OREANDA-NEWS. July 19, 2013. The National Press Center of Uzbekistan has hosted a press conference by the Uzbek Agency for Press and Information to discuss the efforts on reforming the information sphere and securing the freedom of speech and information.

The director general of the Uzbek Agency for Press and Information O.Yunusov and others who spoke at the event have noted that all the necessary environment is being created under the leadership of President Islam Karimov that is conducive to cardinal transformation of the national media space, to ensuring the constitutional right of the citizen for freedom of speech and information, to the free and effective activity of journalists.

The organizational-normative efforts underway in our country designed to intensify the liberalization of the information area and secure the freedom of speech are facilitating the dynamic development of mass media. As of July 1, the number of mass media entities stands at 1,362, as against the 395 back in 1991. Nearly two hundred and fifty websites are registered as mass media.

The Agency has been organizing seminars for information services of government agencies and management bodies to deliberate on securing the constitutional rights of corporate entities and individuals for access to information, on ensuring the openness of obtaining information on websites by local government bodies.

Seminar cycles are being arranged to discuss the creation of web portals of local newspapers, to enquire into the national and foreign expertise in training young journalists, to raise the professionalism and skills of the personnel of press services at the ministries and other agencies.
As a result of the immense consideration being attached to bolstering the publishing and printing industry, the volume of published socio-political literature, the rich spiritual heritage of the great thinkers and works of renowned and young authors has been increasing. The festivities under slogan “Concern for Literature Is Concern for Spirituality and the Future” being held in the Republic of Karakalpakstan as well as regions and the city of Tashkent in honor of the 22nd anniversary of the independence of our native land, the weeks of book being organized in educational institutions, information and resource centers, culture and leisure parks, children’s summer camps and leisure resorts are quite instrumental in boosting the culture of readership among the youth and reinforcing their aspiration for education.

The journalists at the press conference were offered answers to the questions they addressed.