Supporting an independent, vibrant media in Kazakhstan

The media - whether in print, online, or on television and radio - play an important role in ensuring social accountability, and can support integrity and curb corruption by informing the public and holding government actors and institutions to account. The media can also inform public opinion on corruption matters more generally by raising public awareness about corruption. This chapter discusses the role of the media in the Republic of Kazakhstan in combating corruption. First, it provides an assessment of the recently passed access to information legislation in the country as it relates to media’s access to government information. Second, it analyses the extent to which freedom of press is guaranteed and protected, before looking at the level of professionalism and ethics in the media sector. Lastly, this chapter analyses the plurality of Kazakhstan’s media sector.