DUSHANBE, May 3, Asia-Plus - A roundtable meeting formally titled “Mass Media as Driving Force of Changes“ to mark World Press Freedom Day opened at publishing house Sharqi Ozod in Dushanbe today morning.  

The meeting participants include representatives from local and foreign media, media organizations and media-supporting international institutions.  

The main objective of the meeting to discuss issues related to freedom and duties of media, promotion of socio-economic development, the safety of journalists, new approach to holding of news conferences, and problems facing journalistic education.  

Besides, an awards ceremony of winners of the competition dedicated to World Press Freedom Day will be held at Sharqi Ozod complex today afternoon. 

The competition was held under support of the Tajik Branch of Open Society Institute/Assistance Foundation (OSI/AF), British Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) and the Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia.  The goal of the competition is to promote further development and active involvement of mass media in Tajikistan and increase professional skills of journalists in covering problems facing society.  Journalists participated in the following categories: economic reforms; social development and democratization of society.    

Besides, various sports activities will be organized, as well a fair of publications and a concert will be held, according to him.  

All the mentioned events are held by Journalists’ Union in cooperation with the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit), the “Social Partnership” Association of Tajik Journalists, Media Alliance of Tajikistan and the Foundation for Memory and Protection of the Rights of Journalists of Tajikistan.