Journalistic ethics and permissible boundaries of self -expression

The biased and tendentious coverage of events in the city of Khorog Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) by some media and Internet blogs contradicts the national values ​​and interests of Tajikistan.

An indicative example is the constant distribution of extremist provocative sites such as “Pamir.Daily.news”, “Azda.TV”, opinions of a low social responsibility journalist A. Sarkorova, pseudo -experts A. Dubnov, A. Serenko for unconscious users of social networks which can draw incorrect conclusions. After reading the information on these sites about the situation in Khorog, about the criminals of the organized crime group and their supporters from the “commission 44” violating the law and the order in the good, in which criminal cases have already been opened, you might think that these unfortunate victims oppressed authorities. In fact, all of them are close ties and supporters of criminal authorities, the leaders of the organized crime group, who have long kept in the fear of their countrymen, dictating the rules of behavior and living. The criminals positions themselves as the main ones “solved” their problems, which should go to them. Naturally, for the reward, the leaders of the organized crime group, using threats, violence and aggression, are an intermediary between the population and employees of local administration. Moreover, no laws are written to them. That is why, so that the public is not misleading the destructive mass media, state television and the media explain in detail what and what is actually. Several programs and documentary ribbons were removed about the criminal acts of the members of the organized crime group and their accomplices, their involvement in the offenses has been proven and documented, many citizens testify against them. However, the above sites and the individuals involved in them continue to deny the guilt, they seem to be fighters for the right business and justice.

Modern media have turned into an intelligent tribune of analysis and consideration of the problems of the day. In the media space of Tajikistan, despite the fact that the principle of equality of all players on the information field, guaranteed by the law “On the print and other media”, is observed by independent newspapers and information agencies. Along with the state media, they represent the mass consumer of information products of various orientations.

On June 6, a joint statement of journalistic organizations of Tajikistan was published, in cases of pressure on journalists. This fact is just the next non -foundation event. Since, are local journalists and experts always “overwhelmed by a sense of deep patriotism” in difficult times for the homeland support the people and their leadership? What prevents them from leading himself like this, and not otherwise, to be consolidated around the national idea? After all, professional duty obliges journalists to realize the seriousness of what is happening in the country and its borders, to recognize the complete measure of their own responsibility. This is journalistic and civic duty, true patriotism. Both society and power are interested in this.

Conscious representatives of the media and Internet bloggers are obliged to act from a civil position for the prosperity and progress of the Fatherland. For the journalist, the main interests of the nation to which he belongs or represents. Often the media of Tajikistan is characteristic that the verbal attacks of strangers or pests against the state, the image of the republic and the prestige of the nation are left without their attention, without an adequate and symmetrical answer. Indeed, the national media, regardless of their status, belonging and relations with the authorities (joint, loyal, opposition), are designed to protect national interests and state security, to act in the interests of the people. The purpose and objective of patriotic journalists is to objectively inform the audience about significant events taking place in their own and adjacent territories, to evaluate, to orient readers regarding the causes of these events, their possible consequences and options for behavior. And do not promote from foreign sponsors alien ideas, opinions, points of view.

Yes, the press can be left, right, democratic, anti-democratic, oppositional. But - not anti-people! Such multidirectionality should not prevent the authors from defending national and civil interests. Their role is great when it comes to the fate of states. The outcome of major political events may depend on the activities of journalists and experts who do not have any formal power. It often happens that freedom of speech and the press, guaranteed by the law of the Republic of Tajikistan, are regularly used in the interests of not only journalism as a profession, not only society as a whole, not only in the interests of the state, but in the interests of structures, parties, corporations, foreign special services provided with money. Including anti-social, anti-constitutional, extremist and terrorist forces. Consequently, freedom of speech can and should have exceptions where it comes to the national interests of society and its security. These exceptions to the principle of freedom of speech and especially freedom of the press not only can and should exist, they exist and are fixed in laws.

It often comes down to a choice between freedom of speech and the state. When "free" journalists and experts rudely and regularly violate the national interests of the society, it comes to understand the need to limit the freedom of the media. In today's reality, when censorship practically does not exist, every journalist must control his activities by self-censorship and universal moral standards. The media should not abuse their professional powers, allow the appearance of materials inciting, inciting discord, manifestations of inattention to national values ​​and interests, insults and slander against well-deserved personalities, propaganda of immoral and other indecent behavior. The media should refrain from publishing those materials that have a negative impact on the image of the country in the international arena, become the cause of the people's pessimism, the decline of their spirit, as well as the restlessness of the social situation. In urgent cases, when it comes to protecting national security and state priorities from internal and external threats, the information resources of the country should be activated, act together in the interests of the people, and not “take water in your mouth” or “pour it into someone else's mill”. As is happening today with those who distort the real situation in Khorog.

Any carelessly or deliberately dropped word of a journalist greatly increases and intensifies its impact on the mass reader, being published in print, radio, television media or on Internet sites, blogs.

Endowed with the “fourth power”, journalists by the nature of their activity should always be on the alert, stop every action taken by the enemy against society, not be indifferent, work in the interests of the state where they live or were born. Due to the position from which journalists approach their profession - as objectively as possible or biasedly corrupt, their activities cause conflicting feelings among the public. Today, no one requires fatal sacrifice from journalists, but it is worth calling on numerous representatives of the second most ancient profession to the impeccable performance of their duty.

 Journalists can and should actively influence the creative process of the formation of a real civil society, the establishment of a constructive dialogue between the political forces of the country or with the opposition. A wide public and professional discussion of any critical events in the media is called upon to play an important role in further rooting the democratic foundations of peaceful life in the Republic of Tajikistan, developing a legal statehood, and structuring an open civil society. The authorities of the Republic of Tajikistan give the local media a reasonable will and freedom of speech. But individual journalists understood this message solely in their own and custom interests. At a time when it is extremely necessary to unite common efforts in an effort to see Tajikistan as an independent and prosperous national state, to contribute to an objective reflection of the political and socio-economic processes of society.

Sukhrob Kodirov,

expert of the Central Asian Center

process research

Илова кард: Администратор | Илова шуд: 09-06-2022, 09:37:11 | Диданд: 192