The authorities silence dissent by intimidating journalists and by using "exhaustive" litigation, says the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists. Self-censorship is commonplace.
Television is the most popular medium. The State Committee for TV and Radio operates four national networks and regional channels.
There are more than a dozen private TV stations. Russian TV is widely-watched. Radio can be the sole source of information for those living in very remote areas.
The newspaper sector comprises government-owned and private titles. Most of these publish weekly and circulation figures are low.
There are nearly 1.4 million internet users (InternetLiveStats.com, 2014).
The authorities routinely block websites and social media platforms, including Russia's Odnoklassniki, Facebook and YouTube. But users are adept at using proxies to get around this. Opposition websites operate mainly from abroad.
ImruzNews - private, publishes Monday-Friday
Asia-Plus - private, twice-weekly, in Russian
Jumhuriyat - government-owned, publishes in Tajik three times a week
Khalq Ovozi - government-owned, publishes in Uzbek three times a week
Narodnaya Gazeta - government-owned, publishes in Russian three times a week
Tojikiston - private, Tajik-language weekly
Najot - weekly, published by main opposition Islamic Rebirth Party
Tajik TV- state-run; operates Tajik TV first channel, Safina youth channel, news channel Jahonnamo, children's network Bahoriston and regional channels
Soghd TV - state-run regional station in north
Khatlon TV - state-run regional station in south
SMT (Independent Television of Tajikistan) - private, Dushanbe
Tajik Radio - state-run, operates Radio Tajikistan, Radio Sado-i Dushanbe (Voice of Dushanbe), culture network Radio Farhang, external service Ovoz-i Tojik
Radio Imruz - private, available in all regions
Radio Vatan - Dushanbe, private
Radio Tiroz- Khujand, private
Radio Asia-Plus - Dushanbe, private
Asia-Plus - private, English-language pages
Khovar - state-run, English-language pages
Avesta - private, English-language pages

It has also been struggling with a stubbornly strong Australian dollar. A rate cut usually weakens a currency.
The rate cut is the second since October and came after the Reserve Bank of Australia's monthly policy meeting.
Australia's cost of borrowing is now at the same level it was during the global financial crisis of 2009.
The Australian dollar was little changed on the news, while the main Sydney stock exchange was down slightly.
Analysts said that as the mining boom starts to run out of steam, the other sectors of the economy will have to take over and drive growth.
"The urgency to actually find a replacement for mining investment has become quite acute," said Brian Redican of Macquarie Bank.
Mr Redican said more action will be required from the Reserve Bank of Australia.
"In 2013 there will be further aggressive rate cuts, although there is nothing in this statement that suggests that the Reserve Bank is thinking along those lines."
Demand for Australian commodities has meant that its economy has remained buoyant during the recent global slowdown whilst Europe and the US have slowed down.
However, that demand mainly from China is beginning to taper off as the slowdown starts to hurt Asia as well.
Prices for Australia's commodities have fallen as a result and the value of its exports has been reduced.
The strength of the Australian dollar is also causing problems for the economy hurting sectors such as tourism and manufacturing.
In a statement on Tuesday, central bank governor, Glen Stevens, said the dollar remains "higher than might have been expected" given lower export prices and a weaker global outlook.
The Australian dollar is above parity with the US dollar.
Businesses have been suffering as a result with the unemployment rate at a two-and-a-half year high.
The media have greater freedoms than in some other Central Asian states, but officials dictate editorial policy at the state media and obstruct critical outlets.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
Australia's central bank has cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 3%, as it looks to counter a slowdown in its mining sector.