It is expected that quality of materials will be much higher in the present competition. Criteria for evaluation are the same: relevance, promptness and originality in the design. However, the reduced number of nominations will create competitive conditions for journalists.

“There are fewer nominations this year, and therefore the prizes,” said Gulnara Babadjanova, Deputy Chairwoman of the Creative Union of Journalists of Uzbekistan. “We want to strengthen the responsibility of journalists for their works, urge the competitors to work not on the quantity, but on the quality. That is why we reduced the number of prizes. We want the figurines go to really the top worthy.”

The eighth contest will be presented in 13 categories: one major national award, and four on the types of media: press, television, radio and online journalism. Each of the four categories has three prizes. The prize fund of this year’s contest is 150 million soums.

The national award was instituted at the initiative of the state’s leader and timed to the World Press Freedom Day, which is celebrated annually on May 3. The past seven contests involved about three thousand journalists with more than 40,000 creative works. 181 journalists were awarded Oltin Qalam. Country offices of prominent international organizations like the UN, UNESCO, the World Bank, as well as the “Regional Dialogue. Slovenia” institute also their annual incentive bonuses. In previous competitions 40 journalists were awarded special prizes from the international partners.

Addressing press and media workers last June 27, the head of the state set new tasks for journalists. The Creative Union of Journalists was recommended to monitor the most relevant, analytical and topical stories in the end of each quarter. We asked Sherzod Ghulomov, Chairman of the Creative Union of Journalists, about the results of this work.

“We have set up a special committee, which assesses the work of local journalists. The best stories are selected out of all the published and aired materials, and evaluated, and the results of monitoring are published in the media. The results of the last quarter have been published this week in Hurriyat newspaper. We hope very much that the competent jury of the 8^th national award will primarily pay due attention to this rating.”

Chairman of the Union of Journalists of Uzbekistan spoke about the young with great hope. "Today, we count on the young, ambitious, talented journalists. There are many young media workers who able to produce high-quality materials, but, unfortunately, do not take part in the contest. We encourage you to be more active, manifest yourself, send your materials and your work will be appreciated."

This idea was also supported by representatives of international organizations who expressed their wishes.

“We have been taking part in the national journalist contest for several times. We are generally satisfied with the format and scope of the competition,” said Bakhtiyor Khalikulov, an expert of UNESCO Office in Uzbekistan. “Each year, we present the subject of our own category, which is selected at the UNESCO headquarters in France. As of today, we have a range of topics relevant to our organization, and within two weeks we will announce the topic of incentive nomination. Every year, UNESCO awards the print media. The stories are of high quality and very interesting, but I would like to involve media agencies, TV, radio, online outlets.”

In general, the meeting at the National Press Center went constructively. The participants also discussed the organizational issues relating to the traditional conduct of international contest of the 8^th National Journalism Award Oltin Qalam at Turkiston Palace on May 3.