American Society for Kurds
A S K
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Strengthening Media in Kurdistan
(2001-2002)

The American Society for Kurds devoted much of 2001 and 2002 to working hard to develop, encourage, and strengthen the aspects of media in a land where almost all of the newspapers, magazines, and television and radio stations are either government-owned and run or belong to some political party or ideology. The independent media is weak and few.

Part One: Media Workshop
ASK held a six-day workshop in both Sulaymania (June 1-6, 2002) and Arbil (June 8-13, 2002). An average of 50 journalists attended each workshop daily. The Minister of Culture, Head of the Journalist Union, and ASK's Program Director, Dr. Salah Aziz, attended each workshop's Opening Ceremony. Media coverage of the entire workshop was intensive.

The workshop allowed for free discussions among the journalists, lecturers, and the workshop director. The participants also represented various political parties and ethnic and religious groups, and they enriched the discussions with varying views and opinions and helped point out obstacles facing the emerging independent media in Kurdistan.

According to the participants, ASK's workshops were the best workshops ever held in Kurdistan in the quality of the lectures, "freedom" of discussions, and diversity of the participants.

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