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MongoliaInformation Policy
At the Nineteenth Party Congress in 1986, Batmonh described
the media as powerful "tools of openness" that were "to influence
the formation of public opinion, foster a creative atmosphere in
society, and inspire an active approach to life in the
individual." Recognizing the chief role of the media as being to
educate and to inform as well as to direct the population toward
the goals and program developed by the party, Batmonh and the
senior party leadership also appeared to be using media channels
for improving the performance of party and government
organizations. There was a new emphasis on exposing the
shortcomings in economic performance and on making "the real
state of affairs" known. In December 1986, Batmonh launched an
attack on "bureaucracy, stagnation and passivity," calling
instead for "a new and creatively courageous approach to work in
an atmosphere of openness, frankness, justness and
principledness." By mid-1987, the press included exchanges of
letters between readers and responsible officials discussing
examples of bureaucracy and government inefficiency.
At the key December 1988 Central Committee plenary session,
Batmonh said that the media needed to foster in people "a
scientific world outlook and further raise their social
consciousness." He also extended the scope of il
tod (openness), Mongolia's version of glasnost, to
include a critical reappraisal of questions about Mongolian
history and society by filling in the so-called "blank spots." In
addition to criticisms of Tsedenbal, Political Bureau resolutions
emanating from the plenary session stressed the importance of
Mongolia's cultural heritage. In a major departure from the past,
the party was instructed to preserve the national culture
carefully and to transmit it to the next generation. Even
Chinggis Khan, whom the Soviet Union repeatedly had identified as
a "reactionary figure," was given an honored place in Mongolian
history as founder of the nation. A two-volume biography of
Chinggis, published in China's neighboring Nei Monggol Autonomous
Region in 1987, reportedly was in great demand by young
Mongolians.
Underlying the party's new information policy--espousing
critical thinking, intellectual vitality, and national pride--was
the intention to inspire and to involve the entire population in
the party's developmental program. The media carried the party
message throughout society through press, radio, television,
publishing outlets, vocational and social clubs, films, and
libraries. The selection of thematic material was being
supervised closely in the late 1980s, but, in comparison with the
Tsedenbal years, a relaxed atmosphere toward the media was
apparent.
Data as of June 1989
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