MINSK, 27 May (BelTA) – Belarusian mass media need to join efforts to defend the national interests, Deputy Head of the Belarus President Administration Igor Lutsky told reporters as he took part in the maiden edition of the Forum of the Media Community of Belarus "Media in the Age of Digitalization," BelTA has learned.
“Yesterday the president met with MPs, representatives of the government bodies and the expert community. The head of state said this very important phrase: to embrace the situation of today. In my opinion, this phrase was addressed to journalists, the media community. Because in fact a lot depends on how quickly and accurately we tell our people about what's going on inside or outside the Republic of Belarus, the information attack we are under. Today we need to explain very professionally, clearly what is happening in the world and the country. Yesterday the president lauded the work of the media. But I think we cannot let our guards down yet,” Igor Lutsky noted.
"Today's format is new. We used to hold an exhibition. But a journalist is a wordsmith, a skillful writer. It is time to talk about what is happening in the media space of the country, how we can defend the position of the state, the position of sovereignty by joint efforts here in Minsk and also in the regions (a lot of representatives of the regions among the attendees). Sovereignty is unshakable. It cannot be questioned. You can see what's going on. The incident in Latvia gave some kind of impetus to the consolidation of society around the state symbols. State symbols are the attributes of the state, it is part of the state. And I would urge everyone to express their opinion, their position in relation to our symbols by some kind of an action, a flash mob. It is very important to rally together and stay united,” Igor Lutsky said.
Igor Lutsky also read out the president's greeting to the participants, guests and organizers of the forum.
The forum has brought together more than 200 representatives of the national and regional media, media experts and participants of the school of young journalists. The plenary session and thematic discussions will focus on the most pressing issues of the development of domestic media, the role and place of state media in ensuring the information security of the country, the best practices of the Belarusian and Russian editorial offices in the era of digitalization.
