Day of Press and Media Workers in Uzbekistan (27/06)

Since 1994, every year on June 27, Uzbekistan celebrates the Day of Press and Media Workers.

This professional holiday was established by Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan I. Karimova June 24, 1993. The Decree states that the purpose of establishing the Day of Press and Media Workers is the need to recognize the merits of the press and media in promoting the ideas of state sovereignty, in building a new democratic society, educating the population in the spirit of devotion to the Motherland, as well as taking into account the numerous proposals of teams journalists, writers, scientists and the general public.

Currently, the Republic is undergoing processes of deepening democratic reforms and the formation of civil society, and therefore much attention is paid to reforming the information sphere and ensuring freedom of information and speech.

Today, more than 1,500 titles of periodicals are published in Uzbekistan, which is one and a half times more than 10 years ago; in recent years, almost 290 private and departmental online publications have been created. The number of non-state television and radio broadcasts has increased — more than 50 percent of existing television channels and 85 percent of radio stations are non-state. A special feature of the media of Uzbekistan is their national character — The country's media broadcast and publish in seven languages of the nations and nationalities living in Uzbekistan, and there are publications in English.

Traditionally, the celebrations include ceremonial events with awards for the best in the profession, press conferences, briefings, interviews, which are accompanied by the display of documentary materials about the difficult work of the media. Also on this day, the memory of journalists who gave their lives in the line of duty is honored.

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