Informburo and Channel 31 Have New Owners

The media holding “31”, previously owned by Bulat Utemuratov (Verny Capital group), now belongs to Adildiq Jane Orkendeu. For the first time in Kazakhstan, an NGO has become the owner of media assets. Pavel Bannikov, founder of Factcheck.Academy and former editor-in-chief of the Factcheck project in Kazakhstan commented:

In fact, this is bad for the media market in Kazakhstan - it is already skinny, it has deflated even more. I will explain it by piece. When we talk about the independence of the media, we are talking first of all about independence from the state - about the absence of direct or indirect, but obvious influence of the authorities on what the media will cover and what will not (and how).  wrote Pavel Bannikov.

Bannikov explained his reasoning further:

In the case of media under business control, the conflict of interest is most often calculated and minimized within a fairly transparent framework (I gave an example in this interview). Control by the state makes the conflict of interest total. The task of media under state control is to carry out ideological work. This is neither good nor bad conceptually, but this function interrupts, and sometimes completely replaces, the main function of journalism - to inform. When a significant or large part of the major media is under state control, it is more difficult for citizens to get the full picture. The less complete the picture, the more misconceptions, the lower the opportunities for development. Including, for the authorities, they live on the same island.

Bannikov also clarified a few moments:

1) Let's not get into conspiracy theories, I don't think that 31st was "squeezed out," there are no facts;
2) I am not saying that the content will become worse, I am not a Vanga, and among the founders of the GONGO are media professionals, including those who stood at the origins of Channel 31; also, there is no reason to assume that Channel 31 will suddenly become some kind of super-propaganda channel;
3) I am saying something very specific: together with the recent initiatives of the Ministry of Information, all this narrows the already weak field of independent journalism in Kazakhstan.

The Verny Capital website commented on the agreement, noting that it expects growth for the TV channel and information portal.

We are pleased to conclude an agreement with the public foundation 'Adildiq zhane Orkendeu', whose management includes experienced media managers. I have no doubt that a new round of growth will begin for the TV channel and the information portal,  said Aidan Akanov, Verny Capital Group Companies CEO.

The public foundation "Adildiq Jane Orkendeu" was created on the initiative of civil activists. According to its website, it has offices nationwide and about five thousand current supporters. Orda intends to reach out for comment.

Original Author: Anna Gladysheva