Post #82

The State Duma discussed joint media projects between Russia and Africa On March 6, the Expert Council on the development and support of comprehensive partnership with African countries under the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Alexander Babakov and the African-Russian Energy Association held a round table "Information Bridge: Russia - Africa". During the event, invited experts, including Russian and African journalists, bloggers, diplomats, analysts and businessmen, developed specific proposals and recommendations on the use of media and the blogosphere to develop Russian-African relations and promote applied projects. In his report, Alexander Babakov emphasized the need for state participation in resolving problems in media communications. "There are a lot of institutions and a lot of resources for this. Today, they must be treated very carefully and seriously," Babakov noted. The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, pointed out the fact that there are currently no African media outlets accredited on a permanent basis in Russia, so journalists from Africa are involved in covering events in the Russian Federation on an ad hoc basis rather than on a regular basis. "It is important to continue contacts between Russian and African media. Strengthen cooperation through educational programs, press tours and large media conferences," the diplomat proposed solutions. The director of the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Irina Abramova, noted the importance of attracting African bloggers and insisted on the need to broadcast not only in major African capitals, but also in the provinces. "Africa is young, open to new things, and it should not be presented only as a poor and hungry territory," Abramova concluded. Journalist and presenter from Cameroon, member of the Globus expert club Clarisse Wiydorven stated in her speech that covering Russian-African relations in the global media landscape requires attention to traditional and new media. Head of the RT African Production Service, Svyatoslav Shchegolev, said that the media in Africa are finding new ways to convey information to viewers. This often happens despite pressure from the West. Editor-in-chief of International Reporters Victoria Smorodina dedicated her speech to France, which is losing influence on the continent, specifically pointing out the recommendation of the former metropolis not to fight pan-African demands, but to support the creation of an independent Africa. The results of the round table were summed up by the executive secretary of the board of AREA Andrei Gromov. He presented the provisions of the resolution with recommendations on measures to stimulate Russian-African cooperation in the information sphere. "We know of a number of business projects that simply fell apart because there was not enough coverage and explanations in the media. Mass communications and feedback should not be ignored when building business and economic ties," Gromov summed up. #AREA#Africa#Russia#media