The Agency for Information and Mass Communications under the Presidential Administration posted draft resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers on improving the use of social networks and the media in covering the activities of state institutions for public input.

The draft notes that the press services of state institutions are planned to be reorganized into independent departments reporting directly to the chief.

The draft proposes to establish a procedure from February 1, 2021, according to which:

• every state institution must have a "media pool", which will include journalists and popular bloggers who regularly collaborate with state institutions;
• the timelines of accreditation of journalists and bloggers must not exceed three days;
• at least one journalist and / or blogger must be included in public councils of state institutions;
• state institutions will have to respond within one day to news stories related to their activities and having a negative impact on the public;
• the heads, together with the press services, must create a page of the state institutions in the Uzbek, Russian and English languages on Wikipedia;
• leaders of different levels were instructed to create their pages on popular social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Telegram) with their subsequent verification (all executives must fill the pages with stories at least three times a week).

By the end of 2021, state institutions must develop their Android and iOS mobile apps with subsequent integration into the Republican Open Data Portal (opendata.gov.uz).

In turn, AIMC plans to create an information-analytical e-portal for prompt response to critical stories, preparation of media plans and keeping records of their implementation. Short-term workshops will be organized for the press secretaries of state institutions.

In addition, it is expected to launch a rating system for assessing the activities of state institutions on cooperation with the media and the use of social networks. The indicators will be assessed every six months, while the activities of the press services that showed the lowest indicators will be critically examined and will held accountable as per the labor legislation.

The agency also plans to develop and publish a manual for press services, which will include the procedure for state institutions to work with virtual audience, methods of verification and promoting pages on social networks, as well as organizing live broadcasts of meetings. It will also include the principles of a culture of online communication with social media users, conducting a question-and-answer sessions, and requirements for organizing press tours and other events.

Discussion of the draft will last through December 29.