Russian Journalism Exchange

Svetlana Shelest has continued her study of ballroom dancing. Roman Chernov doesn't understand the restrictions on smokers in a democratic country. Anna Kapustina wants to see Niagara Falls. Julia Savenkova misses her daughter. Artem Eremenko says he simply enjoys seeing the United States.

Facing camera: Roman Chernov, Diana Dimitrova (of the Ithaca College international programs office), Svetlana Shelest, and associate professor of journalism Madelyn Williams

These five educators arrived in January from Rostov State University in Russia to spend the semester at the Park School. They will use what they learn in Ithaca to enhance Rostov's existing undergraduate and graduate journalism program, creating an "institute that is aimed at attracting educators and journalists to learn Western techniques and approaches to journalism," as Christopher Harper, Park Distinguished Chair in Communications and co-
coordinator of the exchange program, explains.

Shelest, 27, has taught English at Rostov for five years and is interested in broadcast journalism. So is Chernov, 25, who has taught English at Rostov since 2000. Kapustina, 24, who is doing post-graduate work at Rostov, has been studying legal and political issues at IC. Savenkova, 24, a lecturer at Rostov, has focused on print journalism at Ithaca. Eremenko, 24, is the news editor of a popular website for the people of Rostov (www.rostov.ru) and has focused on digital journalism.

About 10,000 students attend Rostov State University, which is located about 700 miles south of Moscow near the Black Sea. Renowned for its scientific and language programs, Rostov State has become one of the most prestigious universities in Russia. In fact, its most famous graduate was Nobel Prize winner Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who studied mathematics and physics before making his reputation as an author and opponent of the Soviet system.

The exchange program, funded
by a $244,000 grant from the U.S. Department of State, allows journalists from Ithaca College and New York University to share their expertise with the Russian educators, who will take their knowledge back to Rostov. A total of nine Russian scholars will each spend one semester in Ithaca over the three years (see ICQ 2003/1). And professors and students from Ithaca and NYU will travel to Rostov for a month during the summer to help train more Russian journalists and educators in the methods and techniques of U.S. journalism.

All of the scholars immediately noticed the difference between the two systems of journalism education. In Russia the focus generally tends toward theory, while U.S. programs tend to stress the hands-on application of these theories. And, says Shelest, "there is an overwhelming difference in quality of facilities and equipment. They are fabulous here, and it makes studying journalism so much more practical and professional. You do it, not just talk about how you do it."

Kapustina's goals reflect what each of the scholars would like to accomplish. "I want to broaden my background, improve my English, and enrich my knowledge and professional skills," she says, "and, of course, bring back all the new and useful information I have learned here." The scholars meet formally with Harper every two weeks; they've also worked with journalism faculty members Jo Ann Caplin,
Mead Loop, Wenmouth Williams, and Madelyn Williams. They have participated in a wide variety of classes, including Journalism Research, Government and the Media, Television Journalism Workshop, and News Reporting. They also have done some traveling, including a weeklong trip to New York City and visits to news operations throughout central New York.

"U.S. journalism tends to emphasize factual reporting; Russian journalism tends to emphasize opinion. The Russian scholars have an opportunity
to see how U.S. journalism education works," says Harper. "We hope that they will find many useful tools to take back to educate a new generation of journalists in Russia." This summer Harper and Caplin, along with NYU professor and co-coordinator Mitchell Stephens, will travel to Rostov for one-month seminars with other educators throughout Russia and students from IC and NYU.

Despite the opportunity to study U.S. journalism, the Russian scholars have
had the difficulty of leaving their families and friends for four months. All of them keep in touch with their loved ones through telephone calls and e-mail.

They also faced another hurdle in adjusting to their host city: the cold weather. Evidently, it's a lot more snowy and cold in Ithaca than in Rostov.