Kuzbass Residents Criticize 1 Billion Ruble PR Program

A major controversy was sparked by the material from NGS42.RU about the state program «Press of Kuzbass», on which over 1 billion rubles (approximately $10 million at current rates) were spent from the budget. Many readers, besides outrage, had numerous questions. Among journalists – why these particular media were chosen to create a positive image, and among residents – whether such expenses are needed at all for the region. On the latter point, heated debates erupted online and under our article. On Saturday, 25 October, we collected the most striking comments.

Dozens of messages from Kuzbass residents were devoted to reasoning: why was the state program needed and was the result truly effective. Most users agreed on one thing: «If you say »sugar« a hundred times, it won»t make your mouth any sweeter.«

Commenters stated that, despite attempts to create a good image of Kuzbass, in Russia the region is known as a leader in budget deficit.

«Crisis, they say. No money for children, for medicine, but you endure. For PR of non-existent labor feats, millions are found,» writes an anonymous user, but does not mention that the program started 11 years ago, when the current budget situation in the region had not yet arisen.

«Education is in complete decline, in medicine – only a few hospitals in Novokuznetsk and Kemerovo are staffed with specialists. But with holidays, everything is fine with us, they never end. There is no work at all. No bread, only circuses remain,» concluded a city resident.

«Did you mix something up there? 450 million rubles (approximately $4.5 million)? And they canceled children»s transport to save 100? Let«s save on youth, of course, who needs it here,» one commenter ironizes.

Also, Kuzbass residents were outraged that over 11 years, out of 166 media in the region, only three were included in the program, one of which has no license and a long-closed website.

«It would be very interesting to see these wonderful and positive materials about Kuzbass»s image and find out where they were actually placed and at what such exorbitant prices. But only competent authorities can help with that,« writes one of the commenters.

«VGTRK (All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company) is obliged to cover regional events with funding from the federal budget, not additionally from the regional budget. And in every broadcast, they have hidden advertising for commercial institutions disguised as »information«,» notes an anonymous author.

«Who reads or watches these media? No one is interested in this, the pictures and articles are diametrically opposed to the realities of life. It»s very bad when there is no analysis of the problem field, then there is no development strategy,« believes the user.

Moreover, the most reactions were caused by a message from a resident who introduced himself as an employee of the newspaper «Kuzbass». The journalist admitted that he and his colleagues are «sick of being toothless, enslaved, silent,» but they cannot quit.

«There is nowhere else to work. I just ask everyone who is subscribed to your channel and sees all this – don»t think too badly of us. It«s complete hopelessness. Our future is just that: to publish a newspaper no one needs, just to please the bosses, and go home – to families, potatoes, and TV series,» concluded the journalist.

Also, a lively reaction was caused by another admission – that employees of local organizations are «forced to subscribe to the newspaper». Meanwhile, users ironically wonder how «the region is proud of the quantity and quality of local media.»

«And did they [the authorities] count how many media have closed? The oldest newspaper »Kuznetsky Rabochy« closed. Other local newspapers are closing. Here it is – the real result of such a policy,» concludes one of our readers.

Among dozens of messages, there were only a few commenters who believed that the state program was beneficial.

«The city of Kemerovo has definitely become better both culturally and in terms of improvement and construction,» wrote an anonymous user.

For more details on what the program is about, which has been discussed in the region all these days, and who received money from it, read the full review.