Developing Democracy

LXXXII (2011)

April 2011

Published 04-28-11

The Kyrgyz Republic — or Kyrgyzstan, as it once was known — will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union later this year, on August 31.

It was in this context that ten leaders from the Central Asian nation — bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikstan and China — came to Denver last month to learn about democratic government, the free market and the free press. On March 9 they attended a day-long program at the Denver Press Club titled “A Free Press, The Internet and Social Media in American Journalism.”

Among the delegates were:
Marat, head of the journalists union that is responsible for “protection of rights of journalists and mass media, and lobbying principles of freedom of speech;”

Muzaffar, a regional correspondent whose articles “all are based on the core concept — to outline how to lay a foundation for an open society;”

Tulkinzhon, one of the Kyrgyz most active bloggers, who reflects on the destiny of his country and democratic development in it, and encourages his fellow citizens to join in; and

Azim, president of Public Association New Independent Media, which develops social media in the nation through supporting and training so-called Web 2.0 activists.

All of the delegates were asked to express their dreams for the future of their country during a dinner that preceded the beginning of a week crammed with formative experiences.

“There needs to be more respect for human dignity. How can we improve our work in journalism to accomplish that,” said one.

Others responded:
“Our country, which was a part of the Soviet Union, is now only 20 years old. How do we transition to democracy when we didn’t grow up in that culture?”

“There is not too much hope in our country right now. We want to be proud of our country and our government. How do we construct a more democratic country?”

“We want our country to be the country in Central Asia that our neighbors can learn from.”

The visit, arranged under the auspices of the U.S. State Department, was hosted by Denver’s chapter of Friendship Force International, a non- profit cultural exchange organization that relies on host families to welcome foreign visitors in the interest of promoting friendship and goodwill.
“A Free Press, The Internet and Social Media in American Journalism” was organized by former Colorado Press Association president Denny Dressman, and featured a blue- ribbon lineup of nine speakers – who all donated their time and voluntarily shared their knowledge.
The seminar began at 8:30 a.m. with an examination of the First Amendment as the foundation of the free press in America. Everyone in the Kyrgyz delegation received copies of the 46-word statement, and a second version with the free press guarantee highlighted.

“The First Amendment guarantee of freedom of the press,” Dressman explained, “ensures that information can be communicated openly, without interference or intimidation, no matter how unpopular it may be with some people, including those in power, and regardless of how uncomfortable in may make some people, as long as it is true.”
That First Amendment introduction was followed by individual presentations that could each have been day-long classes but were compressed into 30- to 40-minute segments.
Attorney Tom Kelley, chairman of the Colorado Freedom of Information Council and the CPA’s legal counsel on such matters for more than two decades, delivered a lucid and engaging primer built on the right of the press in America to gather the news and use of open meetings and open records laws to support that right, and referred his audience to the rich resource available online at The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Web site.
Attorney Marc Flink of Baker & Hostetler, one of Denver’s foremost authorities on libel law, followed with “Libel and the First Amendment, The Two-Edged Sword – Protection for Citizens and for the Free Press.” In a fast-moving but highly instructional Powerpoint presentation, he focused on “Balancing Reputational Harms Against Free Expression and Free Press Rights.”
CPA lobbyist Greg Romberg, entertained the audience with the origins of lobbying while explaining the serious role of working with government to ensure that it remains “possible to tell the public things they wouldn’t otherwise know.” Former CPA president Merle Baranczyk, publisher of The Mountain Mail in Salida and several other Colorado publications, acquainted the group with the role of community newspapers in building and preserving a democracy at the local level, showing the visitors that the backbone of the free press in America is much more than just the internationally known publications such as The New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Harrison Cochran, publisher of the Aurora Sentinel for 20 years until its recent sale, provided an excellent look at the business side of newspapers and the economic challenges facing journalism today.
Wick Rowland, president of public television station CPT12 in Denver and former dean of the University of Colorado School of Journalism and Mass Communication, presented an overview of public and commercial television. Kate Gannon, new media editor at The Coloradoan in Fort Collins, and Dan Petty, social media editor at The Denver Post, found a knowledgeable and eager audience as they collaborated on the growing role of new media and social media in the delivery of news today, and demonstrated some of the latest technology being employed.
And Jim Anderson, news editor in the Denver bureau of The Associated Press, wrapped up the day with a particularly apropos discussion of his first-hand experiences as a reporter in Venezuela under the repression of Hugo Chavez, and delivered a message the Kyrgyz visitors welcomed: “You are not alone. We are with you.”
Azim Azimov, the head of the Kyrgyz Republic’s new media foundation, colleagues’ afterwards summed up his reaction succinctly: “We are inspired,” he said. “We are inspired to have so many people with so much experience willing to give up their time and share their knowledge with us.”