Russia
A seasoned bilingual Moscow-based media professional specializing in newsgathering and content development from/about Russia and other former Soviet Union states (FSU). I have: - produced and reported hundreds of short and long news stories, live shots, special programs, exclusive features, documentary segments and interviews with top officials and newsmakers in the post-USSR region, gained access to many hard-to-get places, stories and individuals. - extensively traveled the region and covered international and domestic politics, wars and revolutions, terrorist attacks, man-made and natural disasters, major scheduled events, economic news, science, cultural and sports events. I have worked in hostile environments, in extreme weather conditions, hand in hand with some of the best professionals in the industry. - possess advanced knowledge of ENG, SNG, DNG technologies and non-linear editing (Final Cut Pro). Skill set: • Field/studio production of breaking news, daily news, features and special projects; • Researching, identifying, setting up and producing documentaries - from concept to completion; • Running video operations, logistics, managing crews, budgets, facilitating issues, troubleshooting; • Negotiations, GR, PR and company brand promotion, translating, business and media relations; • Coaching and mentoring interns and young professionals in TV production and storytelling; • In-depth knowledge of the local story, culture and media, strong contacts in the region; • Professional writing skills in English and Russian languages;
Responsbile for gathering news content from local correspondents and TV production studios across Russia as well as running the Regional Desk in Moscow. Russia's Public TV is a new national television channel, launched on May 19, 2013. As proclaimed in its founding charter, PTVR is conducting commercial-free programming with a strong emphasis on fostering civic society, activities of NGOs, various public initiatives, promoting educational and cultural values.
Feb.2013 - conducted the extensive coverage of the G20 Finance Ministers' and Central Bank Governors' Meeting in Moscow as a field and live-shot producer. Jan.2013 - coordinated and produced a lengthy exclusive interview with Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov. A variety of segments were used on Bloomberg's terminal, TV and web site. June-Aug. 2012 - originated, organized and produced series of economic reports by Bloomberg TV’s Europe Editor David Tweed from various stops along the Trans-Siberian railway, Russia's iconic and best-known train route, as the crew traveled eastwards from Moscow to Vladivostok. Bloomberg TV also released a 30-min documentary based on that trip. May 2012 - organized and produced an exclusive report from the maximum-security prison for former law enforcement officials in the Russia's Ryazan region. Jan-May 2012 - organized and produced six of the twelve half-hour shows of Ryan’s Russia – series of special reports about “the Russia you don’t know” hosted by Bloomberg TV presenter Ryan Chilcote.
Career highlights / notable achievements: • In 2005-2011, directed day-to-day newsgathering, combining managerial duties with those of a field/liveshot/package producer, assisted reporters and anchors in scripting news pkgs/live shots. • Covered special projects (US-Russian and G8 summits, presidential/parliamentary elections, etc.) -- unilaterally and as part of the U.S. television pool. Organized, produced and/or translated exclusive interviews with key newsmakers - presidents, prime ministers and other top govt, public and corporate officials in Russia and across the FSU region. • Authored 100+ stories for CNN’s web site, and contributed to many more. • On a number of occasions, did live updates from Moscow and across the former USSR. • Supervised technical (satellite, IT and VoIP) upgrades, gear inventory, equipment replacement. In 2005-2006, renegotiated contracts with telecommunication services providers, cutting the bureau's running satellite/fiber-optic costs by more than 50%. • Maintained regular contacts with Russian govt officials to facilitate access to stories, visa and customs issues; liased with local TV stations re video footage/photos and story leads. • Developed CNN’s promotional press kits for the network’s Eye on Russia series (in 2007 and 2009) and helped promote the brand locally. Assisted CNN PR in reacting to local media inquiries regarding CNN. • Prior to my departure from CNN, provided editorial and technical training to new bureau staff members, leaving behind a self-sufficient team with knowledge of studio/MCR and BGAN operations and Final Cut Pro editing.
Career highlights / notable achievements: • Conducted newsgathering and TV production in Russia and across the former Soviet Union. • Produced long-format special reports and feature stories. • Provided CNN's wire service with news updates and editorial guidance. - Mar.2005: Covered the first of the two "color" revolutions in Kyrgyzstan in three capacities - as a field/live producer, camera shooter and videotape editor. - Nov-Dec.2004: Covered the “Orange” revolution in Ukraine, made repeated follow-up trips there. - Aug.2000: Covered the Kursk nuclear submarine accident in the Barents Sea. - 1999 and beyond: Covered numerous terror attacks in Russia (including the 1999 apartment bombings, the 2002 theater hostage drama, twin subway bombings in March 2010, the suicide blast at Moscow's Domodedovo airport in January 2011). - Mid-1990's-2000: Covered the two bloody wars in Chechnya from both warring sides. - Oct.1993: Covered the standoff between the Russian parliament and President Yeltsin, producing live reports from the besieged parliament building for two weeks straight, leaving the building only hours before the imminent tank attack. - Aug. 1991: Covered, as a freelance contibutor/on-air guest, the hardline communist coup which triggered the breakup of the USSR (I took a staff position at CNN Moscow in Feb. 1992).
Reported foreign news. Traveled as part of President Mikhail Gorbachev’s press pool to the US, UK and Japan. Covered George Bush’s first visit to Ukraine as a newly independent state as well as a number of summits, G7 meetings and other special events and conferences. Contributed on a weekly basis to CNN’s World Report news program.
Reported news and feature stories for the American and international English-language radio audiences.