Translated material
Nobel for "Echo"
In society
Nobel for "Echo"
October 11, 2012 Anton Oresh
When the news appeared that my native Echo of Moscow radio station was nominated (to tell you, I still don’t know who) at the Nobel Prize of the World, I immediately had to hear a considerable number of approving exclamations and mocking grin. We also did not miss the possibility of getting along, they say, if we become collective Nobel laureates, then we will be able to put each other personally to bonuses in literature, economics, medicine - well, who broadcasts about what will be nominated for this.
But if you abstract from jokes, without eating the illusions that the “echo” can really receive such a bonus, we must admit that the fact of the nomination is indicative and ... strange.
I have been working for Echo of Moscow for twenty years and with a full, as it seems to me, I can say that we have nothing to present to the world award for us. And not only because there are more worthy such rewards - but they are! But because in principle we do nothing special. Although I have seen many people over the years who, almost with tears in my eyes, said: thank you for being, you, like light in the window, you are our last hope, we will go to the barricades and the like.
What barricades? For what thank you? We do absolutely trivial work. There is nothing heroic in it. And there are no heroes among us too. After all, what does Echo of Moscow do? Our ill -wishers with all the directness say: "Echo" lies! That's not. Anything - but not lying! This is impossible in principle. There are mistakes. But everyone has them. And most often they are explained by an ordinary news race, which is inherent in all media working in operational mode. However, these are precisely errors. And there are not many of them. But in general, Echo of Moscow broadcast news on the air. News is what happened in the country and in the world. It cannot be a lie, because these are facts. We do not invent them - believe me, there is simply no time. What happened - we told you. All. Moreover, “echo” has long been not among leaders, from the point of view of news volume. There are radio stations that go out with news releases much more often.
Perhaps it's about the selection of the news that we give? But this selection is simple. Echo reports those news that are really important from a public point of view. If someone else does not do this ... Well, then this is his views on the social significance of events. But in any case, the nature of the selection of news cannot be considered an indicator of veracity or deceit.
Maybe “echo” is loved and hated because of the opinions that are expressed on our air? But in this sense, the editorial policy did not change all 22 years of the station. The news separately is the comment separately. Opinions, analysis, comments are not the position of the radio station, not its merit or wine. This is the position, merit or fault of those who have these points of view.
Moreover, no matter what event happens, our main, Venediktov, will lower the skin from all if only one point of view on the problem is presented on the air. Even if some freaks or “crooks and thieves” represent an alternative point of view. The Lord does not bring not to find these people and not to interview them! Who saw Venediktov in anger - he will understand, and who did not see is useless to explain.
That is why we never answer the question: what is the one and that and that? How can you give the air to such and such a reptile? And why not give him if the position of this person is close to millions of other people?! Since there are such people, since such a position exists - it should be presented on the air. In the same, it makes sense. The radio station is not a propagandist, not a combat headquarters of the opposition or progressive forces. This is a mirror of society. Into which society should be able to look with the minimum, as far as possible, distortions.
And that is why I sincerely do not understand why we should give the Nobel Prize. And I don’t understand what we are doing so special. This is a completely ordinary job. Which is exactly how the socio-political media should be carried out. Give an objective news picture and all available points of view from the first lips. This is not a feat, this is a professional job. And in the field of increasing this professionalism, we still need to do very, very much.
And if such work is considered almost a feat, if the simple distribution of news and the presentation of a free rostrum for expressing opinions are hypothetically worthy of as much as the Nobel Prize ... This is already a diagnosis. For a country in which such simple and natural things are considered incredible. And if suddenly Nobel is still given to us, then this will no longer be a diagnosis, but a sentence. Honestly, I would not want to.