MOSCOW, July 31 (RIA Novosti) - The first graduates of a unique two-semester multimedia school of journalism in Moscow received their certificates on Friday.
The program was initiated by two of Russia's largest news agencies, state-owned Russian News & Information Agency RIA Novosti, and the independent Interfax News Agency, with the support of the Higher School of Journalism, a department of one of the most authoritative economic universities in Russia and the CIS.
"You will enter history as the first graduates of an international school for multimedia journalism," Valery Levchenko, deputy director general of RIA Novosti, said during the graduation ceremonies.
Head of the Department of Television and Radio at Moscow State University's Journalism Faculty Anna Kachkaeva said the instructors learned along with the students as there was no previously set program for multimedia journalism.
Aside from studying the media industry theories and international relations, the students also submersed themselves in the work of the news agencies, including working on the news hotwire, bureaus, and audio and visual aspects of multimedia news.
"I was surprised at how much we were immersed in the profession during the study process," Darya Gornastayeva said after the graduation ceremonies.
She said the instructors and specially invited journalists gave them their advice and shared experience that they have gathered for years, adding that the students had the unique opportunity to combine both studies and hands-on work, which resulted in "great results."
