Last month, Radio Azattyk was awarded the National Aitmatov Prize, an award given out yearly by the Kyrgyz Youth Affairs Ministry in recognition of outstanding work with young people.
Radio Azattyk won the award for its work in 2008-2009, but due to political conditions the prize could not be awarded until this fall. A ceremony was held on November 10 at the National Philharmony.
Azattyk Plus is a youth-oriented television and radio effort that employs a team of young people in their early to mid-20s. Modern and progressive, the program focuses on issues important to youth, occasionally profiling youth culture in other countries. A recent program profiled young people in Japan.
Kyrgyz Service Director Venera Djumataeva emphasizes the importance of Azattyk Plus: “Kyrgyzstan suffers from a deficit of information from other countries,” she says. “It absorbs everything from Russia, and most young people don't know anything about the their contemporaries in other cultures. It is important to have different perspectives.”
To add even more acclaim, the most popular newspaper in Kyrgyzstan, Super-Info recently named an Azattyk Plus correspondent the 'Best TV Presenter' of 2010.
Nominated in November along with five other TV presenters from different channels, Akaev won through an online vote on Super-Info’s website. A special ceremony was held at the National Philharmony on December 5.
This is the second year that the awards have taken place. In addition to best TV presenter, voters decide on the best politician and best singer, among other categories.
Says Akaev, “I was a bit nervous actually - and proud because there were a lot of famous TV hosts at the event. And the first thing that came to my mouth was a thank you for everyone that helps with the show. And to the viewers, because really we work for them.”
Congratulations to Radio Azattyk for all its great work!
Radio Azattyk won the award for its work in 2008-2009, but due to political conditions the prize could not be awarded until this fall. A ceremony was held on November 10 at the National Philharmony.
Azattyk Plus is a youth-oriented television and radio effort that employs a team of young people in their early to mid-20s. Modern and progressive, the program focuses on issues important to youth, occasionally profiling youth culture in other countries. A recent program profiled young people in Japan.
...The first thing that came to my mouth was a thank you for everyone that helps with the show. And to the viewers, because really we work for them.
Kyrgyz Service Director Venera Djumataeva emphasizes the importance of Azattyk Plus: “Kyrgyzstan suffers from a deficit of information from other countries,” she says. “It absorbs everything from Russia, and most young people don't know anything about the their contemporaries in other cultures. It is important to have different perspectives.”
To add even more acclaim, the most popular newspaper in Kyrgyzstan, Super-Info recently named an Azattyk Plus correspondent the 'Best TV Presenter' of 2010.
Nominated in November along with five other TV presenters from different channels, Akaev won through an online vote on Super-Info’s website. A special ceremony was held at the National Philharmony on December 5.
This is the second year that the awards have taken place. In addition to best TV presenter, voters decide on the best politician and best singer, among other categories.
Says Akaev, “I was a bit nervous actually - and proud because there were a lot of famous TV hosts at the event. And the first thing that came to my mouth was a thank you for everyone that helps with the show. And to the viewers, because really we work for them.”
Congratulations to Radio Azattyk for all its great work!
