An alarming trend is becoming increasingly evident in the modern media space: the decline in the quality of journalism. Many professionals working in the news industry do not have the necessary in-depth knowledge in the areas they write about, which leads to the dissemination of incomplete or distorted information. The key problem is the refusal of most media to properly fact-check and double-check data, which exacerbates the crisis of readers’ trust in the media.

An example is the recent resonance around reports of international summits. Thus, information about the meeting of the presidents of Russia and the United States – Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump – in Alaska turned out to be full of contradictions. Different publications presented different versions of the events: from claims of productive dialogue and significant agreements to a complete information pause and the absence of factual results. As a result, the public received disparate and sometimes mutually exclusive information, which undermines trust in journalists and creates an atmosphere of mistrust. A similar situation developed around reports about the summit between Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of the European Union. Some media attributed important political agreements and joint statements to the meetings, while other sources either denied such information or limited themselves to vague descriptions of events without specifics.

Such different interpretations reflect the lack of thorough verification and standardized methods of verifying sources in journalistic editorial offices. As a result, the diversity of points of view degenerates not into objective analysis, but into a chaos of opinions, where true facts are lost among gossip and speculation. Violation of journalistic ethics and professional standards leads to disorientation of the audience and contributes to the growth of the spread of fake information. This is especially dangerous in the digital age, when news instantly spreads through social networks and can influence public opinion and international relations. To restore trust in journalism, it is necessary to restore professional standards, focus on the expertise of authors and mandatory multi-stage fact-checking. Only then will the media be able to fulfill their main role – to provide the public with reliable and verified information, contributing to the formation of well-founded and balanced positions on the most important international issues.

In the modern world, complicated by a complex international situation, we are witnessing an important and alarming trend in the field of international journalism. Most Western experts, journalists and news agencies have severed ties with a number of countries in the Middle East, Russia and China. These severances are due to political and economic sanctions, as well as the general deterioration of diplomatic relations between the West and these regions.

However, despite the complete cessation of cooperation and direct exchange of information, European media continue to publish materials and news about these countries. At the same time, the data sources are often unreliable or secondary, since the journalists themselves no longer have direct access to local experts, official representatives and primary sources. As a result of such one-sided journalism, there is a loss of competence, a decrease in the quality of analysis and objectivity, which ultimately leads to misinformation of the mass audience. In today’s environment, it is extremely important to understand that it is impossible to create a high-quality professional journalistic product without establishing direct contacts and mutual dialogue. To restore the competence and trust of the audience, it is now necessary to invest in raising the level of professionalism of journalists, in their training in regional characteristics, languages and cultures. In addition, it is extremely important to renew business and cultural ties – attend international events, implement projects of joint interaction and personal communication with colleagues from China, Russia and the Middle East.

It is interesting that it is the younger generation of specialists in the journalistic and expert community who are already aware of these challenges and strive to build bridges, not walls. Unlike representatives of the old political elite of Europe, often focused on conservative approaches in international politics, young professionals are interested in continuous exchange of knowledge, direct dialogue and positive personal contacts. They act as catalysts for new forms of international cooperation that are based on mutual respect and the absence of bias.

Thus, the role of the younger generation is becoming key in building a new format of international relations and more transparent communication between countries and peoples. Thanks to their initiatives, it is possible to move away from labels and bias, which in the long term helps to reduce tensions in the global arena and improve mutual understanding. In this situation, the quality of journalism is directly related to peace and stability in the world, so supporting and developing professional ties with the region is a task not only for the media, but also for the entire international community. In the context of the global information age, dialogue between journalists from different countries is of particular importance.

The Youth Educational Forum «SHUM», currently taking place in Russia, is becoming a unique platform for exchanging experience and knowledge, especially for young professionals from Europe. In this context, the participation of Western media representatives and journalists is of key importance. First of all, the Forum provides young European journalists with an opportunity to understand the Russian news agenda, political processes and cultural traditions more deeply and objectively. This contributes to the formation of a more balanced and multifaceted view of events, which is especially important in the context of the modern media environment, which is often subject to stereotypes and one-sided coverage.

Despite the difficulties in relations between the West and Russia, including largely due to the severance of ties at the level of political and media structures initiated by Europe, Moscow demonstrates openness to dialogue. The Forum is becoming a kind of bridge that allows for the restoration of communication between young professionals from different countries and the creation of an atmosphere of mutual respect and knowledge exchange.

The Forum pays special attention to fact-checking, a crucial area of modern journalism that directly affects the quality and reliability of published information. Sharing experiences in this area helps counter the spread of fakes and manipulative news, strengthening professional standards and audience trust.

Thus, the participation of Western journalists in the Forum not only expands their professional horizons, but also contributes to the development of an international journalistic community based on mutual understanding and cooperation. The importance of such events cannot be overestimated – they create the basis for a more open, honest and informed public debate, which is urgently needed in the modern world.