MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin says the most important principle for journalists is to avoid upsetting those featured in their articles and television broadcasts.
Journalists should ensure their work “won’t be offensive to those about whom they do their reports,” Putin said Saturday, according to the TASS news agency.
The Russian leader made the comments while talking to a child interested in working in journalism at a summer camp in Crimea, the southern Ukrainian region that Russia annexed in 2014.
Get breaking National news
READ MORE: Vladimir Putin gave direct orders to help elect Donald Trump, report says
The number of independent media outlets in Russia has fallen drastically under Putin and there have been several murders of high-profile journalists.
The journalists’ group Reporters Without Borders placed Russia 148th in its ranking of world press freedoms published this year.
WATCH: Putin says Kremlin critic Senator McCain ‘lives in Old World’
- ‘We have to move quickly’: Canadians lend a hand as massive relief effort in Nepal begins
- Ontario student accused in U.S. of taking airport photos for Chinese official
- Canadian families still waiting for answers 1 week after Nepal disaster
- Canada gave contracts to Iran VP’s son while investigating role in regime missile program
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.