Dear colleagues! It just so happened that after eleven years of working in various military newspapers, I was appointed an officer of the press service of the North Caucasus Military District. I am familiar with journalistic work firsthand and hoped that my experience would help me find contact with professionals and help spread objective information about the life and activities of the troops. However, I came across some facts that make me think seriously. For example, I don't understand the position of some civil media workers. It sometimes reaches the point of outright, shocking cynicism. Once in a phone conversation, an employee of a very reputable publication said to me:: "We have heard rumors about non-traditional sexual relations in one of the military institutions. Please comment." Well, what should I comment on? Delirium - it is delirium! Another civilian colleague applies: "Throw in something 'scary' about the army theme!" You start telling them how the district troops really live, how they perform their duty near the administrative border with Chechnya, and how the military develops good relations with local authorities and the population... Yes, we have almost every day brings a lot of instructive facts. But no! Not interested. They would only drag sensationalism out of their fingers to the pages of their publications. Moreover, every dubious detail should be savored as if it gives the author great pleasure. I must admit that I still cannot understand or justify such journalists. In my opinion, there are a number of reasons for this phenomenon. First, the stereotypes of thinking formed in some narrow-minded people by the massive anti-army campaign of the early nineties. Secondly, the incompetence, professional infirmity and even outright laziness of some journalists. Such a scribbler got into the department covering army problems. I'm sorry, he doesn't know a damn thing about them, and he doesn't even want to go into them. And the correspondent rate ... Read more