Solutions Journalism Series – Artificial Intelligence (Bukhara, UZ)
In Bukhara, twenty journalists and bloggers from the province of Uzbekistan and seven other regions received training. Participants represented a mix of private and state media outlets, with some being independent producers and bloggers running their own platforms and channels. These workshops featured sessions led by Uzbek and American speakers and trainers.
The highlight was a half-hour conversation with U.S. Ambassador Jonathan Henick, who joined the session virtually. During the conversation, the trainees shared overwhelmingly positive feedback about the workshops and offered suggestions on how the U.S. could further assist media development and support professional journalism in Uzbekistan. Key recommendations included continuing the USAGM workshops, expanding exchange programs for media professionals, and offering training opportunities in participants’ specific regions. Ambassador Henick reiterated that Washington remains committed to assisting in this field, recognizing it as a critical component of its support for Uzbekistan’s reform process.
The Bukhara participants highlighted how these sessions have elevated their professional standards and confidence. They reported gaining valuable guidance on fair and accurate reporting, avoiding conflicts of interest and corruption, and improving their security and general working conditions. The training participants obtained AI tools to leverage in their anticorruption, financial, and economic reporting.
This was USAGM’s second round of sessions in its Solution Journalism series, which focused on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in journalism.
The Solution Journalism Series is an interagency agreement between USAGM and the U.S. State Department to provide media assistance to Uzbekistan.