“Journalists, and doctors on the front line of the fight against the virus,” – said the head of the Russian Union of journalists Vladimir Solovyov, speaking at a meeting of the Duma Committee on information policy, information technologies and communications. According to him, worldwide, the pandemic killed 60 journalists in Russia – five. Has infected about 200 representatives of Russian media. But the main theme of the meeting was economic loss to the industry and, accordingly, the measures of its support.
“If we do not take any steps to get out of the crisis – at least, in the regions – there will be nobody” – was emphatically the President of the chamber of Commerce of Russia Sergey Katyrin. Especially alarming situation, according to him, there is in broadcasting.
the Latest finding coincides with the assessment of the Deputy Minister for digital development, communications and mass communications of the Russian Federation Alexey Volin also took part in the meeting: “In our view, the most difficult thing today for regional radio. A regional radio fans have lost more than 90 percent of advertising budgets and really are beyond survival.”
“Advertising” the future of the entire media industry, however, is also very comforting. “While we still hope that the decline in advertising for the year is less than 50 percent, predicts Wolin. But the 25-30 – quite possible the fall.”
this TV will lose, according to the Ministry of communications, 50 billion “advertising” rubles, radio – eight billion, Newspapers and magazines (both printed an Internet version) 11 billion. In addition, the revenues of the printed media will fall by another 10 billion rubles due to the decrease in retail sales. Revenue from subscriptions is also reduced.
Very dramatic situation in and adjoining, the book publishing industry. “Every month the scribes will lose about half a billion rubles – from not working bookstores and seriously reduced the demand,” – said Wolin.
But the government, says the Deputy Minister, is not sitting idly by. Roskomnadzor, for example, announced that to mid-summer will not carry out any routine checks in relation to the media. And the Ministry of communications, according to Volin, issued an order “on making a number of licensing requirements for regional radio and TV companies.” They will be allowed to broadcast at night – from midnight to 6 a.m., and to reduce the power of its transmitters. “This will allow them to save more than 1 billion rubles at the end of the year” – encouraged by Wolin.
more measures to support the industry – in plans. The Ministry was announced by Deputy Minister, was sent to the government its proposals on this matter. It is proposed, in particular, to enable the media and related spheres – advertising companies, publishing houses, printing enterprises in the list of the most affected industries.
“We ask the government withobratiti size of social security payments to 15 percent as it is today is made for small and medium businesses, continues Wolin. – And also to consider postponing tax payments”.
According to the official, the Ministry of communications considers it necessary to take steps aimed at the “revival” of the advertising market: “We need, in our view, to go on the road to further liberalisation of the advertising legislation – expansion of the list of those goods and services which may be advertised”.
in addition, the Ministry offers “to liberalize the law on the age labeling”. According to Volin, it should go back to the way originally intended: the content owner needs to determine for what age group the content is designed.
it is also Proposed to remove unnecessary obstacles in the way of subscription: “Today to deliver to subscribers to the publication, the mail must enclose six thousand contracts with suppliers. Many of those who are related to print media, this severely affected”.
At the thought of Volin, should conduct a full audit of existing industry and legislative barriers “to raise the question of the elimination of a number of not always effective restrictions.”
the Duma Committee on information policy, on its part also put forward an extensive package of proposals to save the industry. In many respects it overlaps with the Ministerial, but there are a number of additional ideas. Among other things, refers to the nullification of the payments for the lease of municipal and state ownership and Bank holidays for the industry – with a moratorium on repayment of interest principal debt for the period until the end of the year.
in addition, the deputies propose to discuss the topic of subsidies to Russian post, the temporary release of the publishers from the environmental fee, as well as a moratorium on the growth of prices for paper and printing services.
as for the liberalisation of the advertising legislation, it is, according to the head of the Committee Alexander Khinshtein, a discussion question: “I, for one, will be hard to shut down their principles and go for the legalization of tobacco and alcohol advertising in the media. To fight one evil with another – probably not the best option.”
