Maryna Mauchanava: The authorities taught people to beware of non-state mass media

photo from "Babruisk Curier"

The winner of “EuroBelarus” competition believes that informing the public is essential in her reportages: “Apart from service this is also audience’s education. It will make conclusions on its own”.

The awarding ceremony of a reporter of "Babruisk Courier" took place on March 13 in Babruisk. Maryna Mauchanava has received an award from the International Consortium “EuroBelarus”.

The prize "Civil Society in Focus of Regional Media" was launched and founded in 2014. It has been awarded for the best journalistic works that were most profound, sharp and creative in their coverage of the social and cultural initiatives.

Maryna Mauchanava was declared the winner in the category "Acute Social Problems" for the journalistic material "No Opening for Ales Adamovich Museum in 2015" published in the online edition of "Babruisk Courier".

The diploma of the contest winner as well as the award of the International Consortium - a professional voice recorder - was handed to the journalist by the representative of EuroBelarus Sviatlana Antashkevich.

- It looks like the relations between the authorities and independent journalists remain one of the main problems on non-governmental media in the regions?

- I wouldn’t say that this only the problem of regional press; perhaps, this is the problem of the whole country. These are the problems with getting information from the authorities as well as other kind of problems if you publish something unpleasant for them.

- However, Minsk officials have to communicate with journalists at press conferences on a regular basis, especially if these are registered editions or accredited journalists.

- Our edition is registered; however, it doesn’t change our relations with the authorities: we are not invited to the panels in Babruisk Executive Committee and official events and, frankly speaking, we have stopped trying. Because of that "Babruisk Courier" doesn’t have a printed version anymore; now we only have our website.

- During our previous meetings of “EuroBelarus” and the prize winners the question about the essence of today’s regional press has been raised – is it, first of all, service or non-governmental media should mould the audience’s taste, educate it, and so on?

- I won’t speak for my edition, I will speak for myself. I think that information function goes first. Apart from service this is also audience’s education, and let the audience make conclusions on its own.