On July 31, the Gorchakov Fund hosted the official closing ceremony of the InteRussia fellowship for foreign journalists. The programme brought together young media professionals from Burundi, Zambia, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, and Uganda.
Vasily Pushkov, Director for International Cooperation at the Rossiya Segodnya Media Group, addressed the participants, emphasising the importance of international cooperation in journalism in the current climate.
“In today's world, international cooperation in the media sphere is of particular importance. Programmes such as this one help journalists to explore different professional approaches, share experience, and build new contacts. It is precisely this kind of open dialogue and sustained engagement that strengthens mutual understanding and fosters joint projects,” noted Vasily Pushkov.
On behalf of the Gorchakov Fund, Sergey Orlov, Deputy Executive Director, addressed the participants and thanked the young professionals for their interest in the programme.
“We are delighted to see so many representatives from different countries ready to engage in open, professional dialogue. I am confident that your time in Russia has given you the opportunity to gain new knowledge, expand your professional network, and become more familiar with the Russian media landscape. I hope that this experience will serve you well in your future careers,” said Sergey Orlov.
The core educational programme of the fellowship took place at the Rossiya Segodnya Media Group. Through a combination of lectures and practical sessions, participants explored contemporary media production formats and the principles of creating multimedia content, as well as how Russian media outlets operate. The practical centrepiece of the programme involved the participants recording a podcast, which enabled them to apply their newly acquired knowledge and gain first-hand experience of audio production.
Considerable attention was devoted to introducing the participants to the Russian media, expert, and business communities. The journalists visited the IMA-Press communications agency, the African Initiative news agency, the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the EFKO Group, where they met with Executive Director Sergey Ivanov. The fellows also met with Georgy Borisenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, to discuss international cooperation, Russia's engagement with African countries, and the role of the media in shaping the international agenda.
The cultural programme introduced participants to the history and landmarks of the Russian capital, including a guided tour of Moscow, a boat trip along the Moskva River, and a visit to the Ostankino Tower, one of the enduring symbols of Russian television.
The InteRussia fellowship for journalists from African countries is implemented by the Mezhdunarodniki Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation in cooperation with the Gorchakov Fund and the International Information Agency and Radio Sputnik as part of the SputnikPro programme. The fellowship is held within Rossotrudnichestvo's flagship New Generation programme with grant support from the Presidential Grants Foundation.