Volume 05 Issue 12-2024
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ABSTRACT
This article is dedicated to the study of the evolution of mass media in the Jizzakh region of Uzbekistan from 1973 to
1991, covering key aspects of organizational structure, content, and the role of regional media under the total control
of Soviet authorities. It examines the activities of local newspapers, radio, and television, highlighting their significance
as ideological tools of socialist propaganda. Special attention is given to the impact of censorship on editorial policies
and the role that regional media played in shaping Soviet identity and maintaining public order through the promotion
of socialist ideals.
KEYWORDS
Mass media, Jizzakh region, Uzbekistan, Soviet period, ideology, propaganda, censorship, state control, regional
journalism.
INTRODUCTION
The Soviet Union was a highly controlled state where
mass media played a pivotal role in disseminating state
ideology and maintaining political stability. In
Uzbekistan, particularly in the Jizzakh region, the
media acted as a crucial tool for the Communist Party
to promote socialist values and the successes of the
Soviet system. Despite the significant role of media in
shaping public opinion and influencing social and
political life, there has been little research focused
specifically on the Jizzakh region during the Soviet
period. This article aims to analyze the development,
functions, and impact of mass media in Jizzakh from
1973 to 1991, exploring its role under strict censorship
and political control.
Research Article
HISTORY OF MASS MEDIA IN THE JIZZAKH REGION DURING THE
SOVIET PERIOD (1973
–
1991)
Submission Date:
December 01, 2024,
Accepted Date:
December 05, 2024,
Published Date:
December 10, 2024
Crossref doi:
https://doi.org/10.37547/history-crjh-05-12-03
Rashidov Sharof Kholmurad ogli
Doctoral student, Jizzakh state pedagogical university, Uzbekistan
Journal
Website:
https://masterjournals.
com/index.php/crjh
Copyright:
Original
content from this work
may be used under the
terms of the creative
commons
attributes
4.0 licence.
Volume 05 Issue 12-2024
12
CURRENT RESEARCH JOURNAL OF HISTORY
(ISSN
–
2767-472X)
VOLUME
05
ISSUE
11
Pages:
11-15
SJIF
I
MPACT
FACTOR
(2022:
5.
728
)
(2023:
6.
531
)
(2024:
7.848
)
OCLC
–
1243560778
Publisher:
Master Journals
METHODS
This research examines primary and secondary sources
to understand the development and role of mass
media in the Jizzakh region during the Soviet period.
Primary sources include archival materials, newspapers
such as Jizzakh Truth, radio broadcasts, and interviews
with journalists who worked in the region. Secondary
sources consist of scholarly works on Soviet mass
media, particularly those focusing on Uzbekistan and
Central Asia, such as History of the Press in Uzbekistan
during the Soviet Period by Sh.Abdullaev and Media
and Censorship in Soviet Central Asia by M. Karabaev.
The study uses both qualitative and historical methods,
analyzing media content and examining the political
and ideological roles that media played within the
context of Soviet governance.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The Soviet system was a tightly regulated political
structure where mass media (MM) served not only as a
communication tool but also as a vital element of state
ideology. During this period, the media in Uzbekistan,
particularly in the Djizak region, played a crucial role in
maintaining the party line, highlighting the
achievements
of
the
socialist
system,
and
disseminating communist ideology among the local
population. The specifics of this process in the region
remain under-researched, despite the important role
of the media landscape in shaping public opinion and
political stability. The aim of this work is to analyze the
development and functions of the media in the Jizzakh
region during the Soviet period from 1973 to 1991, to
identify their roles in the social and political life of the
region, and to explore their influence on society under
conditions of strict censorship and party control.
The Soviet Union was a state where information flows
were strictly subordinated to centralization and party
ideology. All media outlets, including regional ones,
were under the control of the Press Committee of the
Council of Ministers of the USSR, which regulated the
operations of newspapers, magazines, radio, and
television. The primary task of the media in the Soviet
system was not to inform the population in the
traditional sense but to create an ideologically correct
worldview, support communist values, and showcase
the achievements of the socialist system.
In Uzbekistan, both republican and regional media
existed under the strict oversight of the Central
Committee of the Communist Party of Uzbekistan
(CPU). In the Jizzakh region, local newspapers such as
"Jizzakh Truth" (Джизакская правда) performed tasks
related to the dissemination of official information and
socialist propaganda. These newspapers covered
events in the region, reported on the labor successes
of local residents, and highlighted achievements in
agriculture, industry, and other sectors. A key theme
was the portrayal of the "new person"
—
a citizen
living according to Soviet moral norms and actively
working for the benefit of the socialist Motherland.
All published information underwent strict control by
party organs and censorship, making the media in the
Jizzakh region an essential element of state
propaganda. Newspapers, radio, and television served
as channels through which the party line was
broadcast, and they were expected to contribute to
the maintenance of political stability and social norms.
Issues related to the difficulties and shortcomings of
the existing regime were rarely discussed in the media,
as any criticism of the authorities could be perceived as
a threat to the existence of the socialist system.
During the Soviet period, several publications in the
Jizzakh region played key roles in serving the
informational and propaganda interests of local
authorities and the party. One of the leading sources of
information for the local population remained the
Volume 05 Issue 12-2024
13
CURRENT RESEARCH JOURNAL OF HISTORY
(ISSN
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2767-472X)
VOLUME
05
ISSUE
11
Pages:
11-15
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FACTOR
(2022:
5.
728
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(2023:
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Publisher:
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newspaper "Jizzakh Truth" which circulated in the
districts of the region and served as the main organ of
party propaganda. It published reports on life in the
region, as well as materials reflecting achievements in
agriculture and industry.
The newspapers of that time had a distinctly
propagandistic character. Their articles often featured
stories about progress in the agricultural sector, the
achievements of workers and collective farmers, and
successes in education and healthcare. Important
coverage was given to events of state significance,
such as party congresses, anniversaries, and
celebrations.
Articles
were
published
about
achievements in industry, showcasing the successes of
the socialist system in attaining high economic
indicators.
One significant focus was the coverage of local
workers' victories in competitions and contests, as well
as the construction of new factories, plants, and
cultural facilities.
All these successes were intended to convince the
population of the correctness of the chosen political
course and that the socialist economy and governance
system ensured stability and prosperity.
In addition to print media, radio and television also
played important roles in providing informational
propaganda in the Jizzakh region. In the 1970s,
regional radio stations began to develop, broadcasting
local news while also being required to disseminate the
party line and social advertising. Regional television
channels, which appeared later, also served as
channels for disseminating information about events,
focusing on the successful implementation of plans
and tasks set by the party.
In Uzbekistan, the first radio broadcasts were
conducted on February 11, 1927. Thus, radio became the
foundation of the mass media system and secured a
firm place in the press and the cultural and spiritual life
of the population. As a convenient, prompt, and unique
medium for disseminating social information, radio had
a significant influence on society.
The press has always evolved alongside society,
improving over time. By the mid-20th century,
significant innovations and qualitative changes
occurred in the press with the invention of television.
Many scientists and specialists from various countries
contributed to this great discovery, including
researchers from Tashkent, B. Grabovsky and V.
Belyansky.
A favorite radio station among the residents of the
Jizzakh region, broadcasting on FM 105.5 and FM 106.2,
airs 16 hours daily and has its unique history. Today, it
features various entertaining live broadcasts, engaging
discussions, programs on different topics, and
intellectual radio games; however, its foundation was
laid more than 25 years ago. This year, Jizzakh Radio is
celebrating its 50th anniversary.
The history of radio is inextricably linked to the history
of the region. After the establishment of the Jizzakh
region, the regional newspaper began operations, and
it became clear that to disseminate information about
ongoing changes and reforms, new mass media
needed to be created.
On January 1, 1974, Jizzakh Radio was established, and
part of the building of School No. 1 in the city of Djizak
(formerly named after M. Gorky) was allocated for the
work of radio journalists. The leaders appointed were
journalist Nasim Noriyev and chief editor Sherlon
Aliyev. They were tasked with forming a creative team,
developing programming, and organizing quality
broadcasts. During a time of shortage of experienced
journalism specialists, graduates from philology
departments of universities, along with young,
creatively gifted individuals, were recruited. Under the
Volume 05 Issue 12-2024
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CURRENT RESEARCH JOURNAL OF HISTORY
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VOLUME
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Pages:
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FACTOR
(2022:
5.
728
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(2023:
6.
531
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(2024:
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OCLC
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1243560778
Publisher:
Master Journals
guidance of experienced mentors like Nasim Noriyev
and Sherlon Aliyev, they mastered the intricacies of
journalistic skills: fact-gathering, analysis, working with
people, and editing radio recordings. Working with
reporters who carried heavy 6-kilogram equipment in
the field
—
such as in villages, enterprises, and
organizations
—
was not easy, but despite the
challenges, they were full of enthusiasm.
Among the first announcers and correspondents who
made history were: announcer Salomat Koraeva,
correspondents
Albina
Amangeldieva,
Sergey
Kumanikin, Oleg Smuglov, Bakhtier Rizaev, Salohuddin
Safarov, Hasan Botirov, Pardoboy Tojiboev, and
Abdugani Botirov. The radio correspondents strived to
meet the tasks assigned to them. All ongoing events
were reflected in essays, reports, sketches,
correspondences, and information broadcast on air. To
help the correspondents refine their skills, special
training was organized under the guidance of the
chairman and chief editor, and freelance authors were
engaged.
Hungarian
specialists
installed
the
necessary
equipment for radio broadcasting. Finally, the long-
awaited day arrived. On August 9, 1974, the words
"This is Jizzakh! We are starting the broadcasts of the
regional radio!" were heard for the first time
—
spoken
in Uzbek by Sherlon Aliyev and in Russian by Lenura
Adilshaeva. From that day onward, the residents of
Jizzakh became regular listeners of local radio. Initially,
the radio broadcast consisted of one hour of
programming in the morning and evening. Later, other
editions emerged, and radio programs began to be
broadcast in Kazakh, Crimean Tatar, and Tajik
languages.
In the 1980s, construction began on a new standard
building for the radio committee in a vacant lot in the
center of Jizzakh. The first priority was to build and
equip it with necessary studio technologies. Since the
new building was located in the city center, the quality
of broadcasts improved. Materials were printed in the
old building, while broadcasts aired from the new one.
Television, like radio, transmitted narratives oriented
towards national unity and the supremacy of the
socialist system. It is important to note that during
these years, the first mobile television unit appeared in
the Jizzakh region, enabling local residents to receive
information about major events in the republic and
beyond.
Overall, this new form of mass media
—
radio
—
began
its activities by fulfilling political and ideological tasks.
It is also worth noting that in the early years, radio was
used exclusively as a medium for reading press
materials (newspapers), and only gradually did it
develop its unique characteristics and become a full-
fledged type of mass media.
To ensure that mass media, radio, and television in the
Republic of Uzbekistan were staffed with professional
journalists, a journalism department was established in
1949 at the philological faculty of Tashkent State
University named after Mirzo Ulughbek. Since 1967, it
has functioned as a faculty (including scholars and
educators such as doctors and candidates of historical
and philological sciences, professors, and associate
professors:
T.Ernazaro,
O.Togaev,
O.Saidov,
A.Akbarov,
P.Khamdamov,
V.Abdullaev,
R.Mukhamadiev, A.Karimov, T.Pidaev, S.Umirov,
G.Gofurov, F.Nesterеnko, F.Muminov, F.Muminova,
M.Khudoykulov, B.Dustkoraev, A.Abdurakhmonov,
K.Ernazarov, Y.Mamatova, M.Alimova, and others).
In 1999, the Faculty of International Journalism was
established at the Uzbek State University of World
Languages. Specialized journals such as "Uzbek Press",
"Cinema" and others are published in Uzbekistan.
Several journalistic organizations are active, including
Volume 05 Issue 12-2024
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CURRENT RESEARCH JOURNAL OF HISTORY
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VOLUME
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Pages:
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SJIF
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FACTOR
(2022:
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728
)
(2023:
6.
531
)
(2024:
7.848
)
OCLC
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1243560778
Publisher:
Master Journals
the International Organization of Journalists (1946),
the International Federation of Journalists (1952), and
the Union of Journalists of the Commonwealth of
Independent States, including the Union of Journalists
of Uzbekistan (1957). September 8, 1958, is celebrated
as the Day of Unity of International Journalists.
During the Soviet period, the role of local media in the
Jizzakh region was limited not only by strict censorship
but also by rigid political control. The media became
not a tool for open informing, but rather a part of the
state apparatus aimed at sustaining the ideology of
socialism. Local publications, such as "Jizzakh Truth"
and radio broadcasts served not only as informational
channels but also as components of the cultural-
political apparatus, shaping public consciousness
within the framework of communist values.
Limited freedom of speech and censorship were
defining characteristics of media operations during the
Soviet era. Furthermore, the absence of a plurality of
opinions and diverse information sources led local
residents to perceive only the information presented
by official propaganda, which in turn hindered an
objective understanding of the surrounding world and
reality.
CONCLUSION
Mass media in the Jizzakh region from 1973 to 1991
played an essential role in supporting the Soviet
regime's ideological and political goals. Through
newspapers, radio, and television, the media
disseminated propaganda that reinforced the
achievements of socialism and the superiority of the
Soviet system. While the media acted as a tool for state
control, it also contributed to shaping the cultural and
political identity of the region's population, presenting
an image of prosperity and unity that aligned with
Soviet ideals. Despite its ideological nature, the media
in Jizzakh, like in other Soviet regions, was a key
element in sustaining the political status quo and
shaping the collective consciousness of the people.
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Sh.Abdullaev (1998). History of the Press in
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2.
M.Karabaev (2005). Media and Censorship in
Soviet Central Asia. Moscow: Nauka.
3.
A.Suleimanov
(2010).
The
Formation
of
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4.
F.Yunusov (2018). The Evolution of Mass Media in
the Djizak Region. Tashkent: Academy of Media
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E.I.Kozlov (1989). The Soviet Press and Its Role in
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