«We are the voice of people's desires, needs, feelings, and emotions», said Maria Zakharova, speaking about her work, life, and inner struggle at a meeting with students

On March 24, students from the HSE Institute of Media took part in a meeting with Maria Zakharova, Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Information and Press Department. The discussion took place as a part of the interuniversity Media club «TOP of the month».

© Vladimir Volkov for the HSE Institute of Media

The meeting was attended by students from leading media universities across Russia, as well as high school students from Plekhanov Lyceum. This time, the number of participants wishing to meet with the guest was so high that the discussion had to be relocated from the largest auditorium to a congress hall. As usual, the conversation was moderated by Ernest Matskyavichyus, Director of the Institute of Media and a well-known TV presenter.

Before the conversation began, Maria Zakharova noted that this was not a standard briefing or press conference but an open dialogue. She expressed her readiness to answer all questions and encouraged students to participate actively.

The first question came from Ernest Matskyavichyus himself, who asked for comments on the negotiations in Riyadh taking place that same day. Maria Zakharova noted that the discussion was held «behind closed doors», but stressed that work was already «progressing in multiple directions». Many of her statements had been published by major news agencies even before the talk with students finished.

Her response to the question about Riyadh turned into a masterclass for aspiring journalists, as she explained its structure and significance. «What matters is how you frame your question and what you aim to achieve with it», – she explained.

A graduate of MGIMO with a degree in International Journalism, Maria Zakharova shared another key piece of advice: never read questions from a phone or a sheet of paper. The only exception, she said, was breaking news («lightning») like urgent messages from editors that must be quoted without familiarization. Even then, she noted, journalists should inform the audience that the information has just arrived. «Reading questions makes you look unprofessional and absolutely disinterested. So, you are either incapable or indifferent. I’m not sure what is even worse», – the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remarked.

The diplomat admitted that journalism has changed dramatically in recent decades. «The narrative cannot remain the same when the country is facing a hybrid war», – she stated. She identified the key missions of journalism today as preserving historical memory, countering disinformation, discovering truth, and supporting colleagues. Recalling her first TV appearance in 2014 – a programme supporting Russian journalists in Ukraine on Channel One – she emphasized that assisting colleagues and compatriots in distress abroad is both the Ministry’s duty and her personal commitment as a journalist: «We are not just representatives of high-minded diplomatic theories or the international agenda. We are the voice of people’s desires, needs, feelings, and emotions». The Civil servant has long been paying attention to the lack of security of military correspondents. Just this week, it became known about the deaths of several front-line correspondents, including Anna Prokofieva (Channel One), Alexander Fedorchak (Izvestia), cameraman Andrei Panov (Zvezda), and driver of the film crew Alexander Sirkeli.

In addition, Maria Zakharova raised the issue of preserving traditional journalism during rapid technological advancements. Along with it, not only journalism is changing, but also the attitude towards it. More and more often it is being equated with media communications, new strategic media, and other directions of the media sphere. Following the trend of modernity, AI is also pervading journalism. As an example, Maria Zakharova recalled a newspaper recently published in Italy, written entirely by a neuronet.

In defense of traditional media, the speaker outlined three points that distinguish traditional journalism from everything else. She noted that this is a profession, and graduates of journalism faculties receive qualifications upon graduation. Also, each journalist is personally responsible for his words and information provided to a wide audience. And another important point is professional ethics. «Not only the law, but also conscience <...> must keep journalism in check» – Maria Zakharova determined.

The aspiring journalists were also interested in current challenges facing the media sphere: fake news, media literacy, and artificial intelligence. Maria Zakharova shared her personal approach to combating disinformation. She spoke about the «Anti-Fake» section that was established on the Ministry's website a long time ago and received positive feedback from the audience. However, the amount of false information increased significantly after 2022. This led to a decision to enhance the section, transforming from publishing individual refutations to producing comprehensive analytical reviews.

When asked about media literacy, Zakharova referenced George Orwell’s «1984», warning against the dangers of unchecked information. To navigate the media sphere, she advised students to broaden their horizons by reading classical literature that «the civilization has preserved». She emphasized that every work of art has its origins, and these primary sources must be known well: «We need knowledge of fundamental subjects and works that define who we are».

The discussion with Maria Zakharova lasted nearly two hours, as every participant wanted to ask their question to the official representative of The Russian Foreign Ministry. Beyond topics concerning the media sphere and international relations, the conversation touched upon aspects of the speaker's personal life. The Foreign Ministry representative shared her personal passion – writing poetry. Maria Zakharova noted that many diplomats had been poets, for instance, Pushkin, Tyutchev, Griboyedov, and Primakov.

During the conversation, Maria Zakharova spoke honestly about her professional journey. The diplomat revealed her strong affinity for mathematics and Chinese language that she used to have, along with her active sports career – she achieved competitive rankings in both rhythmic gymnastics and figure skating. While she had originally aspired to become a Sinologist, the lack of available positions redirected her path. «When things don't go as planned», she advised, «one should never take offense, never stop moving forward, but rather seek new avenues for self-realization». Maria Zakharova added that grievances are always destructive for personal growth, and shared that she channels stress through creative expression, which she called «the power of creation». She regards her current position as her true calling.

Maria Zakharova called the availability to communicate 24-7 with journalists and people the main feature of her current job. While acknowledging this comes at a cost to personal life and family relationships, she believes the benefits far outweigh the challenges – particularly, the gratitude and trust she receives from people as a diplomat.

In conclusion, when asked whether she considered herself happy, Maria Zakharova responded that absolute happiness is likely unreachable: «Life is essentially a struggle for harmony, a constant battle between good and evil, light and darkness». She compared complete satisfaction to an electrocardiogram reading, where fluctuations are indicators of normal function. The speaker highlighted that the path to happiness inevitably includes difficulties and negative experiences. However, she noted that these very challenges often serve as catalysts for action.

The discussion turned out exceptionally engaging for Zakharova herself. In the near future, she suggested hosting a specialized workshop for media students at the Foreign Ministry building. This practical seminar would allow participants to practice responding to challenging questions and examine the nuances of working in the media field.

Author: Kamilla Davletbaeva, a first-year student of Bachelor's programme «Journalism»

Translation: Ekaterina Erokhova, a second-year student of Bachelor's programme «Media Communications»