Expert: “There are practically no independent newspapers left in Kyrgyzstan”
Single information space reflecting interests of the authorities is being formed in Kyrgyzstan, a REGNUM correspondent quotes director of the Media Commissioner Institute Ilim Karypbekov as saying at a round table discussion, “Limits of Legal Control: Is Dialog between Mass Media and the State Possible?” today, on February 13.
“There are practically no independent newspapers and electronic media left within the country. There is still some relative freedom in the internet, the web has not been monopolized yet, but I think the diversity will come to an end when the legislative authorities start to control this field. I consider that the MPs will raise the issue of legislative regulation of the web,” Karypbekov noted.
However, the director of the Media Commissioner Institute believes that when owner of a media changes the authorities faces serious problems, for instance: “As soon as consumer learns about change of the owner, that an opposition media became a state-run, its popularity (e.g. newspaper circulation) is falling. If the authorities want to have a single information space reflecting their own interests, they must be ready to invest enormous subsidies to support the media.”
12:40 02/13/2008
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