Mikhail Mishustin: “Modern-day media are a stark departure from their predecessors, yet many traditions of Russian journalism date back to earlier times, including genuine interest in ongoing events, attention to detail, and loyalty to one’s homeland. I’m especially grateful for the feedback from the public provided by the media.”
Mikhail Mishustin’s opening remarks:
Mikhail Mishustin presents 2024 Government media awards
Award ceremony for the 2024 Government media awards
Mikhail Mishustin presents 2024 Government media awards
Good afternoon, friends.
I am delighted to welcome the award winners and guests to this ceremony.
I’d like to begin by extending my best wishes to you on the occasion of the upcoming professional holiday, Russian Press Day, which we will mark next Monday, January 13.
This is an important date for every media member. It marks the release of Vedomosti, Russia’s first newspaper printed during Peter the Great’s rule. Modern-day media are a stark departure from their predecessors, yet many traditions of Russian journalism date back to earlier times, including genuine interest in ongoing events, attention to detail, and loyalty to one’s homeland. I’m especially grateful for the feedback from the public provided by the media.
Just like 300 years ago, readers, viewers, and listeners continue to seek information daily, which makes your work indispensable to society.
I’m especially grateful for the feedback from the public provided by the media. Our President has emphasised repeatedly the importance of this approach.
Picking the best media members of the past year was, as always, a challenge, especially so since we are presenting awards to professionals from nearly every form of communication, such as television, radio, news agencies, and the blogosphere, including regional outlets.
I would like to start by acknowledging journalists who contribute significantly to Russia’s information security that is our war correspondents. These people risk their lives to report events, sometimes broadcasting live from the contact line. Your accounts about the people you meet during such assignments are invaluable.
Following the President’s proposal, 2025 has been declared Defender of the Fatherland Year which honours our heroes and participants in the special military operation and pays tribute to the feats of our ancestors across various historical periods, who fought for their country and Motherland.
Your materials serve as a living chronicle of ongoing events and an essential part of modern history.
Among today’s award winners is NTV correspondent Alexei Ivliyev, who has repeatedly reported from conflict zones. Last summer, he suffered serious injuries during an enemy attack. We wish him a speedy recovery.
Another recipient of the Government award is Channel One war correspondent Maryana Naumova, who supports residents of newly integrated regions by helping deliver targeted humanitarian aid.
Rossiya Segodnya employees boast expertise and professional excellence, with four of them nominated for the award.
They are Yury Voytkevich, a native of Donetsk, who covered events in the Donbass region from day one. His colleague, Andrei Kazakov, reported from Mariupol under artillery fire. Photojournalist Stanislav Krasilnikov was one of the first to come to liberated Avdeyevka, the Donetsk People’s Republic. Maria Marikyan provided assistance to refugees in the Kursk Region.
Journalists from various Russian regions are among those honoured with awards. Their media outlets are recognised for their understanding of local nuances and their dedication to addressing the concerns of their fellow citizens. Special recognition is extended to those who have steadfastly defended the right of residents to access news in Russian over the years.
The Donetsk People’s Republic hosts the Union television company, led by General Director Vladimir Yemelyanov and Editor-in-Chief Viktoria Melnikova, who have developed their media outlet for nearly a decade under challenging conditions. Body armour and helmets are indispensable for their employees, and studios have been situated in a basement for safety purposes. It is noteworthy that the channel is actively expanding its collection of documentaries, chronicling events in Donbass since the Russian Spring.
Among the awardees are Alexander Balvas from Lugansk, head of the weekly newspaper Respublika, and his colleague Svetlana Yurova. Their significant contributions have shaped an accurate depiction of events, countering the region’s information blockade.
Journalists from the Russian Federation’s border regions currently face demanding workloads. They are not merely on assignments but are living under near-frontline conditions, occasionally finding themselves amidst hostilities.
This was the fate of Yulia Kuznetsova, Editor-in-Chief of Narodnaya Gazeta, who perished last autumn while fulfilling her official duties. She was only 34 years old and a mother of two. I extend my condolences to her family and friends. She has also been honoured with an award.
We also recognise the civil courage of Olga Bryantseva, her colleague from the regional newspaper, who is a mother of seven and a consummate professional.
The staff of the Belgorod regional television and radio company also face significant challenges, as their building has been under artillery fire twice. Nevertheless, the employees continue to fulfil their professional duties. The company’s director, Nadezhda Vlasova, has had to overhaul the team’s security protocols. TV cameraman Vyacheslav Podzolkov, along with war correspondents Alexander Korobov and Alexei Kornev, frequently travel to the scene, having repeatedly ventured into the most perilous areas.
To report on the special military operation, the prominent weekly Argumenty i Fakty established a military information centre, whose reports are closely monitored by millions of readers.
Journalists from this newspaper, the creators of the Dobrovolets (Volunteer) multimedia project, are recipients of the award. Their subjects include servicemen, doctors, volunteers, teachers, builders, and many other committed individuals who support the frontlines.
Media representatives from other countries have also been present in the conflict zone. Ksenia Lebedeva, from the First News Channel of the National State TV and Radio Company of Belarus, received a Russian Government prize for her documentary film Mariupol.
Today, the media landscape is also a fault line. It is journalists who ensure not only information security but also national security, countering false information, and defending Russia’s positions.
Among them is Andrei Medvedev, Deputy General Director of VGTRK, whose documentaries enable viewers to independently draw conclusions crucial for an objective analysis of current events.
Also among them is the international television channel TV-Novosti, known to global audiences under the RT logo, which continues its mission even in countries where its broadcast has been restricted due to its support for a multipolar world, criticism of Russophobia, or differing perspectives on global developments.
Two additional laureates represent the Crimea 24 television channel, which has provided information to local residents and visitors of the peninsula for nine years.
Additionally, Russian Radio – Eurasia, broadcast in over 30 countries worldwide, is recognised.
Dear colleagues,
In accordance with the Presidential Executive Order, the year 2024 was declared the Year of the Family.
It is symbolic that, during this period, one of our nation’s most beloved television programmes, which has been viewed by virtually every Russian citizen, celebrated its 60th anniversary – the Good Night, Little Ones! television show. I believe the secret to this programme’s popularity is its warm and heartfelt care for children by its creators, who present educational content in a playful format.
This success is attributable to its team, including host Anna Mikhalkova, and contributors such as Oksana Chabanyuk, Yelena Shabayeva, Valentina Mitroshenkova, and Natalya Sitkova, who has been part of the project for nearly four decades.
More to be posted soon…
