The Fourth International Media Forum on Freedom of Journalism Was Held in Suzdal

MOSCOW, Russian Federation - Oct. 19, 2021 - PRLog -- Media Forum 2021: Freedom of Journalism in the Context of Human Rights, New Technologies and International Information Security concluded on 13 October. At the beginning of the conference, Arkady Botsan-Kharchenko, Acting First Vice-Governor of the Vladimir Region, addressed the participants with a welcoming speech. He noted the importance of dialogue between the government and the media, and stressed that independent journalism should be protected and defended, as it is an integral part of a democratic society.

For three days, leading media managers, journalists, political scientists, lawyers, psychologists and culturologists from all over the world tried to find solutions to the problems of modern journalism and offered views on the position of modern media in the power structure. Foreign experts have repeatedly pointed out that major information resources, including international social networks and video hosting sites (Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube), often become a one-way communication channel used for propaganda purposes.  Amrita Dhillon, editor-in-chief of the Indian magazine The Kootneeti, for instance, pointed to such practices in India's Twitter segment, which has become a broad social and political platform due to the growth of a population that actively uses social media.

The landscape of media consumption in the world is also undergoing serious changes. Generation Z is watching less and less TV and is accustomed to expressing itself online. Yaroslav Skvortsov, Dean of the Faculty of International Journalism at MGIMO, describing the current features of information consumption, notes: "The value of information expressed online lies in the speed of its distribution, but not always in its credibility". Independent coverage of objective reality requires a special presentation of material and the research for stories hidden from the commonplace view of the consumer of information. It's leading to a true understanding of reality. According to Armen Oganesyan, Chairman of the Media Forum Organizing Committee and Editor-in-Chief of International Affairs magazine, the task of the media in this field is to act as a platform for the exchange of unbiased and independent opinions.

The IV Media Forum recognized outstanding work by Russian journalists. Mikhail Kurakin, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of International Affairs magazine, was awarded a diploma of the Union of Journalists of Russia for the Best Journalistic Work of 2021 for his essay "Emir Kusturica: The Great 'Reset' Happens Under Cover of Pandemic", based on an interview with the renowned director. The award was presented by Vyacheslav Umanovsky, Secretary of the Union of Journalists of Russia.