Press Release
Viktor Khanevich Thanks the Paul Klebnikov Fund for Journalism Fellowship
October 2009
Viktor Khanevich
When I went to the perfectly situated The New York Times Moscow Bureau for the first time, I was constantly thinking about one thing: "Can I, virtually inexperienced journalist, really take part in the work of so influential world periodical?"
Some days later I was surprised that such thought could appear in my head in principle. It didn't take me plenty of time to get into the way of fulfilling my duties. Of course, it was a great merit of the bureau staff. All of them are very glad to see a new colleague in the office and help him as they can. I have adapted to circumstances in a week and began to help the reporters to prepare new articles.
Attentiveness is the most important quality for the intern. You have to be intent not only during the news reading (it's the simplest way to suggest an idea of future article), but at any time and anywhere. An occurrence in the street, a joke or just a worldly wisdom can help to start a perfect news story.
All the correspondents communicate very willingly, so the intern becomes a necessary part of this process. In the bureau his work has a really high value because the intern knows a lot about the surrounding reality and all the typically Russian features.
The main intern's goal is searching and collecting information. Phone and Internet provide almost all the possibilities to get it, but sometimes press-conferences, interviews and departures for a news spot take place in the work process. In addition you have to be prepared for the absolutely incredible subjects and data.
How tall is Mikhail Prokhorov? How many jitneys are there in Moscow? Where do melons and honeydew melons grow? What Russian region is the most "drunk"? How much is the sales volume of Russian weapon supplies to Venezuela? Who (among the world leaders) can speak Russian? What nicknames does Moscow have? How many Abkhazian ships did Georgia arrest?
You have to find out all these details as soon as possible cause the reporter doesn't have heaps of time. Moreover you cannot forget trustworthiness and exactness of information because the article's level depends on this exactness. These qualities, combined with the journalistic professionalism, form the image of one of the most popular world newspaper.
Spend two months among the genuine professionals is a great luck for a young journalist. Knowledge and true experience are the most useful gains of the internship. Working in a solid team, constant and informative communication and astonishingly interesting tasks every day are the very possibilities that the internship in The New York Times can give you.
That's why I'm very grateful to everyone who gave me such chance and such possibility.
Viktor Khanevich,
October, 2009
