“Xalq so‘zi” and “Народное слово”: 35 Years of History, National Journalism and Standards of Professional Responsibility

The event brought together senators, members of parliament, representatives of public administration bodies, journalists, media professionals, university professors and lecturers, academic researchers, doctoral students, international guests, as well as the leadership and staff of Nordic International University.

During the opening ceremony, congratulatory messages and tributes addressed to the leadership and editorial teams of these leading national publications by Tanzila Narbayeva, Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, and Nuriddin Ismoilov, Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, were read aloud.

Congratulatory addresses were also delivered by Abdusaid Kuchimov, Member of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis and Director General of the National Information Agency of Uzbekistan; Sirojiddin Sayyid, People's Poet of Uzbekistan and Chairman of the Writers' Union of Uzbekistan; Shuhrat Oripov, Chairman of the Journalists' Union of Uzbekistan; and other distinguished guests.

The conference provided a platform to review the 35-year legacy of Xalq so‘zi and Народное слово, assess their role in national journalism from both academic and practical perspectives, examine their extensive editorial experience, and identify future priorities for the development of the media sector.

Published regularly since 1 January 1991, these newspapers have established themselves as authoritative official sources of information, documenting the political, social and cultural life of independent Uzbekistan.

At various stages of the country's development, the publications have played a significant role in communicating major developments in public and state affairs, legislative changes, the substance of ongoing reforms, and issues directly affecting citizens' interests to a broad public audience.

Today, as information flows accelerate and digital platforms and artificial intelligence become increasingly embedded in the media landscape, the importance of traditional journalism as a reliable source of information continues to grow. In this context, the conference served not only as an opportunity to reflect on 35 years of achievement, but also as an important forum for dialogue on the future of national journalism, professional accountability, and strengthening public trust in information.