The Glasnost Defense Foundation conducted a survey on one of the most pressing topics today: “Why do journalists go to power?” Yuri SCHEKOCHIKHIN, journalist, State Duma deputy: - I ran for the Duma for the following reason: we write, write, ...

The Glasnost Defense Foundation conducted a survey on one of the most pressing topics today: “Why do journalists go to power?”

Yuri SCHEKOCHIKHIN, journalist, State Duma deputy:

- I ran for the Duma for the following reason: we write-write, talk-talk, but nothing happens, nothing is decided. Figuratively speaking, the authorities and people live in different states. They needed to be merged. Now I have such an opportunity. In addition, I can support fellow journalists, make parliamentary requests, thus achieving certain results. The latest example is the dismissal of Minister of Atomic Energy Adamov.

Leonid KRAVCHENKO, editor-in-chief of Parliamentary Newspaper, in 1990-1991 editor-in-chief of Gosteleradio:

- Over the past decade, many journalists, especially those who are in the public eye, have deeply believed that journalism today is the most influential power.

Some of our fellow writers, not at all embarrassed, harshly lecture the leaders of the federal and local authorities. One thing is missing: to take the right place in the representative or executive power. Therefore, they make their way to the deputies and are not averse to steering in government posts.

Vladimir POZNER, President of the Russian Academy of Television:

Because they are not satisfied with their own profession. The moment a journalist enters power, he automatically ceases to be a journalist. The contradiction between journalists and the government is so fundamental, so insurmountable that any attempt to “marry” them is doomed to a fiasco in advance.

Igor YAKOVENKO, Secretary General of the Union of Journalists of the Russian Federation:

- I have a negative attitude towards the campaigns of journalists in power, especially the legislative one. At this moment, I know only one single positive example from the many facts of becoming deputies of journalists: this is the example of Boris Reznik, a former employee of Komsomolskaya Pravda, in the current composition of the State Duma. Other examples are when a journalist in power does nothing successfully either for lawmaking, or as a lobbyist, or for journalism proper. The most striking examples of such failures are Alexander Nevzorov, Alexandra Burataeva, Alexander Lyubimov, Leonid Radzikhovsky. Accession to power was for them another attribute of the high status of favorites of the people and rulers of thoughts. Olga Kitova is another case. She needed public protection because as a journalist she was actively prevented from performing her functions. She has to hide behind, like a shield, a status alien to her as a professional. This case only highlights the pathological situation in the media.

Olga KITOVA, columnist for Belgorodskaya Pravda, deputy of the regional Duma:

- I went in order to fulfill my professional duty, to have access to those documents that my readers should know about. For four years I have been working in the commission on finance and tax policy. What is really behind this policy, where the money goes - everything I know, my readers will know.