The Institute of International Relations at Pyatigorsk State University hosted a meeting between students and staff and Anton Mikhailovich Shitikov, head of the diplomatic editorial office at RIA News.
Anton Shitikov shared his experience as a correspondent at major events, emphasizing the importance of professional training for journalists and their ability to react instantly to any changes. “You can't go to an event without questions — that's a golden rule!” Anton Mikhailovich noted.
Anton Mikhailovich placed particular emphasis on the participation of future journalists in internships and forums. According to him, they help not only to gain valuable experience, but also to build a portfolio necessary for professional growth.
The students' questions concerned the work of news agencies, competition for speed and exclusives, as well as interaction with foreign media. In his answers, the speaker emphasized that in the modern media space, the key qualities of a journalist are efficiency, attentiveness, and the ability to find non-standard creative solutions — all of these qualities together reflect his professionalism.
At the end of the meeting, he advised students to choose their area of specialization as early as possible, stay on top of current events, use different sources of information, and be sure to try their hand at projects and internships.