One of the largest independent news companies in Tajikistan is Asia-Plus. One look at the home page of the website gives readers a very different view of the country than Khovar would. Asia-Plus provides both positive and negative news about Tajikistan and the outside world. And instead of focusing on the wrongdoings of ISIS throughout the world, the site reports on how ISIS is influencing Tajikistan. Furthermore, Asia-Plus reports on issues that may potentially depict the government in a poor light. In an article titled “Tajik parliament endorses amendments proposed to the country’s media law,” the site reports that media organizations are displeased with the government’s actions. “If adopted, the amendments would legitimate censorship in Tajikistan,” the article reports. “The media organizations consider that the amendments will deal a heavy blow to the country’s media.”

Besides government-run news sites and widely-read independent news sources, any other widely-read news sources are likely from outside of Tajikistan. Most online content Tajiks read is in Russian, and often originates in Russia. The nation also doesn’t produce very many of its own movies, and therefore relies on Hollywood, Bollywood and the Russian film industry for its on-screen entertainment. Therefore, many ideas Tajiks have about the world are based on how these industries portray them. And as Americans know, Hollywood is not always the best depiction of real life. widely-read