Deputy Prime Minister Bakhargul Abdyeva overseeing culture and mass media gave a progress report to the President of Turkmenistan at the Cabinet session held on 3 August, 2018.
Speaking about the performance of media outlets, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov “emphasized the low quality of programs broadcast by national television and material published in periodicals”.
— The President called for utilizing creative approaches towards providing coverage of the developments in the country, preparing newsworthy TV programs and materials for print media outlets as well as identifying talented specialists for these areas, — the state information agency TDH reports.
Throughout the year the Turkmen President has reiterated that “the performance of Turkmenistan’s media outlets does not fully reflect the country’s accomplishments”.
At the Cabinet session held on 4 May, 2018 Deputy Prime Minister Bakhargul Abdyeva overseeing culture and mass media briefed the President that “mass media outlets carried out the activities to showcase the accomplishments of the country and explain the nature and goals of large-scale reforms”.
However, on 31 May the President again criticized the performance of domestic TV channels.
On 26 January the President said that the Institute of Journalism was scheduled to be set up in Turkmenistan to cover the latest positive developments taking place in the country“.
Professional development trainings for Turkmen journalists are organized on a regular basis, including by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.