MINSK, 30 July (BelTA) – Local government officials should communicate more actively with regional media outlets, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with senior local government officials to discuss topical social and political issues on 30 July, BelTA has learned.
The head of state called information security an important aspect of the overall security and order. “Each chairman of the executive committee should be intimately familiar with the media landscape of their district or city: what kind of media outlets operate there, what editorial policy they pursue, how popular they are,” the president said. “A deputy chairman in charge of ideology and media should know by sight all journalists, bloggers, administrators of Telegram channels and chats living and working in that area, and communicate with them in person. Everything should be not just under control, but done with your permission,” the head of state added.
“An information vacuum should not be allowed. This has been reiterated more than once,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
According to him, nationwide media outlets are already working at a qualitatively new level and the regional executive committees and district executive committees need to catch up to reach at least the level of Minsk Oblast where the regional media holding is successfully operating.
“Unfortunately, the role of the regional press is undeservedly underestimated. Sometimes heads of district administrations use local newspapers as a personal Board of Honor. The press lacks materials on burning issues, relevant and interesting topics,” the president added.
