Kazakhstan's Media: A Tale of Two Languages

Kazakhstan's Media Landscape: A Divided Community? Kazakhstan's media scene is a complex tapestry of Russian- and Kazakh-speaking communities, often operating in parallel. Tatiana Bendz, a journalist and PR expert, sheds light on this division. "The media landscape is like life in parallel universes," Bendz explains, noting the existence of both professional and non-professional influencers. This division presents challenges in communication and collaboration. Bendz notes the difficulty in engaging Kazakh-speaking journalists, a task that has persisted for years. Despite this, she emphasizes the openness and bilingual nature of her agency, highlighting their efforts to bridge the gap. However, some Kazakh-speaking journalists remain hesitant, fearing exclusion from what they perceive as a predominantly Russian-speaking media community. Bendz's insights offer a valuable look into the dynamics of Kazakhstan's media world, emphasizing the need for greater inclusivity and cross-cultural understanding.