A significant role in the project is played by journalists from the three capitals: Tashkent,
Bishkek, Dushanbe. CIS and international experts are expected to have a limited intervention in the project, which
is to bring an outside dimension to the discussions, to help upgrade the quality and the means of journalistic
work, and to provide support and consultations whenever it is relevant. It is anticipated that the Ferghana Valley
journalists will be doing most of the research and presentations during the conferences.
Central Asian Media Support Project is seen through the angle of conflict prevention by strengthening the role
of regional journalists, and making their voices heard in the capitals through the mainstream media. The project
helps Ferghana Valley journalists to articulate their vision of the situation and their attitude, to develop a
specific regard to problems of their region and their demand from the central government, to contact and access
the influential media of the capitals.
At the next stage, CAMsP aims at identifying needs and ways for a longer-term development of independent media
in Uzbekistan, Kyrghyzstan and Tajikistan.
The Geography of the CAMsP
The project has three geographic dimensions. The first is the link between the Ferghana Valley towns and cities
and the republican capitals. The second is to strengthen the links and cooperation of the republican capitals,
that is between Bishkek, Dushanbe and Tashkent. The third dimension, which will take place at a later, more developed
stage of the project, is regional and international, which is achieved by holding conferences and media training
outside the three countries. For instance in Alma-Aty, Moscow or Tbilisi.
Participants
CAMsP participants are mainly from the Ferghana Valley. A one third of participants come from the regional capitals.
A small group of international experts are part of the project. CAMsP is followed by one international expert from
Switzerland and a CIS expert. Other experts are encouraged to present a particular area in the media such as: elections
coverage, newspaper management and marketing, interview skills, etc.
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