Kherson regional state administration gave its reason for non-admission of press to Zelensky meeting

Photo credit: PIK

The Kherson Regional State Administration explained non-admission of several mass media to cover the visit of the President Zelensky to Kherson by the large audience criterion. The mass media which had "larger distribution and covered a larger audience" were admitted to the event, as it was said on the regional state administration's Facebook page.

“Due to the increase in the number of cases of COVID-19 and the daily fixation of the infection anti records, the number of media representatives present at the event was limited. We had to focus on media channels that were of a larger distribution and reached a larger audience. We were focusing on registered media, since this was a high-level event that must be professionally covered in compliance with the standards of journalism and journalistic ethics. Viewing that, the mass media which had no accreditation and, respectively, no editorial tasks, as well as bloggers were not invited, ”the regional state administration said.

The event was attended by a number of national and some regional media representatives: UA: Kherson, Tviy Plus TV and radio company, Kherson Plus TV and radio company, VTV Plus TV and radio company and Novy Den weekly.

“Also, from all the sites, that the Head of State visited, a live broadcast was carried out on the page of the President's Office. It could also be viewed on the website of the regional state administration, ” the statement read.

The regional state administration added that "they will continue to work as openly and impartially as possible."

As IMI reported, on June 26, several journalists in Kherson, who were not accredited to the meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky, went on strike. Several web-based editionscame out with blank pages.

As IMI reported, on June 2, journalists from the Khmelnytsky online editions vsim.ua and Ye were denied in accreditation for coverage of working visit of President Volodymyr Zelensky to the region, under the pretext of quarantine.

On May 27, at the request of the IMI, the Office of the President replied that the list of accredited media at the press conference of the President Volodymyr Zelensky, held on May 20, was formed based on the principle of popularity of mass media. At the same time, the OP did not specify which ratings they took as a basis to select such mass media.