21 October 2003, 19:57
Journalists to be and NGO activists conducted round table discussion in Krasnodar
The round table discussion "Non-Profit Non-Government Organizations as Independent Source of Information" was held at the faculty of journalism of the Kuban State University on October 16. Experts in the field of development of civil society institutions and well-known journalists experienced at cooperation with the third sector activists of Krasnodar Territory's public organizations participated in the discussion.
Head of the Krasnodar Regional Public Organization "Guild of Journalists and PR Specialists" Yana Lobastova said members of regional NGOs agreed in the opinion that it is easier to generate journalists' interest in the socially important activity of civil society structures in Kuban at the stage when they just enter into their profession. This very idea became a stimulus to such a meeting of NGO activists with journalists to be.
The discussion was arranged by the Faculty of Journalism of the Kuban State University, the Guild of Journalists and PR Specialists, and the Krasnodar Club of Civil Education. It was held with the assistance of the Caucasian Knot information and analytical agency and the Open Society Institute.
During the discussion, the both sides made sure that joint work was not only possible, but required, as the third sector is a partner of the state and business equal in rights with them. However, many students assumed that not only press representatives were to be blamed for the inadequate coverage of civil society structures' activity. NGO activists often did not work enough to enlighten journalists about the concernment of the third sector.