Events

GOMEL, 27 March (BelTA) – The main trends and aspects of the media coverage of the Belarus-Russia Union State construction were discussed at an offsite meeting of the Union State PA’s Commission on Information Policy and the Permanent Commission of Belarus’ House of Representatives on Human Rights, National Relations, and Mass Media on 27 March, BelTA has learned.

The meeting has brought together MPs, members of the Union State Standing Committee, relevant ministries of Belarus and Russia, the Gomel Oblast Executive Committee, heads of media outlets, and others.

The event has started with a moment of silence in memory of those killed in the fire in Russia’s Kemerovo.

It is important to set priorities to bring the media coverage of the processes in the Union State to another level, noted Andrei Naumovich, Chairman of the Union State PA’s Commission on Information Policy, Chairman of the the Permanent Commission of Belarus’ House of Representatives on Human Rights, National Relations, and Mass Media. News agencies, he underlined, should put the spotlight not only on the problems as well as the positive experience. “We still have a few problems. These are the matters that have to be discussed and solved for the sake of the Union State citizens,” Andrei Naumovich remarked.

A proposal has been brought forward to organize a regular contest of the best materials on the Union State construction, including among regional media outlets. According to Andrei Naumovich, such a creative competition will help tell more about how people live in the regions of Belarus and Russia, and also about integration processes, economic cooperation, cultural and historical relations.

The meeting participants have discussed the 2016-2020 plan of action to create a common information space in the Union State. They touched upon the quality and format of publications in the Union State, Belarusian TV channels broadcasting in Russia, and different projects in mass media. Irina Dovgalo, Head of the Main Department for Ideology, Culture, and Youth Affairs at the Gomel Oblast Executive Committee, and heads of regional media outlets spoke about the media coverage of integration processes in the Union State and interaction between editorial offices at the regional level. The background of Gomel Oblast in this field was praised by the Union State MPs.

The latter have also heard out a report on the Union State spending on mass media in 2017 and discussed the operation and financing of the Belarus-Russia Union State TV and Radio Broadcasting Company. The MPs have also reviewed the Parliamentary Assembly’s 2019 publishing plan and other matters.