Former Press Secretary of Emomali Rahmon Sent a Letter to the President Requesting Support for Media Workers

A significant proposal has emerged from Zafar Saidzoda, a respected academic and former press secretary to President Emomali Rahmon, advocating for a comprehensive strengthening of Tajikistan's information security and a substantial improvement in the socio-economic standing of media workers. Saidzoda, who holds a Doctor of Historical Sciences degree and heads the CIS Department at the National Academy of Sciences, has penned an open letter to President Rahmon outlining a series of concrete measures.

In his appeal, published on Facebook, Saidzoda emphasizes the critical role of professional, patriotic, and socially protected media workers in the current global information landscape and the context of national sovereignty. However, he highlights the pressing issues faced by journalists in state media, including low wages, inadequate social guarantees, and limited professional development opportunities. His proposals aim to directly address these challenges.

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the role of professional, patriotically oriented, and socially protected media workers becomes especially significant

The proposed solutions are multifaceted, encompassing financial, socio-professional, and regulatory initiatives. Key among these are the establishment of a Presidential Fund to support media outlets with grants and salary subsidies, a significant increase in basic salaries for state media journalists (at least 100%), and the introduction of preferential mortgage schemes. Additionally, Saidzoda suggests creating a Republican Center for journalist training, establishing an annual "People's Journalist of the Republic of Tajikistan" award, and guaranteeing medical insurance for all accredited journalists.

Saidzoda's proposals draw inspiration from international experiences, citing programs in Russia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan that have systematically supported and enhanced the status of journalists. He specifically requests the President to consider issuing a decree to implement these measures, urging responsible ministries to develop a detailed plan. The former press secretary stresses that while state media is a priority, the proposed Presidential support fund should ideally benefit all media, including private outlets, reflecting a nuanced understanding of the media ecosystem.

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For the state, for obvious reasons, state media cannot but be a priority. But the Presidential support fund should be created for all media, w