Opinions & Interviews

VITEBSK, 4 May (BelTA) – Mass media bear responsibility for ensuring stability in the society. Vitebsk Oblast Governor Nikolai Sherstnev made the statement on 4 May as he met with representatives of regional and central mass media, directors of publishing houses on the occasion of Print Media Day and Day of Radio, Television, and Communications Workers, BelTA has learned.

The Vitebsk Oblast governor said: “Don’t try to omit something or embellish. Such things can only undermine trust in you and the government. Getting true, full, and timely information is a constitutional right of citizens and you should take care of it. It is a national security factor. Mass media reports determine not only the public opinion. They sometimes determine how events unfold and human destinies proceed. Print media is an instrument the government cannot do without. How can the government spread the word about its ideology and regional development goals without mass media? It is impossible.”

Nikolai Sherstnev stressed the importance of delivering news in an unbiased manner. “Information field is changing but quality news reporting is always in demand just like skills and standards in print media. Instead of seeking sensations it is necessary to reach for the truth, to help readers, viewers, and listeners to understand things and form a view. It is sometimes necessary to help defend interests of this or that side. You help create a social mood of people and the image of the oblast. Instead of covering up drawbacks you should detect and analyze reasons and point out ways out,” concluded the head of the oblast administration.

Among the topics the Vitebsk Oblast governor believes regional and central mass media should cover well and truthfully are the beautification of Belarusian towns and cities, modernization of enterprises, development of integration structures in agribusiness, implementation of major investment projects, and construction of socially important facilities. He also mentioned preparations in Polotsk for celebrating the 500^th anniversary of book printing in Belarus, preparations in Dubrovno to celebrate the end of the harvesting campaign in Vitebsk Oblast and the creation of a solid competitive economy as a whole.

As many as 127 mass media are registered in Vitebsk Oblast, including 78 print ones and 49 digital ones. As many as 24 state-run newspapers are published in Vitebsk Oblast. Of them 19 newspapers achieved breakeven operation in 2016.