Saint Petersburg, 7 April 2016. PenzaNews. A group of journalists from the Penza region took part in the plenary meeting of the APF media forum “Truth and Justice” in St. Petersburg on Thursday, April 7, during which personalities of regional and local media were able to ask their questions to Russian President and leader of the All-Russian People’s Front Vladimir Putin.

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In particular, the meeting featured the PenzaNews editor-in-chief Pavel Polosin, editor-in-chief of “Penzenskaya Pravda” newspaper Pavel Shishkin, the “Serebryany Gorod” newspaper editor-in-chief Olga Semeneeva, the “Novaya Sotsialnaya Gazeta” newspaper editor-in-chief Anatoly Kolomytsev and his asssistant Lyudmila Kolomytseva, and reporter of “Lyubimaya Gazeta” newspaper Ekaterina Nushtaeva.

Moreover, the PenzaNews photo reporter Maxim Kostyushin was working in the meeting hall during the event.

In his welcoming word to the journalists from many regions of Russia, Vladimir Putin placed emphasis on the role of mass media in the modern world.

“I know you recently had an award ceremony for 300 of your colleagues for a number of media works. And behind each of these works, just like many of those that did not receive awards, are actual results of your activity related to improving lives of people in housing, in healthcare, in government procurement, and so on,” said the head of state.

According to Russian President, the fact that regional journalists actively cooperate with APF is important, because, on the one hand, they are in contact directly with actual people, and on the other hand, a link to the federal level.

“WIth that in mind, I would like to point out that your role, your function, your work leads to great responsibility and great burden. [...] You have, I would like to repeat, a honorable, pleasant, but difficult work with big responsibility,” he stressed.

Vladimir Putin participated in the discussion with journalists for over two hours and answered nearly 30 questions – some dedicated to the media field proper, while others were concerned with the acute issues of the general public.

In particular, Valery Shagiev, general director of “Vostochny Express” TV channel, touched upon the copyright protection issue and proposed to review the copyright violation compensation model that currently provides for fines ranging from 10,000 to 5,000,000 rubles, while, according to him, this amount can be reduced.

As Vladimir Putin pointed out in return, at present Russia has “no culture of respect for intellectual rights.”

“Culture itself is very high, we are one of the leading countries of the world – without any exaggeration or boasting in this field – in this field, the field of culture and arts. But when it comes to the culture of respect for law, in this case – the culture of respect for authors’ intellectual rights, we are still lacking it, or it is, regretfully, very low. We have people downloading everything and anything: music, films, stories, novels – no limits,” said the Russian President and promised to study the advantages and disadvantages of the idea.

Vanda Aisova from Ulyanovsk proposed to create a federal Ministry of Demography and introduce motherhood salary. She explained that she had four children while unemployed and is currently on a motherhoold leave while in her fifth pregnancy, and these events led her employment service record to be very short.

Vladimir Putin supported the idea in general.

“We must simply calculate the degree of possibility. Most importantly, from our good intentions and wishes, we must not make the steps that would hinder us from following on the responsibilities already taken. But the idea itself is correct, we will make sure to consider it,” said the Russian President.

A lady journalist from Kuzbass, who forgot to introduce herself out of excitement, asked Vladimir Putin about his opinion on the idea to ban debt collection agencies.

“This is a very urgent issue that caused great public resonance. We must ban the work of the pseudocollectors,” stated the APF leader, to the applause of the media audience.

However, he pointed out, those people who take loans must realize the conditions and the plan to return the debts.

“However, the travesty of justice related to breaking laws, making threats and causing violence – both psychological and physical – is absolutely unacceptable. Right now, as you know, we are reviewing these decisions on the legal leval. I hope they will be adopted in the very nearest future. We will make sure to give them a push,” Vladimir Putin said.

Sergei Boyarskh, general director of “St. Petersburg” TV channel, proposed to extend a hand towards regional television.

As he explained, the state recently adopted a decision to affix the 20 general-access federal TV channels in slots 1-20 in cable TV networks in all Russian regions. Sergei Boyarsky proposed an initiative to make regional channels immediately follow that group of 20 in the channels roster.

Vladimir Putin asked the Russian Minister of Communications and Mass Media Nikolai Nikiforov to comment on this initiative; the latter supported the offer and explained that it is purely an organizational matter that would require no additional expenses by the state or the cable networks.

Moreover, during the plenary meeting, the Russian President said the United Russia party primaries is a useful mechanism.

“We are using this very preliminary vote as an instrument to solve a number of problems and a number of issues at once. Firstly, it makes the whole life of the civil organization, the party, more transparent and closer to the people. Party functionaries must know first-hand what happens in the society. This is very important. During such open discussions, debates, we uncover actual problems that the people face, and discuss the ways to solve these problems and issues. Secondly, I greatly expect this system to be pushing upwards the people who are invested and wish to work for the benefit of the community,” the head of state explained.

Vladimir Putin highlighted the topic of patriotism several times during the plenary meeting.

Describing the Russia of his dreams, the Russian President stressed that “it must be independent, powerful, effective, modern and heading for the future.”

“It must be a country where it would be comfortable, pleasant and coveted to live in,” he stressed.

In conclusion of the plenary meeting, Vladimir Putin took an opportunity to “work” as a translator, when the Russian President himself translated the statement of the German politician Willy Wimmer about the latter’s vision of Russian national values. Among other things, the foreign official listed protection of human rights and care for environment, national interests, family values and peace as the main points.

“I think our esteemed guest was very right to list these general human values, they are crucial for Russia too. I would like to add only one thing: for Russia, for a Russian man – and you were right to say, to hint at that – feeling of patriotism, of national identity, is very important: this is something that many European countries are now in the process of losing, regretfully for them. We have that inside us, we have it in our hearts – the love for the Fatherland,” the Russian President said.

Patriotism is “one of the main components of our national identity, one of our values and ideas,” the APF leader added.

“I would like to remind you about Dmitry Likhachev, great scientist and humanist of the 20th century. He once said that patriotism greatly differs from nationalism. Nationalism is hate for other peoples, while patriotism is love for your Motherland. Thank you very much for our joint work,” Vladimir Putin concluded.