Media Forum for Young Journalists held in the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg
25-04-2006 (Moscow)
The Media Forum of Young Journalists «Dialogue of Cultures» took place in St. Petersburg (Russian Federation) on 4 and 5 April 2006. It was organized by the Eurasia Media Centre with support from the UNESCO Moscow office, the State Hermitage Museum, the International Confederation of Unions of Journalists and the International Academy of Television and Radio.
A message from the Director General of UNESCO Koichiro Matsura was read out at the Forum.
One of the biggest museums of the world representing the cultural heritage of humanity was the venue for this gathering of more than 100 young journalists and representatives of mass media: editors-in-chief, television commentators and presenters, correspondents and columnists, as well as eminent professionals in the fields of culture, sociology and politics from Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Baltic countries, Belarus, Central Asia, Georgia, Moldova, the Russian Federation and the Ukraine.
Participants in the Forum discussed the role of media professionals in facilitating dialogue between countries as well as among social and religious groups. The importance of the principle of freedom of expression was highlighted as one of the key preconditions for dialogue. They reiterated the dangers of xenophobia and the need to maintain the right balance between freedom of expression and cultural and religious values of different societies.
An informal network of media professionals was formed during the St. Petersburg forum and participants agreed to broaden the format of their next meeting to be held in Latvia, by inviting journalists from the European Union countries.
A premier screening of the documentary film ‘36 warriors’ concluded the Media Forum by relating a fascinating saga of dialogue between Christian and Islamic civilizations. The film told the story of the 14th century history of Turkish nomadic tribes, who lived in southern Russia, as recorded by the Armenian scribes. The Turkish language recorded in the Armenian alphabet was preserved by the monks and librarians of Lvov (Ukraine) and Venice (Italy).
The Forum was widely covered by the mass media. More than 20 interviews were given to Russian, Ukrainian, Armenian, Uzbek television stations and print media representatives.
One of the biggest museums of the world representing the cultural heritage of humanity was the venue for this gathering of more than 100 young journalists and representatives of mass media: editors-in-chief, television commentators and presenters, correspondents and columnists, as well as eminent professionals in the fields of culture, sociology and politics from Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Baltic countries, Belarus, Central Asia, Georgia, Moldova, the Russian Federation and the Ukraine.
Participants in the Forum discussed the role of media professionals in facilitating dialogue between countries as well as among social and religious groups. The importance of the principle of freedom of expression was highlighted as one of the key preconditions for dialogue. They reiterated the dangers of xenophobia and the need to maintain the right balance between freedom of expression and cultural and religious values of different societies.
An informal network of media professionals was formed during the St. Petersburg forum and participants agreed to broaden the format of their next meeting to be held in Latvia, by inviting journalists from the European Union countries.
A premier screening of the documentary film ‘36 warriors’ concluded the Media Forum by relating a fascinating saga of dialogue between Christian and Islamic civilizations. The film told the story of the 14th century history of Turkish nomadic tribes, who lived in southern Russia, as recorded by the Armenian scribes. The Turkish language recorded in the Armenian alphabet was preserved by the monks and librarians of Lvov (Ukraine) and Venice (Italy).
The Forum was widely covered by the mass media. More than 20 interviews were given to Russian, Ukrainian, Armenian, Uzbek television stations and print media representatives.
State Hermitage Museum, St. PetersburgRelated themes/countries
· Azerbaijan
· Georgia
· Armenia
· Republic of Moldova
· Belarus: News Archives
· Ukraine: News Archives
· Media Development: News Archives 2006
· Russian Federation: News Archives 2006
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