A new report focusing on how the media in Central Asia cover terrorism concludes that the widespread belief that the region's media act as a "dangerous liaison" is not true.

The 40-page report, "Political extremism, terrorism, and media in Central Asia," found that there is little linkage between coverage of extremism and a media outlet's motivation to increase audience and revenue.

Rather, using examples from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the authors found that the media in Central Asia tend to cover acts of terrorism and political extremism only when incidents occur "in order to avoid possible criticism from the government."

However, there is a lack of reliable and easily accessible information resources, it says.

It includes recommendations to media, media owners, civil society organizations and authorities to upgrade their journalism and communication skills.

To read the report in English and Russian, go to http://tinyurl.com/3p7hcp. To visit InfoCenter AntiTerror, a Web site established in Kyrgyzstan under the project, go to http://www.kgcentr.info.