Patricia Piroh and Larry Londino of Broadcasting, standing, join Gulchekhra Ulmasbayeva, news editor, Andizhan Youth TV and Radio Company, and Obid Shabanov, director, Journalism Dispute Club, before they taped an upcoming episode of "Carpe Diem." They were part of a delegation from Uzbekistan that was on campus for a week last month as part of the Open World Leadership Program. Pictured below, the journalists took a trip to Trenton where they took a tour of the state house, spoke with Gov. James E. McGreevey's press secretary and spoke with an editor from the Asbury Park Press. Pictured below, front row from left, are Shabanov; Gulchekra; Marina Cunningham, director of the Global Education Center; Lobar Zulkaydarovna, journalist, Aloka Telecasting Studio; in back, from left, Ismagil Ismailovich Fattakhov, chief editor, Uzbekistan Broadcasting Company; and Bekhzod Usmanov, the delegation's facilitator.

During a weeklong visit to Montclair State, four Uzbek journalists had an opportunity to get a taste of American journalism and broadcasting. From tours of the State House, New Jersey Network and the United Nations, to meetings with professional journalists, broadcasters and press relations officials, the Uzbekistan delegation immersed itself in getting an American view of the media.

Marina Cunningham, director of the Global Education Center, said one of the most exciting moments for the Uzbek journalists was a visit to MSNBC. "They had a conversation with the Moscow correspondent for MSNBC whose image was beamed from Moscow and appeared on a television screen in a conference room at the MSNBC studios," she said. "The group also toured the MSNBC studios and participated in a discussion about American broadcasting."

The MSNBC visit was one of several events organized for Ismagil Ismailovich Fattakhov, chief editor, Uzbekistan Broadcasting Company; Lobar Zulkaydarovna, journalist, Aloka Telecasting Studio; Obid Khamidovich Shabanov, director, Journalism Dispute Club; and Gulchekra Mavlonovna Ulmasbayeva, news editor, Andizhan Youth TV and Radio Company. The group also was interviewed by students in a feature writing class, which resulted in an article in The Montclarion; visited WBGO Radio Station in Newark and The Montclair Times; had a discussion with Gov. James E. McGreevey's Press Secretary Micah Rasmussen; toured Manhattan; and met with various MSU faculty and administrators.

"Discussions were predominantly centered on presidential elections and, of course, on impressions of the United States which, the participants said, was very different from what they imagined," Cunningham said. During their visit, the journalists stayed at the homes of faculty members and Montclair residents.

Sponsored by the Open World Center and supported by the Academy for Educational Development (AED), the program allows young Eurasian elected officials, political candidates, journalists and emerging political and civic leaders to observe the American democratic system firsthand. "The Open World Center believes that principles of accountability, governance and the role of citizenry in government are most effectively illustrated through direct interaction between participants and their U.S. professional counterparts, and through hosted community and cultural activities," Cunningham said.

The program brings groups of four to five participants accompanied by a facilitator for theme-based visits to the United States. The visits usually begin with an orientation in Washington, D.C., followed by a program in a local community. Since its inception in 1999, the program has brought more than 8,000 young political and civic leaders from Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan to the United States. Current program alumni include parliamentarians, mayors, judges, regional administrators, journalists, nonprofit directors and community activists. AED works with a wide range of organizations in developing its hosting network, including Sister Cities International, League of Women Voters and several universities. This is the second time the Global Education Center was asked to host an Open World delegation.

"One of the key aspects of a free and democratic society is a vibrant and successful media," Cunningham explained. "The media in Uzbekistan still suffers from a lack of independence from governmental entities. This sector of society in Uzbekistan would benefit greatly from exposure to independent journalistic practices in the United States, including the business aspect of media."