 UConn’s Global Training and Development Institute (GTDI), hosted five journalists and a facilitator from the central Asian country Tajikistan, October 3-10, 2009. The visit was sponsored by the Open World Program, an initiative of the U.S. Congress to build mutual understanding between the United States and Eurasia by enabling young Eurasian elected officials, political candidates, and emerging political and civic leaders to observe the American democratic system firsthand. The guiding philosophy is that principles of accountability, governance, and the role of citizenry in government are most effectively illustrated through direct interaction between participants and their U.S. professional counterparts and through hosted community and cultural activities.
The press in Tajikistan carries the legacy of passivity from the era of the Soviet Union. The Tajik delegation (average age was 38) examined the theme of Media and Accountable Governance. The journalists learned how the U.S. media analyzes public records and independent sources, gathers facts, and uses these to report on government officials and others and hold them accountable to the public. During their visit, the delegates (3 females and 3 males) stayed with local host families, which allowed them to experience American family life. Click to read more >> |
