OREANDA-NEWS.  January 13, 2012. Vladimir Putin’s address:

Good afternoon. Colleagues – and I will allow myself the liberty of addressing you like this since, as you know, my work sometimes appears in the press – I would like to congratulate you on Russian Press Day, and wish you all the very best.

Yours is a very particular profession, and irrespective of how the means of delivering your content to your audience changes, your work remains fundamentally about the civic-mindedness and talent of those who make journalism the most important profession for any country, for any society. In our country, people in your profession have always been treated with particular attention and the utmost respect. This is because it involves, as I mentioned, civic-mindedness and talent, but also because, as has been the case all too often of late here and elsewhere in the world, it requires courage. Courage, the ability to stand your ground, and defend your stance.

You know that this award, which is held in high esteem, which carries government status, is conferred by a specially appointed council comprised not only of representatives of the government, but mostly people engaged in the creative professions, in your profession. It is they who select the winners. Yes, it is a state award, but let me stress that the winners are chosen by the most authoritative members of your profession. Therefore, I think, it fitting to ask the head of the council, Minister of Communications and Mass Media Igor Shchegolev, and Yasen Zasursky, one of the most distinguished members of your profession, an individual who has made a great contribution to training journalists in our country, to present the awards.

Let me once again congratulate you on this holiday.