Saturday, april 26th, 2003

09.30—11.00: Plenary Session #6 (Ballroom)

JOURNALISTS UNDER PRESSURE
Mass communications continue to play a crucial strategic role in the world of big business and politics throughout the former Soviet Union and Central Asia. Corporations and political entities are perpetually striving to put their message across and as a result journalists are forced to work under a plethora of pressures. With media ownership increasingly more concentrated is it still possible to exist as an independent media outlet in the region without external constraints? What responsibility should businesses take for ensuring impartial coverage from their related interests and avoid being accused of using the media as a propaganda tool? What part can international human rights and freedom of speech organizations play in resolving the cases of journalists’ persecution?
A series of two sessions will examine the present media landscape in Eurasia. The first will feature the International Press Institute and a number of regional journalistic experts who will debate how business, government and media can work together to resolve the conflict that often exists between them.

Producer: Ewa Ewart, Producer, Current Affairs Correspondent programme, BBC, UK
Chair: Peter Preston, Chairman of the British executive of the International Press Institute, (IPI Chairman 1995—1997), UK
Panelists:

Tamara Kaleyeva, President of the Freedom of Speech Protection Foundation «Adil Soz», Kazakhstan
Nuriddin Karshiboyev, Chairman, The National Association of the Independent Media in Tajikistan
Azer Hasret, Secretary General, Azerbaijan Journalists Confederation, Azerbaijan
Ermukhamet Ertysbayev, Advisor to the President on Political Issues, Kazakhstan
Akaki Gogichaishvili, Producer of «60 minutes», «Rustavi 2» Broadcasting Company, Georgia

09.30—11.00: Workshop 1 (Abay room)
JOURNALIST SAFETY IN THE FIELD
A leading industry consultancy deliver a hands on seminar for local journalists on how they can be better prepared for reporting from war zones and hostile situations.
Producer: Global Risk and Safety Programs (GRASP), Australia
Speakers:

Gosta Liljeqvist, executive director, GRASP, Australia
Anton Kuruc, executive director, GRASP, Australia
Brendan Rasmussen, Senior consultant, Global Risk and Safety Programs, Australia

11.00—11.30: Coffee break (Ballroom lobby)

11.30—13.00: Plenary Session #7 (Ballroom)
JOURNALISTS UNDER PRESSURE. DISCUSSION CONTINUES
The second panel will focus more closely on the individual work of independent journalists within the region. Delegates will be able to view some of their coverage and analyse whether they are often unjustly targeted or whether such investigative work seeks to instil outrage first and offer a balanced view later.

Producer: Ewa Ewart, Producer, Current Affairs Correspondent programme, BBC, UK
Chair: Peter Preston, Chairman of the British executive of the International Press Institute, (IPI Chairman 1995—1997), UK
Panelists:

Akaki Gogichaishvili, Producer of «60 minutes», «Rustavi 2» Broadcasting Company, Georgia
Olga Kitova, former correspondent, «Belgorodskaya Pravda» newspaper, Russia
Vilyus Kavalyauskas, advisor to Prime Minister of Lithuania on press and international information
Ernest Skalski, commentator, Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland

13.00—14.00: Lunch (Asian Cafe)

14.00—16.00: Plenary Session #8 (Ballroom)
WAR IN IRAQ, THE TECHNOLOGY & LOGISTICS
The struggle to provide the best coverage of the war in Iraq has been as compelling as the military action itself. Technical advances and the 24-hour news culture has meant that events in the Gulf have been played out in real time to millions of viewers worldwide. How have media organisations throughout the world approached the massive logistical and technical challenge of covering the war? How key was the use of new technology? How many journalists were deployed? What feeds were used? Did the editorial content from each country reveal any societal, cultural and political similarities or differences? In this specially arranged debate leading media figures and will analyse how well they have fared in covering the biggest global news event since 9/11.

Producer: Associated Press Television News (APTN), UK
Chair: Nigel Parsons, Director, Sales, APTN, UK
Panelists:

Vladimir Rerikh, Director General, «Khabar» agency, Kazakhstan
Akram Hazam, Moscow Bureau Chief, Al-Jazeera channel
Colonel Christopher Langton, Head of the defense analysis department, International Institute of Strategic Studies, UK
George Hoff, Director of newsgathering, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

15.30—16.00: Coffee break (Ballroom lobby)

16.00—17.00: Plenary Session #9
THE INCREASING IMPORTANCE OF THE INTERNET AND ONLINE JOURNALISM
How is new media developing and evolving the style of journalism practiced throughout Central Asia. Which websites and information sources from other countries are receiving the most visitors? Is there potential for Western companies and news services to develop their base in the area via this medium? How do journalists and IT specialists believe the Internet will continue to shape journalism in the years to come?
What attempts, if any, are being made to control distribution of content over the Internet? And are these a violation of freedom of speech or a preventative initiative to ensure against subversive movements?
Chair: Jeremy Druker, Editor, Transitions Online, Czech Republic
Panelists:

Mark Pomar, President, IREX, USA
Maria Gessen, Editor-in-Chief, Polit.ru, Russia
Tarmu Tammerk, Managing Director, Estonian Newspaper Association
Oleg Katsiev, Internews -Kazakhstan

17.00—18.30: CLOSING ADDRESS
by Dr. Dariga Nazarbayeva, chair of Eurasian Media Forum Organizing Committee, Kazakhstan

19.00—22.00: Forum Gala Event hosted by Khabar Agency and CNN
«Heaven» nightclub