The training course of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat on coverage of pandemia and health protection issues was launched, which is held within the framework of “Support in strengthening journalism education and capacity-building of journalists” project.

Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Information center of the Ministry of Health and the Medical Industry, lecturers and students of the higher educational institutions, and representatives of mass media participated in the training course.

A three-day training course program includes an insight into the actual media formats and their effective use during pandemia, genre peculiarities of information on pandemia and health, and possibilities of their practical application. The international experts Yuriy Zvyagintsev (RF) and Dmitriy Strovsky (Israel) familiarise the participants with the peculiarities of interaction of the mass media and readership during pandemia, using the example of other countries, modern mediapractice regarding pandemia and health.

«The OSCE attaches great importance to the development of the media. Over the years of the Organization's activity, a number of documents have been adopted that emphasize the importance of developing the media, promoting their freedom and pluralism, as well as ensuring access to information. Improving the professional skills of journalists and facilitating the exchange of international practices are indispensable conditions for the development of media. Journalists have always had a particularly responsible task - to provide accurate, timely and objective information. You journalists are especially powerful because of your ability to tell interesting stories, inspire and inspire people to act», - said William Leaf Political Advisor of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

In the course of the training the participants also will perform the participant activity, which will help to solidify gain knowledge. The training course will last till 12 November.

The rich experience and considerable background of experts will make it possible for the participants to receive the skills of coverage of pandemia and health protection issues.

The media plays a key role in providing the population with clear, understandable information, as well as in promoting behavior that allows people to protect their health and the health of their families and loved ones. Media can also help change behavior in ways that limit the spread of disease and overload health systems.

According to WHO, COVID-19 journalistic coverage must be socially responsible, contain facts and truthful information about the COVID-19 pandemic and the response being taken, use reliable, scientific, truthful and verified sources, and truthfully talk about measures that help contain and or reduce the spread of the disease.

 Ayjahan Ataballyeva