SCOOP Russia: Start of a new tradition

Anastasia Ermashova will soon begin combing through the applications of prospective investigative journalists for the new IMS-supported SCOOP Russia programme.

By Henriette Borg Henriksen, IMS

IMS recently spoke with Anastasia Ermashova, a Russian reporter with twelve years of journalism experience at Litsey newspaper. Starting in February, she will begin her new position as the local media expert for the Republic of Karelia and oblasts Murmansk and Archangelsk in the SCOOP Russia programme. The programme is a support network for investigative journalists in Northwest Russia and is currently accepting applications for new projects. Ms. Ermashova gives her impression of the programme  as a unique opportunity for Russian journalists to investigate previously unexplored issues and potentially make a difference with their work.

Please tell us a few words about yourself. What is your experience with investigative journalism?

– I have 15 years of experience working in journalism and am currently working for the newspaper ‘Litsey’ headquartered in the Republic of Karelia. The newspaper began as a state project nineteen years ago and focuses on education and culture. Last year, the newspaper was closed because there was no money left to run it, or so we were told. The newspaper, on the other hand, has a different version of the story and thinks that the new mayor was unhappy that we were writing so much about politics. This theory is supported by the fact that other newspapers in the area have been opened. Now, all we have left are two persons working on an online version of the newspaper receiving no salary.

I do not have any direct experience with investigative journalism, but I have written extensively about serious issues. Last year, I started an investigation on medicine that is thrown into the trash bin instead of destroyed responsibly by the authorities. Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to finish the investigation but I hope to at some point.

Do you think people will be interested in applying for a SCOOP grant?

– My conversations with journalists so far in my region show a lot of interest in the program. I think that the most investigative reports will be publications for the Internet rather than TV, radio and in newspapers because they are less free.

Why do you think people will be interested in applying?

– Journalists want to make something they are proud of; doing just what the editor tells you to do is not real journalism.  They want to be real journalists. This is also why some journalists publish under a pseudonym. I think this program could change some journalists’ life because they will get the possibility to do real investigative journalism.

What can the program do for your region and the journalists there?

– More investigations mean more readers for the newspapers. If there are more readers than it may be more likely that people change their views on certain topics and in this way, the program might actually change the society.

Which topics could change something in your region?

– For example, we recently covered the topic of buildings created in the nineteenth century in Russia. We found out that investors planned to change the buildings and turn them into shops. After we covered this issue in our newspaper, readers responded on our website and said they were against such plans.  Perhaps with this program now the buildings can be saved.

What kind of challenges do you foresee?

– It very much depends on the topic, but I think the biggest challenge is that people in power do not want to give information even though they are obliged to do so by law. And if you as an investigative reporter cannot get the necessary information from the authorities, it can be very difficult to do an investigation.

How is the network for investigative journalists in your region? 

– There is no network. Ours is a small region with not many media workers so everyone knows each other. It would be very useful to have a network across Northwest Russia.  Previously, there has been no tradition for such a network because there are not many investigative reporters in Russia; but a tradition could start with current journalists.

Click here to learn more about SCOOP Russia. Click here to read about the application process and to apply. Deadline for applications: 6 February 2011.