On August 25, 2026, the International Center for Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue held a training seminar for media representatives and bloggers entitled “Conflict Sells, Dialogue Goes Unnoticed: How to Make Peace Journalism Engaging for Audiences.”
The seminar brought together representatives of the media and expert communities, including Baq.kz, Elorda.info, El.kz, the Kazinform International News Agency, Vechernyaya Astana newspaper, Kazpress.kz, Stan.kz, Kazcontent, as well as the Press Service of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan.
The speakers included religious figure and representative of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan Nurlan Asanov; Zhapal Amzebekovich Doliyev, a master’s student at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and an expert; and Nazerke Orgara, Chief Expert of the Information Work Department of the International Center.
In her presentation, Gulsana Kozhabay used the VIII Congress as an example to demonstrate how journalism can find compelling narratives not only in conflict, but also in the very fact that dialogue has taken place. The Congress was held amid heightened international tensions; nevertheless, representatives with fundamentally different positions, including religious leaders from the Muslim and Jewish worlds, came to Astana.
It was noted that the value of such dialogue platforms becomes particularly significant amid growing international polarization, when a shared space continues to provide opportunities for interaction among representatives of countries whose relations remain complex, including Iran, the United States, and Russia.
In his presentation, Nurlan Asanov emphasized the importance of journalists’ professional responsibility when covering religious issues. According to him, journalists should maintain objectivity and avoid projecting their own religious views and beliefs onto their reporting. He also stressed that modern communication tools should be used in accordance with the principles of secularism and with a strong sense of responsibility toward society.
The speaker placed particular emphasis on the role of dialogue in building bridges of mutual understanding, strengthening trust, and serving the interests of society and the country. “Dialogue helps us, as religious leaders, serve the people,” Nurlan Assanov emphasized.
Zhapal Doliyev, a master’s student at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and an expert, focused on the legal and ethical aspects of covering religious issues. He highlighted the particular responsibility journalists have when choosing headlines, noting that inaccurate or inappropriate wording can contribute to social division and intensify negative rhetoric.
According to him, one of the professional challenges for the media is to attract audience attention not only through conflict-driven narratives, but also through positive and constructive topics.
Nazerke Orgara, Chief Expert of the Information Work Department of the International Center, presented practical examples of contemporary approaches to covering interreligious dialogue. She focused on selecting relevant news angles, crafting headlines, and choosing formats capable of making dialogue-related topics engaging and accessible to audiences.
During the question-and-answer session, participants exchanged views and practical recommendations, emphasizing the importance of a professional and responsible approach to covering religious and peacebuilding issues, as well as the use of modern media formats to promote a culture of dialogue.
At the conclusion of the seminar, all participants were presented with certificates of participation.
