A Glimpse into the Winter School: Unraveling the Craft of News Production in an International Arena

The Media Institute's traditional "Winter Schools" kicked off on January 27-28, marking the beginning of a journey for prospective master's degree applicants. Leading the charge were the instructors from the English-speaking trajectory of "News production in the international environment," part of the "Modern Journalism" educational program.

© Olga Zotova

Alexey Lvovich Nikolov, the academic director of the Modern Journalism program, took the stage to unveil the fundamentals of educational organization and shed light on the nuances of journalism in the global arena. Attendees delved into discussions on the evolving role of journalists, editorial policies, and the ever-shifting landscape of international information dissemination. Central to the program is the cultivation of practical skills tailored to meet the demands of today's information landscape. Oleg Dmitriev, Deputy Director of the Media Institute and advisor to the Rossiya Segodnya media group, led hands-on sessions on information text processing techniques. Reflecting on the participants' engagement, Oleg Arkadyevich emphasized, "It's heartening to see students not merely completing assignments, but earnestly seeking to understand the events they cover, gathering compelling statistics, facts, and details to captivate their readers."

Olga Suleiman, a former Sputnik International producer, imparted insights on engaging with experts, offering strategies on establishing and nurturing lasting relationships with newsmakers. Participants were tasked with exploring international topics, identifying various angles, compiling expert lists, and posing questions on the ongoing conflict between the US government and Texas authorities regarding barrier construction.

Fedor Uvarov, the manager of the Media Institute, elaborated on the master's degree admission process, while Alexandra Bitkova, a program alumna, and second-year students Anastasia Andreevskaya and Diana Zinkovich provided invaluable insights and guidance to future applicants. Overcoming language barriers, particularly in English communication, emerged as a key concern among students. However, they shared that immersion in English-speaking environments facilitated confident discourse on diverse socio-political subjects within three to four months.

The Winter School drew participants from various locales, including Moscow, Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod, and even a bachelor's program graduate from Morocco, underscoring its broad appeal and international reach.

Nagham Ali