Topic > The media as an effective tool for building and maintaining the image of the head of government in Russia

The annual press conference conducted by President Putin is seen as one of the innovative practices in Russian public administration. The annual question-and-answer session has been conducted by the President since 2001. Twelve such press conferences were held in 2001-2016: seven in 2001-2008 (except 2005) and five in 2012-2016. While serving as Russian Prime Minister (from May 2008 to May 2012), Putin suspended such meetings with the media. The tradition resumed after his re-election as head of state. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Putin's annual journalists should be the media event of the year. They are normally held at the end of December, around the Western Christmas period (Orthodox Christians in Russia celebrate Christmas two weeks later). This probably explains why Putin journalists don't get much coverage outside Russia, except among a relatively narrow niche of Russia watchers. Putin's journalists are televised live on all Russian TV channels, in which all types of media participate – federal news agencies, small local publications and foreign journalists based in Moscow – and are supposed to overshadow every other event in Russia or abroad. These conferences are carefully choreographed, typically last nearly four hours, and Putin always presents himself as an omniscient and benevolent leader carrying the torch for the country's development. On December 14, 2017, Putin's annual media event was held at the World Trade Center in Moscow. , 1650 journalists participated (the maximum so far). It concluded with an intense 3 hour and 45 minute question and answer session by the President, covering both internal and external issues. The Kremlin called it Putin's "big press conference", albeit with all the words of adoration followed by pleas for help. Although the Russian president has been holding these annual media meetings for 14 years, this event has been hailed as the largest ever held. And with Putin's re-election (won on March 18, 2018), Russia's state-controlled television networks trumpeted the behind-the-scenes preparations (transporting 35 tons of equipment) and all the work (performed by 400 technicians) that was being done. he pledged to give Putin the best possible platform to spread his message. Only twice were the Western media involved, the Associated Press (AP) and the US ABC, although many networks sent correspondents for the occasion. In recent years the questions have ranged over the following national and international topics: Putin's candidacy, post-election plans, absence of opposition, composition of the next government Economic performance, taxation, agriculture, inflation, control of the Central Bank International relations: USA, China , DPRK, Kazakhstan, Poland, UkraineSocial concerns: children, retirement age, land taxes, healthcareEnvironmental concernsQuestions from the administrative regions of RussiaPutin's use of the media as a powerful weaponAnnual conferences were used as part of the country's construction and projection strategy image of the President as a tough leader for the world. His gesture as an all-powerful leader who is trusted to make decisions on any domestic and international issue strengthens the trust in him by the Russian population. Since he was first elected president in 2000, Putin has systematically reduced media freedom in Russia. Yet he has also established a love-hate relationship with journalists.When Putin appears in front of more than 1,000 journalists at his annual news conferences, he owns the room, keeping reporters captivated for hours by alternating between threats, jokes and flirtations. Even some of Putin's biggest critics say he knows how to win over the public. These press meetings are also used as a stage for the next elections. During the conference, Putin announced his intention to run as an independent candidate in the 2018 elections and emphasized the living standards of the citizens of the Russian people as an electoral priority. Boris Nemtsov, a former Russian deputy prime minister, says Putin learned to create his image in a special educational program at a school for KGB officers. These conferences are handled with such tact, that the Russian people especially look forward to these annual press meetings. The projection of the head of their country as a confident and omnipotent leader in the world in a sense satisfies the mass psychological need for the older generation after the collapse of the former Soviet Union. These conferences have helped maintain a positive image of the President as an able head of government, especially after the anti-Putin protests of 2012. Furthermore, after international issues such as the Crimean crisis, alleged interference in US elections, sanctions Westerners, the incidence of Skripal, opinion in the country has definitely become more anti-Western and these annual conferences have been tactfully used by the president to strengthen his self-image and to renew confidence in the general population regarding Russia's rebirth. This annual media event of President Putin has led to the following results: Very successful in burnishing Putin's image as the undisputed leader of Russia Complaints tracking system (including clear deadlines (1 August 2018) in the latest event and fixation of responsibility of the governors concerned to implement specific directives, concerned governors and officials took part in the multi-faceted interaction with the concerned person and the bottlenecks were resolved immediately Call centers were established which received 2 million queries from the public including calls/SMS/MMS. assistance, housing, salaries, pensions, citizenship, infrastructure etc. A special mobile app called “Moskva-Putinu” was launched to communicate messages to the president Russian government, including increasing life expectancy, increasing incomes, and clarifying government policies on issues such as taxation, oil prices, etc. This platform was used to highlight the government's position on various foreign policy issues such as Crimea, US elections, Skripal case, North Korea, etc. The Western media calls this media event a media event. a farcical exercise that aimed largely at projecting Putin's unquestioned authority into the far corners of Russia. They accuse the Kremlin of wanting to keep things interesting without risking losing control. They scoff at the fact that the event often looked more like a scene from The Godfather than an exercise in journalism! Servility is also shown in this event. No follow-up questions are allowed during this exercise, as Putin himself has sometimes ordered the questioner to sit down and give up the microphone! These meetings are often criticized because no major political announcements are made at these events, and Putin has plenty of rhetorical tricks to evade and deflect critical questions, using loyalist media asking softball questions to appear like an all-knowing and wise ruler. space in the room, time at the microphone and, above all,.