my first journalism assignment was when I was 17 it was in 2008 I was making a
I was 17 it was in 2008 I was making a
I was 17 it was in 2008 I was making a story about how Central Asian countries
story about how Central Asian countries
story about how Central Asian countries started suffering from online censorship
started suffering from online censorship
started suffering from online censorship and one of the first interviews I had
and one of the first interviews I had
and one of the first interviews I had for this series of stories was with a
for this series of stories was with a
for this series of stories was with a famous Russian blogger over the phone
famous Russian blogger over the phone
famous Russian blogger over the phone I didn’t have much experience in
I didn’t have much experience in
I didn’t have much experience in interviewing back then it was probably
interviewing back then it was probably
interviewing back then it was probably my third interview so and it had to be
my third interview so and it had to be
my third interview so and it had to be with a very influential media person I
with a very influential media person I
with a very influential media person I was stressed and trembling and I was
was stressed and trembling and I was
was stressed and trembling and I was walking from one corner of the room to
walking from one corner of the room to
walking from one corner of the room to the other preparing to make a call and
the other preparing to make a call and
the other preparing to make a call and hoping deep inside that he would not be
hoping deep inside that he would not be
hoping deep inside that he would not be come but he did and I introduced myself
come but he did and I introduced myself
come but he did and I introduced myself and he agreed to talk to me so I started
and he agreed to talk to me so I started
and he agreed to talk to me so I started asking him questions in the very
asking him questions in the very
asking him questions in the very beginning I barely followed what he was
beginning I barely followed what he was
beginning I barely followed what he was saying but as he spoke to me I come down
saying but as he spoke to me I come down
saying but as he spoke to me I come down and could finish with my questions
and could finish with my questions
and could finish with my questions he gave me an interview which made my
he gave me an interview which made my
he gave me an interview which made my story very popular and it was a success
story very popular and it was a success
story very popular and it was a success despite me being so worried about it
despite me being so worried about it
despite me being so worried about it but I think that one of the reasons that
but I think that one of the reasons that
but I think that one of the reasons that what that was a success was that he
what that was a success was that he
what that was a success was that he didn’t see me it was a phone call he
didn’t see me it was a phone call he
didn’t see me it was a phone call he didn’t know that I was 17 and just
didn’t know that I was 17 and just
didn’t know that I was 17 and just graduated from high school most people
graduated from high school most people
graduated from high school most people the journalists at Club the news website
the journalists at Club the news website
the journalists at Club the news website I’ve been working for our young people
I’ve been working for our young people
I’ve been working for our young people like you and me their high school and
like you and me their high school and
like you and me their high school and university students Club is a new news
university students Club is a new news
university students Club is a new news website and a school of journalism and
website and a school of journalism and
website and a school of journalism and the most stories written for the news
the most stories written for the news
the most stories written for the news website are done by young people aged 15
website are done by young people aged 15
website are done by young people aged 15 to 25 but despite their young age our
to 25 but despite their young age our
to 25 but despite their young age our news website is the fifth fifth most
news website is the fifth fifth most
news website is the fifth fifth most popular media in the country interviews
popular media in the country interviews
popular media in the country interviews have been taking 30 to 40 % of our daily
have been taking 30 to 40 % of our daily
have been taking 30 to 40 % of our daily work besides fact-checking
work besides fact-checking
work besides fact-checking and writing itself and when we took
and writing itself and when we took
and writing itself and when we took interviews over the phone
interviews over the phone
interviews over the phone it wasn’t a problem at all but whenever
it wasn’t a problem at all but whenever
it wasn’t a problem at all but whenever we showed up in front of the people we
we showed up in front of the people we
we showed up in front of the people we wanted to spoke to speak to or in front
wanted to spoke to speak to or in front
wanted to spoke to speak to or in front of the other journalists like grown-up
of the other journalists like grown-up
of the other journalists like grown-up journalists we saw very different
journalists we saw very different
journalists we saw very different reactions from sincere surprise to
reactions from sincere surprise to
reactions from sincere surprise to arrogance but in most cases we were
arrogance but in most cases we were
arrogance but in most cases we were simply laughed at I remember covering
simply laughed at I remember covering
simply laughed at I remember covering the presidential election in 2009 I was
the presidential election in 2009 I was
the presidential election in 2009 I was filming the president giving his vote
filming the president giving his vote
filming the president giving his vote when I suddenly realized that I was
when I suddenly realized that I was
when I suddenly realized that I was surrounded by tall camera man with big
surrounded by tall camera man with big
surrounded by tall camera man with big equipment who were making fun of me a
equipment who were making fun of me a
equipment who were making fun of me a girl with a small handicap we were
girl with a small handicap we were
girl with a small handicap we were mocked by the grown-up journalists who
mocked by the grown-up journalists who
mocked by the grown-up journalists who thought that we were too young to be
thought that we were too young to be
thought that we were too young to be serious and professional reporters and
serious and professional reporters and
serious and professional reporters and that we could be real competitors to
that we could be real competitors to
that we could be real competitors to them but things changed dramatically in
them but things changed dramatically in
them but things changed dramatically in 2010 when we suddenly became the only
2010 when we suddenly became the only
2010 when we suddenly became the only news media outlet which was covering the
news media outlet which was covering the
news media outlet which was covering the revolution so-called April revolution in
revolution so-called April revolution in
revolution so-called April revolution in trustworthy way the other media was a
trustworthy way the other media was a
trustworthy way the other media was a grown-up journalists they either covered
grown-up journalists they either covered
grown-up journalists they either covered only the official side of the story
only the official side of the story
only the official side of the story having the comments of the state or just
having the comments of the state or just
having the comments of the state or just keeping silence while the protesters
keeping silence while the protesters
keeping silence while the protesters stormed local administrations in the
stormed local administrations in the
stormed local administrations in the provinces back then I was 19 and I was
provinces back then I was 19 and I was
provinces back then I was 19 and I was already an editor at cob the youngest
already an editor at cob the youngest
already an editor at cob the youngest reporters who covered the revolution was
reporters who covered the revolution was
reporters who covered the revolution was me with 17 and the 18 years old and they
me with 17 and the 18 years old and they
me with 17 and the 18 years old and they were making calls from the office while
were making calls from the office while
were making calls from the office while the oldest were 24 and 25 and they were
the oldest were 24 and 25 and they were
the oldest were 24 and 25 and they were at the central square of the Capitol
at the central square of the Capitol
at the central square of the Capitol where deadly clashes were happening and
where deadly clashes were happening and
where deadly clashes were happening and that was the day when we got recognition
that was the day when we got recognition
that was the day when we got recognition from our readers hundreds of thousands
from our readers hundreds of thousands
from our readers hundreds of thousands of users visited our web site in those
of users visited our web site in those
of users visited our web site in those days
and step by step we started getting more
and step by step we started getting more trust from our readers and from grown-up
trust from our readers and from grown-up
trust from our readers and from grown-up journalists to media like The Associated
journalists to media like The Associated
journalists to media like The Associated Press The Guardian the New York Times
Press The Guardian the New York Times
Press The Guardian the New York Times started quoting us and referring to us
started quoting us and referring to us
started quoting us and referring to us in the stories each year we learned new
in the stories each year we learned new
in the stories each year we learned new formats and introduced some of them to
formats and introduced some of them to
formats and introduced some of them to the Kyrgyz media for the first time in
the Kyrgyz media for the first time in
the Kyrgyz media for the first time in 2013 we started making more videos and
2013 we started making more videos and
2013 we started making more videos and we also became pioneers in live video
we also became pioneers in live video
we also became pioneers in live video broadcasting and what was amazing the
broadcasting and what was amazing the
broadcasting and what was amazing the journalists who previously made fun of
journalists who previously made fun of
journalists who previously made fun of us started coming and asking for our
us started coming and asking for our
us started coming and asking for our help in setting up their own read
help in setting up their own read
help in setting up their own read casting capacity and we were never
casting capacity and we were never
casting capacity and we were never afraid of experimenting with new formats
afraid of experimenting with new formats
afraid of experimenting with new formats and new equipment this year we became
and new equipment this year we became
and new equipment this year we became the first Kyrgyz media website which
the first Kyrgyz media website which
the first Kyrgyz media website which started using drones not just for
started using drones not just for
started using drones not just for capturing beautiful landscapes but also
capturing beautiful landscapes but also
capturing beautiful landscapes but also for showing problems and investigating
for showing problems and investigating
for showing problems and investigating corruption this year our 18 year old
corruption this year our 18 year old
corruption this year our 18 year old camera operator Tilak used a drone to
camera operator Tilak used a drone to
camera operator Tilak used a drone to show how Kyrgyzstan and Russia who
show how Kyrgyzstan and Russia who
show how Kyrgyzstan and Russia who wasted millions of dollars to build a
wasted millions of dollars to build a
wasted millions of dollars to build a hydroelectric power plant which was
hydroelectric power plant which was
hydroelectric power plant which was never finished let’s have a look at this
never finished let’s have a look at this
never finished let’s have a look at this video
video
video [Music]
[Music]
[Music] our team our video team has also used a
our team our video team has also used a
our team our video team has also used a drone to fly above one of the biggest
drone to fly above one of the biggest
drone to fly above one of the biggest green parks in the capital Bishkek and
green parks in the capital Bishkek and
green parks in the capital Bishkek and they found a big scale illegal
they found a big scale illegal
they found a big scale illegal construction over there which is
construction over there which is
construction over there which is prohibited by the law and they managed
prohibited by the law and they managed
prohibited by the law and they managed to capture numerous beautiful mansions
to capture numerous beautiful mansions
to capture numerous beautiful mansions owned by public officials businessmen
owned by public officials businessmen
owned by public officials businessmen and members of parliament over there so
and members of parliament over there so
and members of parliament over there so let’s have a peek at that video
earlier this month our 18 year olds
earlier this month our 18 year olds video operator Assad captured one of the
video operator Assad captured one of the
video operator Assad captured one of the biggest ever fires in the capital
biggest ever fires in the capital
biggest ever fires in the capital Bishkek and it was an oil stock fire
Bishkek and it was an oil stock fire
Bishkek and it was an oil stock fire basically and let’s see how it looked
basically and let’s see how it looked
basically and let’s see how it looked like from the air
we have gotten even as far as
we have gotten even as far as investigating how the president of our
investigating how the president of our
investigating how the president of our country is building in your house again
country is building in your house again
country is building in your house again we sent a drone over the construction
we sent a drone over the construction
we sent a drone over the construction site after the opposition leaders told
site after the opposition leaders told
site after the opposition leaders told that the president got that land as a
that the president got that land as a
that the president got that land as a bribe from a future mayor of the capital
bribe from a future mayor of the capital
bribe from a future mayor of the capital and no surprise this video was also made
and no surprise this video was also made
and no surprise this video was also made by an 18 year old couple of guys and
by an 18 year old couple of guys and
by an 18 year old couple of guys and let’s look how it look like
let’s look how it look like
let’s look how it look like [Music]
your skorca gardna destino Vedanta
your skorca gardna destino Vedanta straightener canopied American spy Rita
straightener canopied American spy Rita
straightener canopied American spy Rita is the attack upon me
is the attack upon me
is the attack upon me [Music]
[Music]
[Music] as I mentioned the authors of this video
as I mentioned the authors of this video
as I mentioned the authors of this video are 18 years old but they are already
are 18 years old but they are already
are 18 years old but they are already considered veterans at club since the
considered veterans at club since the
considered veterans at club since the youngest journalists are 15 and by the
youngest journalists are 15 and by the
youngest journalists are 15 and by the way this year the president of our
way this year the president of our
way this year the president of our country mentioned us for the first time
country mentioned us for the first time
country mentioned us for the first time in his public speech so it happened
in his public speech so it happened
in his public speech so it happened before we started sending drones over
before we started sending drones over
before we started sending drones over his house
speaking at the press conference
speaking at the press conference he’s said in front of dozens of
he’s said in front of dozens of
he’s said in front of dozens of journalists that after reading one of
journalists that after reading one of
journalists that after reading one of the stories at court he had a feeling
the stories at court he had a feeling
the stories at court he had a feeling that he stepped in a piece of and
that he stepped in a piece of and
that he stepped in a piece of and we think that this is the best
we think that this is the best
we think that this is the best recognition we could ever get from a
recognition we could ever get from a
recognition we could ever get from a president of a country with a highly
president of a country with a highly
president of a country with a highly corrupt government
corrupt government
corrupt government he apologized late to the day but we
he apologized late to the day but we
he apologized late to the day but we think that his criticism is a sign that
think that his criticism is a sign that
think that his criticism is a sign that even though it is now treated seriously
even though it is now treated seriously
even though it is now treated seriously people always ask me how does it happen
people always ask me how does it happen
people always ask me how does it happen that such young people cover all of
that such young people cover all of
that such young people cover all of these serious issues quite often when we
these serious issues quite often when we
these serious issues quite often when we describe what we do at club we say that
describe what we do at club we say that
describe what we do at club we say that we cover politics or uncover corruption
we cover politics or uncover corruption
we cover politics or uncover corruption despite the young age of our authors but
despite the young age of our authors but
despite the young age of our authors but through the years I started
through the years I started
through the years I started understanding that we are doing it not
understanding that we are doing it not
understanding that we are doing it not despite their age but because of their
despite their age but because of their
despite their age but because of their age young people are quite often
age young people are quite often
age young people are quite often underestimated and the grown-ups thing
underestimated and the grown-ups thing
underestimated and the grown-ups thing just don’t believe in what we can do and
just don’t believe in what we can do and
just don’t believe in what we can do and we can actually a lot we are brave and
we can actually a lot we are brave and
we can actually a lot we are brave and we have the power to stand up for
we have the power to stand up for
we have the power to stand up for ourselves and make the world a much
ourselves and make the world a much
ourselves and make the world a much better place and it doesn’t matter if we
better place and it doesn’t matter if we
better place and it doesn’t matter if we do it through the journalism or anything
do it through the journalism or anything
do it through the journalism or anything else that will up doing so don’t be
else that will up doing so don’t be
else that will up doing so don’t be afraid of your age just if you see that
afraid of your age just if you see that
afraid of your age just if you see that there is something unfair in this world
there is something unfair in this world
there is something unfair in this world happening don’t wait till you get older
happening don’t wait till you get older
happening don’t wait till you get older to change it because you can start today
to change it because you can start today
to change it because you can start today and you may see how you succeed much
and you may see how you succeed much
and you may see how you succeed much earlier than you ever imagined
earlier than you ever imagined
earlier than you ever imagined thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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