The plenary session of the V Forum of the Media Community is taking place in Gomel
The President noted that the event brought together representatives of the creative elite of domestic journalism – people whose work and talent shape the objective image of modern Belarus.
"In the era of post-truth, your forum is a unique platform for exchanging experience, discussing trends and strategies for the development of the national information space, and provides an opportunity to duly recognize the skills of masters of the printed word," the greetings state.
The rich program of events and the "Golden Letter" awards will surely allow journalists and media experts to broaden their professional horizons and implement advanced practices in their work, emphasized Alexander Lukashenko.
Speaking about the tasks facing the country's information policy, Minister of Information Marat Markov noted: "The most important one is to ensure the country's information security. Because today (and you understand perfectly well, the President has repeatedly spoken about this) if we do not win the information war or are not winning information battles, then we will have to enter a hot phase, a real war. And these are not empty words," Marat Markov emphasized.
To win on the information front, we must have absolutely all types of weapons, he stressed. "Because if we start preparing for the past war, then the events of 1941 will occur. If for the future war – then 1945," the minister said.
Marat Markov noted that new types of information tools are emerging today. He drew a parallel: just as in the military conflict that is currently taking place on Belarus's southern borders, drones appeared at some point and became one of the main types of armament, completely changing military tactics and the picture of warfare, artificial intelligence is also entering the media in the same way. "We also have bloggers who complement the current media. This is another type of weapon, an information weapon," noted Marat Markov.
"Therefore, as a state, and me as a minister, and the ministry, we must cultivate all these types," the minister added.
He noted that, among other things, for this reason, the media forum in Gomel brings together the entire media community – press secretaries, republican media, regional media, bloggers, and ideological workers.
During the forum, there will also be a solemn award ceremony for the winners and laureates of the XXI National Competition "Golden Letter," which recognizes the best achievements in Belarusian journalism. The media event is organized by the Ministry of Information in conjunction with the Gomel Regional Executive Committee, with the support of leading republican mass media.