Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Training on “Gender and Mass Media” for journalists of Bukhara, Samarkand and Navoi regions is being organized jointly by UNDP project “Legislative and institutional development for women’s empowerment in Uzbekistan”, Gender programme of the Embassy of Switzerland and International Center for Journalists retraining on 22-24 January. The training is a continuation of a series of workshops on the same issue conducted in Tashkent in 2008.

The agenda of the training includes theoretical and practical sessions. During the sessions the representatives of mass media will acquire knowledge on gender equality and gender aspects in health care, education, culture and family relations. During practical exercises journalists will acquire skills on writing gender-correct materials.

The main objectives and tasks of the training are to contribute to the elimination of gender stereotypes in mass media, to enhance the professional level of journalists by means of utilization of techniques on writing gender-correct texts, gender-correct images in print media and TV, as well as in advertisement, and to get acquainted with the global experience in the field of journalism.

The mini-contest for journalists, working on gender issues was announced during the training course. Three prizes for the series of best journalists’ materials on gender issues were established for the winners of the contest. The most interesting materials will be posted on the web-site of the International Center for Journalists retraining. Analytical materials, which were published in print media or internet or have been shown on TV/radio (not less then 2 publications/shows) in the period of 1 January - 20 April 2009 will be admitted for participation in the contest.

Ms. Firuza Fayzullaeva, Legal Specialist of the UNDP project, has stated: “It is known that mass media, especially TV and radio are the most effective channels of disclosing the information to population and criteria of assessment of the event, simply stated, what is “good” and what is “bad”. Thus it forms the social opinion and social reaction on one or another issue. Training of journalists on existing and possible problems in the sphere of ensuring gender equality will certainly serve the popularization of the idea of equality and promotion of gender awareness in the society”.

The training participant Mr. Obid Shabanov said: “Journalists serve as a link between the state and the population. Events like this are very topical today; they not only give invaluable information, but serve as a stimulus for journalists, working on the coverage of gender issues ”.