A series of discussions and seminars on countering hate speech

In November, discussions and seminars were held in several cities of Russia within the framework of the project "Hate Speech in the Russian Media: Monitoring and Public Action".

November 9, 2006 with the assistance of the Rostov organization "Young Europe" discussion was held in Rostov-on-Don . The event was organized with the assistance of Anna Sevortyan, representative of the Center for the Development of Democracy and Human Rights (CRHDR), Anna Sharogradskaya, director of the Regional Press Institute, and expert of the Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations, Mikhail Melnikov, took part in the discussion of the problems of hate speech and its impact on the growth of xenophobic sentiments in society. They talked about the problems of the press across Russia. Local, Rostov issues were highlighted in her speech by the Secretary of the Council for Information Disputes in the Rostov Region, Anzhelika Sineok, one of the authors of the expert opinion on Danish cartoons.

On November 13, a discussion on a similar topic was held in Volgograd . In addition to A. Sevortyan, A. Sharogradskaya and M. Melnikov, a representative of the SOVA Center Galina Kozhevnikova took part in it as a federal expert. The discussion was organized with the assistance of the Volgograd Association "Voice". Dinara Nikulina, leader of the local branch of the "For Human Rights" movement, told the discussion participants about the problems of the Volgograd press, as well as about the problems of relations between the media and regional NGOs. Representatives of the media, public and political organizations of the city, and small businesses took part in the discussion of the problem.

On November 21, a discussion organized with the assistance of a local school of human rights took place in Ryazan . It was attended by G. Kozhevnikova (Center "SOVA"), M. Melnikov (CEJ), the head of the Ryazan School of Human Rights Sofia Ivanova and the head of the public legal reception of the Ryazan School of Human Rights Alexander Bekhtold. The event was attended by journalists, representatives of Ryazan NGOs and national communities of the city. During the discussion, not only the mechanisms and consequences of the formation of negative ethnic stereotypes in the media were discussed, but also ways to counteract propaganda hate crimes by civil society.

All cities also hosted one-day workshops for journalism students and journalists on conflict coverage.

For events in Ryazan, see also:

Sources

• Novice Ryazan journalists took part in the seminar "Information support of the conflict" // Ryazan news agency. 2006. November 21.
• Participants in the discussion "Hate speech in the federal and regional press" came to the conclusion that it is possible to impose a ban on publicity // There. November 22.
• Round table in Ryazan // Jewish News Agency. 2006. November 24.