Shifting Perspectives: Waning Focus on Central Asian News Reporting
Living on the Edge: Journalism in Central Asia
Central Asia, a captivating region spanning Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, has a rich and complex history marked by the evolution of journalism. Over centuries, journalism in Central Asia has been influenced by various cultural, political, and historical factors.
Before transitioning to Kazakhstan in 2008 to work as a Central Asia correspondent for The Associated Press, my early days were filled with boozy farewells from colleagues who were previously on the beat. One memorable night at Shesh Besh, an Orientalist restaurant, was filled with camaraderie; they were joyous for me and a tad envious of the exciting stories I was about to uncover.
In Almaty, the press pack was modest but thriving with international players like the BBC, Reuters, Agence-France Presse, Bloomberg, and even Dow Jones. Amid this diverse group of journalists, stories from Kyrgyzstan often grabbed attention, particularly the U.S. airbase. Sadly, as the American presence decreased, so did the interest in the region.
Today, the landscape of journalism in Central Asia wears a gloomy facade. The BBC bureau is no more, The Associated Press doesn't have a replacement for me after I left Kazakhstan in 2013, and many others have vanished. For English readers struggling to read local languages or Russian, it's become a struggle to keep up with the news.
However, there is hope. Platforms like Eurasianet, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and The Economist continue to offer coverage, as do regional media outlets such as Vlast.kz. For those willing to pay, services like Interfax and The Central Asia and South Caucasus Bulletin provide valuable insights into the developing events.
But the situation is concerning. Press freedoms in Central Asia are either stagnating or declining. Tajikistan and Turkmenistan rank among the most repressive countries when it comes to media freedom, while Uzbekistan has made minimal progress since President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's rise to power in 2016. Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan still have some independence, albeit with risks for journalists.
Unrestricted governments seem to misunderstand that eliminating a free press only feeds rumors, particularly in the age of social networks, and deepens the ignorance that fuels political instability. If the rest of the world turns a blind eye, the dark veil over Central Asia will only thicken.
- The rich history of journalism in Central Asia has been influenced by factors in business, politics, and general-news, as evidenced by the diverse group of international journalists working in the region.
- In the current landscape of journalism, it can be difficult for English readers to keep up with the news in Central Asia due to the decline of international media outlets like the BBC and AP, but platforms such as Eurasianet, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and The Economist continue to offer coverage.
- Concerningly, press freedoms in Central Asian countries like Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are either stagnating or declining, making it difficult for journalists to report on critical issues in the region, which could lead to increased political instability.
