Penza, 3 March 2016. PenzaNews. Pavek Shishkin, editor-in-chief of “Penzenskaya Pravda” newspaper, has been elected the new chairman of the regional branch for the Russian Union of Journalists during the report and election conference held at the youth center on Thursday, March 3.

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He was supported by 88 votes, with one against and one abstained.

Pavel Shishkin has replaced Pavel Prokhorenkov, the previous head of the regional Journalists Union branch.

Discussing the main areas of work of the organization in the region, Pavel Shishkin pointed out that the reputation of journalism as a profession is decreasing, while the professional mass media community is getting less and less consolidated.

“If we do not solve these problems, we will live a life that would not be so good and hardly too kind,” he pointed out.

According to Pavel Shishkin, they must not only work with the veterans but also bring new and young members into the regional organization, as well as encourage activity by the members of the Journalists Union.

Vladimir Kasyutin has been appointed the new secretary of the regional branch for the Russian Union of Journalists.

In addition, the conference members decided to include Natalya Nazemnova, editor of “PenzaInform” website (not officially registered as media source), as one of the board members of the organization.

In addition, Pavel Prokhorenkov became a member of the Federate Council of the Russian Union of Journalists. Originally, Semen Vakhshtain was proposed to take this position; however, the latter immediately declined.