TURKMENISTAN: STATE MEDIA UNSURE HOW TO MEET THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000524

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STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP, DRL, EUR/ACE
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E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREL EAID SCUL KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: STATE MEDIA UNSURE HOW TO MEET THE
PRESIDENT'S CALLS FOR IMPROVEMENT

REF: ASHGABAT 0474

Classified By: CHARGE SYLVIA REED CURRAN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) President Berdimuhamedov gave state media a May
deadline to make significant improvements in the quality of
its broadcasting. Despite the president's calls for
creativity and higher quality news and programming, it
appears state media is not able at this stage to meet these
demands. In a meeting with a reliable state media contact,
PAO learned that there is a shared goal but not shared vision
of how to achieve this. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held a
televised, expanded Cabinet of Ministers meeting (reftel) and
once again called for improvements in the quality of state TV
and radio broadcasting. Similar to previous statements, the
president emphasized the importance of culture and media as a
tool for the spiritual, moral, and esthetic education of the
nation. He again noted that he had directed significant
funding to state media in order to improve their technical
base and equipment and create conditions that would
strengthen journalists' capacity for creative and productive
work. Despite having raised this problem previously,
Berdimuhamedov noted that the deficiencies remain.

CRITICISMS FROM THE HEAD OF STATE


3. (U) During the meeting, Berdimuhamedov:

-- fired the director of the "Altyn Asyr" TV channel (one of
four state TV channels) for shortcomings in his work;
-- praised the "Ovaz" radio station for its popularity, but
noted the low quality of its broadcasts, which would have led
to dismissals lng ago, if employment was based on work
quality;
-- emphasized that media employees should be judged or
rewarded based on the popularity and creativity of their
work, including giving financial incentives to those who are
successful;
-- noted that heads of media agencies must be able to select
and prepare qualified employees and use them in accordance
with their abilities;
-- pointed out opportunities for media training abroad.
While he said this should continue, he noted it had not yet
produced results;
-- called for a review of educational programs that train
media personnel, especially for political analysis;
-- complained about the public's lack of knowledge about
international issues. Saying that the public should be
better informed, he called for an "International Life"
department. (NOTE: The newly named director of this
department was just nominated for an International Visitors
leadership Program for broadcast journalism. END NOTE.); and,
-- gave state media until May 1 to accomplish the tasks fully
or warned that necessary "measures" will be taken.

WHAT NOW?


4. (C) On April 18, PAO met with a trusted Ministry of
Culture contact, International Department Director Agadurdy
Akmuradov, who is a TV journalist by training. Akmuradov
seemed frustrated with a system which cannot accommodate the
president's expectations. Akmuradov described the situation
as "a horse stuck in the mud. We're pulling it by the reins
and whipping it from behind. Either it won't move or it will
trample us." Although he had a good idea of what
Berdimuhamedov expects, Akmuradov said the system itself
needs more restructuring and time to produce the changes
demanded by the president. He reported that there would be a
major gathering of all state broadcasting personnel to
discuss next steps. They are looking for any good ideas that
would help them meet the May deadline.


ASHGABAT 00000524 002 OF 003


NO INCENTIVES, LOTS OF INTERFERENCE


5. (C) Akmuradov doubted Berdimuhamedov would be satisfied
with progress by the May deadline. In addition to describing
a state structure which does not reward creativity or new
ideas or even measure popularity or performance of employees,
Akmuradov noted three specific problems that make reform
difficult:

-- Technical incompetence: Although the state has spent
money on advanced equipment for TV and radio production,
personnel have not been trained in their use. In particular,
camera operators lose lots of time trying to use new cameras
and often make simple, avoidable errors.

-- Editors have no experience or have had no incentive to
improve their programs. In addition, there is a burdensome
approval process that prevents innovation.

-- Interference from above: Akmuradov cited the most
troubling obstacle as the constant flow of critiques and
complaints from the President's office. He said that every
insignificant detail is critiqued, including the shade of
dark blue of a program host's suit or the way a person
pronounces a certain word. On this point, Akmuradov
elaborated that higher ups do not understand that constant,
often irrelevant, complaints create major disincentives to
doing anything new.

LACKING A HIGH-LEVEL ADVOCATE FOR MEDIA


6. (C) According to Akmuradov it makes matters worse that
Deputy Chair of the Cabinet of Ministers for Culture and
Broadcasting, Maisa Yazmuhamedova has no experience in the
field of journalism or broadcasting. Her background is in
education, and she rose quickly to high-level government
positions. While expressing his respect for her as an
official, he noted that she probably has no idea how to
advocate for greater independence or autonomy of state media
in order to create the kind of improved programming the
president is calling for. Speaking openly, he suggested that
broadcasting probably needed to be separated from the
Ministry of Culture and be headed by a more forceful and
more knowledgeable advocate for media's autonomy, giving it
room to make changes.


7. (C) To address the major problems of creativity and
improved international information, Akmuradov said that they
were considering a kind of "reward budget" that could become
a kind of bonus program for good work

WE LIKE YOUR IDEAS, BUT ...


8. (C) PAO asked Akmuradov about adopting interactive
programs that could serve the purpose of supporting reform
policies as well as bring the country's leadership closer to
the audience. (This basic concept was a highlight of post's
media specialist who worked closely with state TV for two
weeks in March.) In reply, Akmuradov said that such good
ideas were not new, but that the system and the fear of
passing good ides up prevents them from trying such
innovative (by Turkmen standards) programming.

SEARCHING FOR NEUTRAL CONTENT FROM ABROAD


9. (SBU) PAO also pitched the idea of borrowing Voice of
America Russian content for rebroadcast in Turkmenistan.
Akmuradov immediately saw this as a non-starter, at least for
now. He said the government might be more willing to
consider content and cooperation with Internews. However,
Akmuradov added that they had concluded an agreement with BBC
to provide access to 500 satellite channels which they may
use for informational purposes as well as developing
international content for rebroadcast.

ASHGABAT 00000524 003 OF 003



A CONTINUED, SUSTAINED RELATIONSHIP MAY BE THE ONLY WAY


10. (C) Although Akmuradov was appreciative of many program
ideas from the U.S. Government, he said the only thing that
would really impact change would be a sustained partnership
with a western media outlet. he said that one time programs
or training were helpful, but would produce little change
because of the current structure of state television. A
sustained relationship, however, with foreign broadcasters
and exposure to their practices would eventually lead to more
and more borrowing of those practices. He asked for a
concrete proposal for a permanent cooperative relationship
with a credible, foreign broadcasting company.


11. (SBU) COMMENT: Many officials who work within state
media believe they need more autonomy and room to try new
practices. Exchanges and training programs would help
increase exposure to international standards and improve
capacity. However, until the media can achieve a greater
degree of autonomy, the full benefit of exchange programs
will not be realized. END COMMENT.
CURRAN