Yekaterina Andreyeva on journalists’ responsibility

TV presenter and journalist Yekaterina Andreyeva met with participants of the "Young Journalists School" project at the National Centre RUSSIA. Along with sharing the secrets of the profession, the long-time host of the "Vremya" programme reminded the young participants of the responsibility borne by everyone who works with words.

Yekaterina Andreyeva noted that in the modern world, any information spreads in seconds. A mistake made on air instantly becomes known to millions, and correcting it can sometimes be much harder than it seems.

"There is an unchanging responsibility that journalists have. If you make a mistake, it will go on air and be widely circulated. The solution is simple: you need to prepare thoroughly so as not to make a mistake. Check all the facts: surnames, place names and stress patterns. Personal responsibility is an essential quality for any journalist, TV presenter and everyone who works with words. Words can kill — we cannot predict how our words will echo," Yekaterina Andreyeva said.

As an example, the TV presenter cited a case from the professional life of her former colleague, who now lives in France and has renounced Russian awards. Her mistake on air almost cost a person his life.

"Her mistake was connected with the Kursk submarine tragedy: she failed to check the information and named a person who had allegedly died on the submarine. At that moment, that person’s mother, whose son was in fact a prosecutor investigating the submarine’s sinking, was watching television and heard her son’s surname. The woman knew that he was there, and she had a heart attack. She was saved only because a neighbour came to borrow some salt, saw the woman lying lifeless on the floor and called an ambulance. This is an example of how unverified information can cause real harm," Yekaterina Andreyeva emphasised.

The Young Journalists School is a joint educational project of the National Centre RUSSIA and the Movement of the First, supported by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation. Participants have the opportunity to study the work of leading Russian media outlets, gain practical experience in creating texts, photos and videos, learn to critically assess information and take a sober look at the challenges of the profession.