The official launch of the new stage of the International Media Award "Honest View" took place in Moscow as part of a roundtable discussion dedicated to the development of modern international journalism.
What is the understanding of freedom of speech in today’s media? How should journalists work under pressure and imposed stereotypes? What are Russia’s chances of being heard in foreign media, and what tools can help achieve this? Russian and international media professionals shared their perspectives on these and other questions. The event brought together several dozen foreign journalists and bloggers who actively participated in the discussion.
What is the understanding of freedom of speech in today’s media? How should journalists work under pressure and imposed stereotypes? What are Russia’s chances of being heard in foreign media, and what tools can help achieve this? Russian and international media professionals shared their perspectives on these and other questions. The event brought together several dozen foreign journalists and bloggers who actively participated in the discussion.
he media, as a traditional institution of Western democracy, are currently experiencing a severe crisis alongside other institutions. However, unlike elections, parliamentarism, and political parties, the erosion of the media’s democratic function happens unnoticed by outside observers. This is manifested in a total loss of audience trust, as seen quantitatively in declining ratings, circulation, and viewership. This was stated by Alexander Nosovich, political scientist, international journalist, editor-in-chief of the analytical portals RuBaltic.Ru and Eurasia.Expert, and member of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy (CFDP), during his speech.
Renowned American journalist Rick Sanchez participated virtually in the roundtable, sharing his professional experience and discussing how his worldview changed after working for leading American TV channels.
“I believe in the importance of values, in the significance of hard work-this was instilled in me by my parents and helped me become, if not the only, then the first Spanish-speaking national TV host. I always believed in the truth presented to Americans-about America’s exceptionalism and infallibility. But while working at leading American channels, I began to have questions. Later, while working at Russia Today, I realized that almost everything we believed was the opposite of the truth. Today, America is waking up; this process is underway, and there is a club of journalists who are helping with this. I urge you to become part of this club. Share the truth. It will make us better and our world safer,” Rick Sanchez said in his video message.
Renowned American journalist Rick Sanchez participated virtually in the roundtable, sharing his professional experience and discussing how his worldview changed after working for leading American TV channels.
“I believe in the importance of values, in the significance of hard work-this was instilled in me by my parents and helped me become, if not the only, then the first Spanish-speaking national TV host. I always believed in the truth presented to Americans-about America’s exceptionalism and infallibility. But while working at leading American channels, I began to have questions. Later, while working at Russia Today, I realized that almost everything we believed was the opposite of the truth. Today, America is waking up; this process is underway, and there is a club of journalists who are helping with this. I urge you to become part of this club. Share the truth. It will make us better and our world safer,” Rick Sanchez said in his video message.
Ivan Andreev, head of the project "Foreign Journalists for Russia," spoke about the importance of building connections between journalists from different countries.
“We organize press tours for journalists to Donbass, and more than 80 journalists from all over the world have already participated. We see the stereotypes that foreign reporters rely on and try to show them the real picture. I believe that Russia has not yet even formulated its work in promoting the truth. Our resources and activity are still incomparable to American organizations that support thousands of their NGOs worldwide. We have tasks in building relationships with the media that need to be addressed even in countries and regions considered historically friendly to us-I’m talking about countries in Africa, Asia, and even BRICS countries,” Ivan Andreev shared.
Greek journalist Dimitrios Liatsos spoke about the specifics of working in Greek and European media and about his project, which won the Grand Prix of the "Honest View" Media Award in 2024.
“In the West, there are no real media outlets-there is a big copying machine that reproduces whatever they are told in Brussels or London. Europe tries to instill in Greeks, Serbs, and Cypriots the image of Russia as a symbol of danger. I have many years of journalistic experience. Once, an editor at a media outlet where I worked told me: ‘We are a European publication and must do European news.’ I replied that news is just news, without any coloring. I work in Russia, and I am probably an exception. I call my project in Greek ‘Ideochoros’-the space of ideas. Nothing works without an idea. We talk about the connection between our two countries, about Greeks living and working in Russia, and about Russians in Greece. About our shared history. I am grateful that our work was recognized,” said Dimitrios Liatsos.
Participants in the discussion noted that changing the perspectives of foreign journalists is a complex and often non-linear process. Even when they realize the falsehood of their own views while working side by side with Russian colleagues, they often do not change their position in their reports, publishing what fits the agenda of their home countries.
At the same time, according to Nadana Friedrichson, editor-in-chief of "Reporters" and a member of the "Honest View" media award jury, there is a demand among Western audiences for the Russian point of view.
“We organize press tours for journalists to Donbass, and more than 80 journalists from all over the world have already participated. We see the stereotypes that foreign reporters rely on and try to show them the real picture. I believe that Russia has not yet even formulated its work in promoting the truth. Our resources and activity are still incomparable to American organizations that support thousands of their NGOs worldwide. We have tasks in building relationships with the media that need to be addressed even in countries and regions considered historically friendly to us-I’m talking about countries in Africa, Asia, and even BRICS countries,” Ivan Andreev shared.
Greek journalist Dimitrios Liatsos spoke about the specifics of working in Greek and European media and about his project, which won the Grand Prix of the "Honest View" Media Award in 2024.
“In the West, there are no real media outlets-there is a big copying machine that reproduces whatever they are told in Brussels or London. Europe tries to instill in Greeks, Serbs, and Cypriots the image of Russia as a symbol of danger. I have many years of journalistic experience. Once, an editor at a media outlet where I worked told me: ‘We are a European publication and must do European news.’ I replied that news is just news, without any coloring. I work in Russia, and I am probably an exception. I call my project in Greek ‘Ideochoros’-the space of ideas. Nothing works without an idea. We talk about the connection between our two countries, about Greeks living and working in Russia, and about Russians in Greece. About our shared history. I am grateful that our work was recognized,” said Dimitrios Liatsos.
Participants in the discussion noted that changing the perspectives of foreign journalists is a complex and often non-linear process. Even when they realize the falsehood of their own views while working side by side with Russian colleagues, they often do not change their position in their reports, publishing what fits the agenda of their home countries.
At the same time, according to Nadana Friedrichson, editor-in-chief of "Reporters" and a member of the "Honest View" media award jury, there is a demand among Western audiences for the Russian point of view.
“Russia still manages to break through the information barriers, despite distortions and the blocking of Russian journalists’ accounts-mine and my colleagues’. I participated in a broadcast on Italian television, after which a huge number of people started writing to me on social media. They said: ‘We want to know the Russian position, we feel like something is being left unsaid.’ This shows that we shouldn’t fight for the chief editors of leading Western media. These are people who have families to feed, and they won’t change anything as long as they have their own agenda. But we must fight for the minds of ordinary people, and I believe Russia has succeeded in this.
When we launched the ‘Honest View’ Media Award, we thought journalists wouldn’t come, that they’d be afraid. Fortunately, we were wrong-a stream of applications began to arrive. People participated with great enthusiasm, came and were proud of their awards, fearing no one. We did it. Today, our task is simply to continue-slowly, steadily, consistently. We must ensure that people in Europe and the UK start asking questions. When a person starts asking questions, they seek answers and become different. The award contributes to this,” says Nadana Friedrichson.
Applications for the "Honest View – 2025" Media Award are now open. Representatives of foreign media, international journalists, and bloggers covering the international cooperation of their countries with the Russian Federation are invited to participate.
Applications will be accepted until October 1, 2025, on the official website of the Media Award: https://honest-view.press.
Awards in 2025 will be given for:
− Best material in the genre of journalism and documentary
− Best material on international cultural, social, or humanitarian partnership with Russia
− Best material in the reportage genre (special prize from the Ruptly video agency)
− Best material by young journalists about the Russian Federation
− Best material on the topic of public diplomacy
Traditionally, the jury will present a special award in the “Tallest Tale” nomination for the most egregious fabrications, distortions of facts, false stereotypes, distorted perceptions, absurd and ridiculous inventions about Russia.
The winners will be announced at the official award ceremony, which will take place in Moscow in November.
When we launched the ‘Honest View’ Media Award, we thought journalists wouldn’t come, that they’d be afraid. Fortunately, we were wrong-a stream of applications began to arrive. People participated with great enthusiasm, came and were proud of their awards, fearing no one. We did it. Today, our task is simply to continue-slowly, steadily, consistently. We must ensure that people in Europe and the UK start asking questions. When a person starts asking questions, they seek answers and become different. The award contributes to this,” says Nadana Friedrichson.
Applications for the "Honest View – 2025" Media Award are now open. Representatives of foreign media, international journalists, and bloggers covering the international cooperation of their countries with the Russian Federation are invited to participate.
Applications will be accepted until October 1, 2025, on the official website of the Media Award: https://honest-view.press.
Awards in 2025 will be given for:
− Best material in the genre of journalism and documentary
− Best material on international cultural, social, or humanitarian partnership with Russia
− Best material in the reportage genre (special prize from the Ruptly video agency)
− Best material by young journalists about the Russian Federation
− Best material on the topic of public diplomacy
Traditionally, the jury will present a special award in the “Tallest Tale” nomination for the most egregious fabrications, distortions of facts, false stereotypes, distorted perceptions, absurd and ridiculous inventions about Russia.
The winners will be announced at the official award ceremony, which will take place in Moscow in November.
