Journalists and algorithms: Key issues discussed at Astana Media Week 2026

At Astana Media Week 2026, participants in an expert discussion examined how relations between journalists and the state are evolving, why media outlets are increasingly competing for views, and who should set professional media standards in Kazakhstan. The main topics included access to information, accountability for published content, and the need for self-regulation within the journalistic community, El.kz reports.

Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Culture and Information, Kanat Iskakov, agreed that the journalistic community needs to unite. He noted that legislation cannot regulate every issue, as some professional standards are rooted in ethics. As examples, he cited the coverage of suicides and crimes against children, where the pursuit of audience engagement can lead to violations of professional standards.

A separate part of the discussion focused on the new rules governing journalists’ interactions with government authorities.

The Vice Minister explained that some government bodies restrict questions outside the announced scope of a briefing because of instances in which journalists use briefings to drive traffic. As a result, the subject of the press conference itself is pushed into the background.

“Of course, this raises a question for any speaker: why did I come to this briefing in the first place? Meanwhile, the journalist generates only negative traffic, which can go viral but does not help address the issues facing the sector,” the Vice Minister noted.

According to Iskakov, the state is working to strengthen the institution of official spokespersons, who are expected to provide timely commentary on events and explain the positions of government agencies.

“There are no red lines,” Iskakov stressed in response to a question about which topics journalists are permitted to raise.

Why an official’s openness depends on their willingness to answer questions

Press Secretary to the Akim of East Kazakhstan region Laura Zhakupova shared her experience working with regional head Nurymbet Saktaganov. According to her, effective communication depends largely on whether the official is willing to speak to journalists and answer difficult questions.

“Our regional communications policy does not, in fact, begin with a press release or a press secretary. It begins with openness—with the willingness of the head of the region to engage,” Zhakupova said.

She explained that the akim may give comments following official events and answer questions during unscheduled encounters. According to the press secretary, this approach allows journalists to obtain answers directly, although the communications team sometimes has to work with video footage recorded on mobile phones without prior preparation.

Zhakupova cited a video from a working visit by the regional head that received a strong response from users. She explained that the video had been edited from separate clips and that the official had spoken with workers in his usual manner. She noted that an overly staged presentation can undermine audience trust when viewers perceive the interaction as artificial.

Who should be held accountable for journalistic errors?

Chairman of the Management Board of Qazcontent JSC Adil Seifullin raised the issue of editorial accountability and the criteria by which a person can identify themselves as a journalist. He drew attention to cases in which media outlets disseminate inaccurate information and, once an error is discovered, simply remove the publication.

“Editorial teams need to exercise greater diligence in verifying information and correct errors publicly, including by apologising to the people affected by a publication”, Seifullin said.

Why journalists need to unite

Media manager Askar Dzhaldinov believes that the professional community should develop common self-regulatory rules. These should address ethical standards, the management of conflicts of interest, and the boundary between legitimate journalistic persistence and conduct intended solely to provoke controversy.

“Journalism today has one asset that cannot be bought through state contracts, artificially inflated by bots, or obtained through an algorithm. That asset is trust,” the media manager emphasised.

The discussion at Astana Media Week demonstrated that the debate over the rules governing journalistic work is linked to several key objectives: ensuring access to information, improving the quality of government communications, and strengthening editorial accountability for published content. One concrete proposal raised during the meeting was to involve representatives of the media community in discussions on the draft Law on Mass Media and to further develop professional self-regulation.