Union of Journalists leader: social media fakes turned people to traditional news

The society trusts Belarusian reporters because they face the same problems as their audiences, said Andrei Krivosheyev, Chairman of the Board of the Belarusian Union of Journalists and General Director of the Minsk-News Agency, today, January 11th, at the Marathon of Unity media event in Lida
“We walk the same streets, shop at the same stores, get healthcare from the same clinics, that’s why people trust the information we provide,” he said.

Mr. Krivosheyev made a point that trusting journalists personally is a global trend, “After the COVID-19 pandemic, when lots of people lost their health due to fakes spread over social media, messengers, or video platforms, people turned back to traditional news. Even if they still use TikTok, for instance, to look for some information, they choose media and brands that have already earned their trust. We talked about that today at the Marathon of Unity. Trust journalists you know personally, those who do not hide behind generic nicknames, do not generate fake news, do not deceive or manipulate you. The Belarusian journalists, in other words.”
The leader of the Belarusian Union of Journalists added that, according to statistics, when it comes to the viewership on  social networks, regional media are already on par with national ones.

“That means people trust us, the journalists who are the closest to them. And that trust is growing,” he emphasised.