Аннотация: Anti-corruption journalist and a provincial cauldron. A sketch.
Anti-corruption journalist and a provincial cauldron. A sketch.
New times have come and it is not easy to work in the media. Previously, the mood of voters (of population) and the results of voting depended on the media. Now the voting results depend on many other things, and the media are almost unnecessary. Doctor Evil has burst into the public arena. He is testing the algorithm for reformatting the media into a means of mass intimidation ... Dr. Evil is trying to turn a journalist into a kind of a political Corleonist ...
For journalists with a traditional upbringing to find a right course in such a situation not so easy.
An editor-in-chief of a large media corporation has learned of widespread discontent and demonstrations in a remote province. He was reflecting deeply. There, in this province, as elsewhere, there is a representative (staff member) of corporation. This local employee is capable of writing and submitting current news. At corporate headquarters, these local news will be adjusted and will be broadcast to the public. Plus, there, in this province, on the spot, there are also representatives of large news agencies and correspondents of other media outlets. So he can to sit quietly in own chair and not to twitch.
But there is also upbringing, there are traditions, there is a kind of pride, of honor. A real journalist is a kind of news-maker. He creates events, he creates news.
It smelled with a big local political turmoil.
The editor-in-chief remembered a distant relative. The attitude towards him was a kind of cool, of cold. But a relative is a relative. He was appointed special correspondent for the fight against corruption. The person was linked, was upconnected to the business (the moral duty of one relative to another was fulfilled). And if something happens to him..., - ... we are all vulnerable to all sorts of troubles.
A distant relative was better suited to cover events and to create news than a local employee. He was able to understand many things with a half-word or without words, at all. The situation is difficult - a boiling cauldron. But he is the anti-corruption journalist.
So, a special anti-corruption correspondent was dispatched to a distant province.
The special correspondent arrived in the province and at first was agitated. "The whole city is protesting!"
While the special anti-corruption correspondent walked around the city, watched the protests, sat in a local restaurant and enjoyed the status of the capital's big-shot (star) in local media circles, the editor-in-chief was visited by serious people with large portfolios.
One of the main positions was vacant in the province. But a good job doesn't stay vacant for long. Moreover - a forest (a timber), and a many of other natural resources. A state border is nearby.
The guests began to explain to the editor-in-chief the advantages of one of the candidates. They took information materials out of the portfolios. The editor was forced to agree. The materials are convincing ...
A new topic appeared in the reports of the special correspondent acting on the scene. The land (krai) suffers without a "master"!
A "master" ("owner") who will "restore order" needed!
(Apparently in high offices, for the persuasion of the Main Person, they operated with the concepts of "master" and "will restore order." The accidental coincidence of terminology (in high offices and in the media) was to convince the right person that everyone (in the province) was only waiting for the "owner" who would "restore order").
At this time, references to protests almost disappeared from the messages of the anti-corruption journalist. In his messages there were now only a "not numerous groups" of interested persons.
From the reports of news agencies, one of the employees (in the capital) learned that one of the opposition parties held a rally (in the province). The employee called by phone the anti-corruption journalist. He began to ask about this rally. He first pretended to be a hose. He hardly recalled - what rally? Then finally, he remembered. What is the rally about? What slogans? Yes, there was a rally, no details remained in the memory.
In general, the "master" needed. Who "will restore order." And behind the main building are buses. In buses - people who will quickly restore order.
Suddenly, a certain politician from the "young" was appointed to the vacant place.
Everyone was amazed. A short period of discussion of details from the biography of the new young provincial boss. And the expectations - whether he will find a language with the population of the province.
The new chief arrived in the province. The demonstrations continued.
The editor-in-chief pondered. This is a new turn of things. The new young provincial boss clearly did not pull [he couldn't claim] on the title of a "master" ("owner"), and in general, he was not the same person about whom a significant persons said that he would "restore order." Of course, this new young provincial chief immediately met with the four strong officials. But another question is whether this will lead to putting things in order ...
Previously assumed obligations (to people with large portfolios) have been canceled.
On the one hand, it was necessary to take care of maintaining the volume of funding from the federal budget. It was a reason to reduce to a minimum the news from the province. Indirectly to depict that there all is calm, all is smooth ...
On the other hand, the provincial cauldron was boiling. And in such a situation, staying on the sidelines is just hard. Moreover, such a behavior does not correspond to the high title of a journalist.
The most respectable client was, now, the new young provincial boss. He hasn't figured out the local situation yet, he has no experience, there are more protests ahead ...
In this situation, it is necessary to correctly direct the information flow.
The anti-corruption journalist is trying. He's interviewing. He presses the young boss. Will he disperse protests and a rally, or not? Young boss, so far, does not occupy a certain position ...
But the journalist insists. In a tense environment, such questions increase the political weight of the one who asks them. And the signs of respect correspond to political weight.
But there is also intent (hidden deeply behind the back), - what if events (with protests, with repressions) will take such a turn that it will be possible to justify the initial obligations taken during negotiations with people with large portfolios?
Who are the protesters? Why are they protesting? What do they want? - This is still an unknown quantity (an unknown digit) in the information formula, which can change depending on the further strategy.
Opposition figures who were holding the rally "emerged from oblivion" again. Now they are given the floor ...
The new boss needs to be pressured (press is press, - a pressure) on the topic of 'protests and demonstrations'. It's time to gain political weight ...
The chief editor ponders the situation in his office at headquarters. An anti-corruption journalist is twisting around the scene.
The new young provincial boss ponders how to provide him with a favorable information environment ...
After all, the news (one way or another) comes ... We are not a Corleonists, we are a people of progress ... A new reality, gentlemen ...
23 July 2020 06:42
Translation from Russian into English: July 23, 2020 13:51.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Антикоррупционный журналист и провинциальный котёл. Скетч'.