Acquaintance with management of festivals of documentary cinema of Northern countries became the theme of the week long training of the Russian experts in Norway and Finland within the limits of the project «Management of film festivals» financed by Ministerial council of Northern countries. 13 representatives of film festivals of the Northwest of Russia from St.-Petersburg, Murmansk, Kaliningrad, Arkhangelsk and Petrozavodsk took part in the trip from January, 18th till January, 28th.

The nearer   Barents Spektakel,   more worries for journalists : so many events in five days ...A group of Russian journalists   covering  this extraordinary festival is formed at last. Thanks to a grant from the Norwegian Barents Secretariat and Nordic  Journalists Centre   (Denmark) for the ninth time we will be able to try this "cultural-political cocktail " as organizers- Pikene på broen- call Barents Spektakel.

Travel Course for 15 Nordic and Russian journalists Big Cod and Big Politic invites.

The idea of the center for defending journalists' rights started to be discussed at the Union of journalists of Karelia even in the autumn of 2009. Then it was agreed that our adherents from the Expert-legal partnership "Union" - the lawyer Elena Paltseva to be exact - would consult journalists and editions concerning the information legislation.

22 journalists from Murmansk, Arkhangelsk regions and from   Karelia  took part  in a "   Interview with politicians . Finnish experience" The workshop was held in Murmansk in the country side hotel.

From November, 28th till December, 1st in the capital of Norway Oslo there took place an educational seminar for journalists of Barents region. Conversations with legal experts, discussions about human rights, acquaintance with the work of the newspaper «Drammens Tidende» – all that became possible thanks to Barents Press, with direct support of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee.

From 8 to 12 February 2012 in Kirkenes the ninth festival Barents Spektakel  will be held. The Norwegian Barents secretariat traditionally invites a group of Russian journalists from Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions, the Komi Republic, Nenets Autonomous Okrug and the Republic of Karelia to come to the festival. Journalists from Barents Russia have participated in all eight festivals . We hope that everything will turn out this year! Norwegian and Russian Barents Press intend to apply to the Norwegian Barents Secretariat and the Nordic Journalist Centre for grants to the Russian journalists.

Moscow has been protested the whole  week. Tens   thousands of people protested against the election results. Internet, especially in social networks, was boiling up. A key official and many private media in many regions  were quietly outwaiting turbulent times. At least,    in the Murmansk region.

At the end of  November St.Petersburg hosted a Forum of non-governmental organizations of Northern Europe and Russia. Among those who took part in it were the Russian NGO activists, their colleagues from Northern countries, politicians, journalists and scientists.

Nine journalists from Murmansk, Archangelsk, Severodvinsk and Komi Republic visited Hammerfest, Stavanger and Oslo for a study trip. The participant of the course Anna Chistjakova shares impressions and reflections.