Factual, listener-oriented and critical - current affairs reporting is a particularly suitable subject for journalists to reflect upon the role and remit of radio broadcasting.
There is a great need for practical training for radio journalists in the Urals. On the initiative of a regional broadcaster, 12 journalists from both state and private radio broadcasters met in Yekaterinburg in 2007.
They were there to explore the journalistic and artistic scope of magazine programs. The goal of the course was to produce factual, listener-oriented and critical news reports.
The group was constantly confronted with and reminded of the journalist's role in a democratic society. Reflections on questions of journalistic ethics are particularly important in a region where freedom of the press is restricted.