Penza, 5 September 2014. PenzaNews. Third journalistic festival “We are from Penza” started in Lermontov regional library on Friday morning, September 5.

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The event gathered over 100 mass media representatives, who will exchange their experience during the festival.

Welcoming the participants, Penza region governor Vasily Bochkarev noted that the “fourth estate” workers do a very important job.

“The fact that you are close to the people is very important,” head of the region said.

According to the governor, another important part of their job is criticism of the government, which often appears in the media.

“You boldly find the strength and courage to speak the truth. For you, there are no authorities. You know how to criticize officials without insulting them,” Vasily Bochkarev said, addressing the reporters.

As news agency PenzaNews reported earlier, several master classes will take place during the festival. One of them — “Interview: behind the scene” — will be held by a well-known journalist Svetlana Sorokina. Moreover, Vladimir Kasyutin secretary of the Russian Union of Journalists (RUJ), will tell the audience about the coverage of the state national policy and inter-ethnic relations in the media. There will also be a master class by RUJ secretary Roman Serebryany on “The Internet and traditional media: today and tomorrow.”

In addition to the main program of the event, the participants will also be able to visit the other major regional festival — “Labor Valor of the Penza region. Strong traditions, secure future” that will be held in “Penza” concert hall.