RT’s Maria Zeleranskaya Advocates for Ethical Journalism That Captures Attention

Maria Zeleranskaya, Head of the RT International newsroom, has called on journalists to embrace a modern approach to news reporting that informs, explains, entertains, and ultimately earns public trust all while adhering to ethical standards.

Speaking during a media workshop Zeleranskaya emphasized that today’s journalism must go beyond traditional storytelling by capturing attention without compromising integrity. She described journalism’s evolving purpose as a layered process that requires balancing factual accuracy with audience engagement.

“Journalism today must inform, explain, entertain, and earn trust. But most importantly, it must do so by capturing attention ethically,” she said.

The session, titled “From Script to Screen: Crafting News That Matters, the RT Way,” brought together aspiring journalists, media professionals, and content creators to explore RT’s editorial workflow and newsroom standards.

Zeleranskaya noted that although RT has reduced its live broadcast schedule from 24 to 18 hours per day, the commitment to high-quality journalism remains unchanged. She underscored the importance of transparency, credibility, and editorial responsibility in an era marked by misinformation and declining public confidence in media institutions.

The workshop also included hands-on training on news scripting, production, and audience targeting with a strong focus on upholding journalistic values amid rapidly changing media dynamics.

Her remarks align with broader calls across the global media landscape for renewed dedication to ethics in journalism, especially in a digital age where attention is currency and trust is harder than ever to maintain.