Problems of modern journalism were discussed at the II International Forum of Journalism “Models of educational programs: the integration of professional standards” in Turkestan.

The forum was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science, departments of journalism of universities from Kazakhstan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, well-known PR-specialists, students from foreign countries.

The speakers spoke about new trends in journalism, social challenges, information technologies, the role of social networks, and professional qualities that a modern journalist should possess.

Speaking as the main speaker of the forum, Mairash Taikenova, PR Advisor of the Minister of Education and Science of Kazakhstan, believes that the country has a need to modernize educational programs to train future media workers and learn new approaches to improving the skills of teachers in journalism departments.

According to her, “today the idea of a “universal” journalist is being introduced in the media. The journalist should be able to film, produce text, edit stories, take good photos, work with blogs, select high-quality facts. This is called multimedia thinking.

- On the other hand, the media are waiting for ready-made professionals. But without the joint work of universities and editors offices it will not work. The practical orienting aspect of education is important. We must admit students to our editors offices, teach them and learn from them”, the speaker noted.

According to the head of the Kazakh language and journalism department, Candidate of Philological Sciences, Ayman Zeinulina, today there is a tendency of transition from traditional media to new digital media with different presentation of the information product. Departments that train journalists need to review educational programs, taking into account these challenges.