Editorial Process for Print & Online Media – A Project for Kyrgyz Republic

In November, Meridian International Center welcomed six participants from the Kyrgyz Republic to learn more about print and online media best practices. Participants engaged with American colleagues at local, national and international news outlets, including The Washington Post, National Public Radio (NPR) and Voice of America where they explored operational procedures, standards and ethical issues, and gained insight into American news media. The 22-day project began in Washington, DC before participants traveled to Tucson, Burlington, Columbia and New York. In the course of travels, the group explored various business models for independent newspapers, online platforms and other publications in an era of major media market transformation, evidencing the ever-increasing role of online journalism and blogging in U.S. media. Participants exchanged extensively with editors and reporters to gain insight into contemporary news reporting. They also learned about trends in journalism education and curricula during their visit to prominent schools of journalism, including the University of South Carolina’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications and the University of Arizona School of Journalism. Participants were also given the chance to meet with successful bloggers and learn from their experiences. One element of the program, and an important recurring theme, was the exposition to and commentary on the state of fact-checking in the face of rampant disinformation. On this topic, participants learned about government accessibility and accountability before the press (the Sunshine Law, for instance, and its effects on government transparency). The participants also experienced American culture and society through various activities, including a home hospitality dinner in Tucson, Arizona, a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and a Broadway show in New York City.

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