Public hearings in Kabardino-Balkaria note lack of criticism in media

The official media of Kabardino-Balkaria are torn away from life; they have no analytics and little criticism. These statements were made at the hearings held by the Public Advisory Board under President of Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR).

Valery Khatazhukov, head of the KBR Public Human Rights Centre, has emphasized in his speech that media should be viewed as resources intended to help in addressing the problems of the society.

He listed several issues, where media could help: first of all, it is corruption, which should be dealt with, in the opinion of human rights activist, not only when someone was caught by hand. Thus, it would be important to discuss the problem - how to fight corruption in a small community, where people know each other and the influence of clans is high.

"Although ministerial posts are no longer sold in the republic, as it was under the previous power, corruption went to other spheres - like education and public health," said the human rights activist.

Secondly, in Khatazhukov's opinion, problems of the Moslem community should also be openly discussed. He has noted that so far all the talks about the freedom of speech are just a vogue tribute.

Boris Pashtov, Minister for Youth Matters, Media and NGOs, said that Internet services are underdeveloped in the KBR. The monopoly of a single provider, who dictates high traffic prices, is an obstacle.

Official newspapers, in Minister's opinion, resort to descriptions and major-tuned reports. He has noted that only 5-7 percent of Republic's journalists have special education, and their average age is 46.

Marina Chernyshova, an ITAR-TASS correspondent and a member of the Public Advisory Board, has noted a sharp shortage of qualified personnel, absence of analytical materials in media, problems with delivery of newspapers, drop in circulation of the leading national editions, and, hence, the decrease in efficiency of journalists' work, low salaries in the sector, isolation within the region and detachment of municipal press from nationwide life.