KAFU Student Took Part in OSCE Training for Journalists in Almaty

On June 19-20, 2025, a two-day training “Legal CHECK-UP for Journalists” was held in Almaty, organized by the Legal Media Center with the support of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Program Office, with the participation of international experts and professional media trainers.

Third-year student of the EP “Journalism” of the Kazakh-American Free University Nikita Tabakov completed his training on June 20.

The training program included an analysis of the new law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Mass Media”, a discussion of libel, defamation and protection of personal data, access to information and the use of open sources, coverage of trials in the media and compliance with international standards of freedom of speech, as well as issues of journalists’ safety – both online and in the field.

Among the speakers and trainers of the event were Yuriy Fenotetov, representative of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, Gulmira Birzhanova, trainer-lawyer of the Public Foundation “Legal Media Center”, Diana Okremova, trainer, director of the Public Foundation “Legal Media Center”, Olga Didenko, trainer-lawyer of Internews Kazakhstan.

The grant internship with the support of the OSCE Programme Office is fully paid for students with leadership and communication skills and who have received high grades (GPA results).

The training was attended by experienced specialists, including experts in the field of law, media, cybersecurity and journalistic ethics. Participants had the opportunity not only to listen to lectures, but also to complete practical tasks, work with cases, and discuss real challenges of the profession.

Of particular interest were issues of copyright and the role of artificial intelligence in media practice; participants considered examples of compliance and violation of rights to digital content. At the end of the training, the participants passed the final assessment and received certificates confirming the mastery of the key legal and ethical aspects of the profession. Such experience is not only an important step in the development of a future journalist, but also evidence of the high level of training of KAFU students. Participation in international educational initiatives confirms the university’s desire to form competent, legally savvy and socially responsible representatives of the media industry.