NONGOVERNMENTAL MEDIA: ENTHUSIASM AND CREATIVE UPLIFT

The training seminar entitled "Improving the performance of news and talk programs on socially significant topics: creating an open media platform for effective dialogue between the state and people" has come to an end at the youth TV complex "Bunyodkor" of the National Association of Electronic Mass Media (NAEMM).

The trainers of the educational event were a senior vice-president, executive producer of media company HOUPLA INC Brooke MacDonald and director of this company Michael Brassert (USA).

The UT correspondent talked with them after the completion of ten-day-workshop.

— Who were the seminar participants and what impression did they make on you?

— The target audience of the training was the members of film crews from Tashkent and regions of the country. These were young employees of the NAEMM Information Center, in particular, the creative and technical personnel of information and youth program Uzbekiston online and the talk show “Mening ovozim” (My voice).

They have made a very good impression on us. These boys and girls have tremendous creative potential and desire to reach the heights in their profession. And this training, as we know, was a continuation of a series of training programs conducted for the NAEMM employees in different directions.

We have been working with the NAEMM for some years, in particular, we are conducting seminars for the seventh time in Tashkent. In our opinion, the association is working hard to enhance practical knowledge of TV reporters, helping to improve the style and quality of the supplied information. Young people prevail among the creative and technical employees who have a lot of interesting creative ideas.

— Your classes were associated with the theme of the year in Uzbekistan - the organization of an effective dialogue with the people. How relevant is it, in your opinion?

— This topic is momentous not only for your country, but also for any other. And the role of the media in the realization of these tasks is very important. We have introduced the young TV journalists of Uzbekistan with foreign experience in this direction, but for us, in turn, it was interesting to learn and see how the local media, particularly the TV, cover this issue.

In this regard, the talk show "Mening ovozim" is very interesting. We made a creative analysis of some series of them, and we not only gave the practical advices for television journalists, but we have derived a lot of valuable for ourselves, learned something.

In general, while in Uzbekistan, we felt not only the creative impulse of journalists who were enthusiastic to cover the events taking place right now, but the political activity of the public mass. In your country, there is the new president now - a young, energetic, he has put forward a lot of interesting ideas in a short time that resonated among the population. The citizen suddenly felt that his opinion, his voice is important for the state, for its future. It’s just wonderful!

— You are a married couple who work together. How does it affect your activity?

— Indeed, we are always together at work. We are confident that we supplement each other. Joint action - and this is not only workshops, but also the creation of TV shows design, production of media content and TV advertising - allows you to analyze the performance from different angles and find any problems, then to solve them.

Of course, sometimes there are disputes between us, but in the end we come to a consensus.

Our family life and teamwork have a lot of advantages, and bring us creative and human joy. We simply cannot imagine an another life.

— Mrs. MacDonald, you have worked for such renowned media companies as CNN, Bloomberg LP and Reuters for many years. As from your experience, how do you assess the activity of the mass media in Uzbekistan?

— To give an assessment of all the media in your country would not be entirely correct, I do not have complete information for this. However the familiarity with the work of non-state television stations evokes admiration on me. They are unique, they count on young people, they go their own way, they are not afraid of criticism, and they are open to everything new. It is significant that their activities are supported by the state.

— You are in Uzbekistan for the seventh time. What attracts you to this country?

— Having visited to Uzbekistan only once, you fall in love with it forever. We are familiar not only with capital, but also other cities and places of your republic. It’s fantastic, it’s a tale of "A thousand and one night", here as if you can see through the millennia the ancient caravans and bazaars, works of great architects and craftsmen, feel the spirit of the past.

However the main wealth of Uzbekistan is a hard-working and generous people, and their hospitality, generosity and kindness delight for ever and ever. And each time, departing from Tashkent to the native Baltimore, we ask ourselves: when will we come back here again?

UT