We continue to tell the stories of outstanding graduates of our university. In 2015, she was awarded the TEFI-Region award for the project "Remember Me", in 2016 – the medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree – for her contribution to the development of Russian television.
Eugenia Dmitrenko is a graduate of the Department of Journalism, Advertising and PR. Since 2000, she has been working for the South Ural Television and Radio Company, which she headed in 2018. She also holds a degree of Candidate in Philology and is a professor at the Department of Journalism, Advertising and PR at SUSU.
– Your first education is not related to journalism. Why did it “pull the blanket over itself" anyway?
– Yes, my first education was in art. Of course, it helps in our work now: the aesthetics of the screen space, light, composition, visual drama, even design are important to us. The images of the presenters and, of course, how they look in the frame. Why journalism? It was an abrupt, sudden love at first sight. I didn't want to work on the air and didn't dream of television, I didn't understand anything about producing, directing, or anything at all. I literally walked past the TV company, some kind of impulse occurred, as if an electric current had "hit" from above. I don't know what it was. I went in there and realized that I would not leave.
– How did you start your career in journalism?
– I went through all the stages: I was a correspondent, a live broadcast presenter, a producer and editor-in-chief, I tried myself in directing, on the radio, in advertising, I was the head of various media projects. I have never regretted that I changed my profession and turned my life around. This is not a job, but my world and way of life. There is something new every day! This is very cool!
– I just want to ask, what was the very first story about?
– It wasn't even a story, but a survey of residents on the City Day with a small voiceover text. I had a wide variety of speech defects: reservations, Uralic dialect, problems with hissing, irregular breathing. My first editor said: "A mouthful of diction!" Naturally, another correspondent was given to read. And this story and then a lot of the following. It was very insulting that I was shooting, writing, editing, and another person was reading. Therefore, I worked hard on diction, studied with specialists, performed various exercises on speech technique, studied in order to present my materials myself. But I still do not pronounce the word "energy", in the flow of speech I always try to pronounce "energy crisis", "energy faculty", "energy potential".
– Are there any tips for novice correspondents and journalists?
– To have a broad outlook in the field of a wide variety of knowledge, and this, of course, is helped by basic education. It is also important to follow the news, be aware of the agenda, and understand the processes that are taking place in society. If we are journalists, we must keep abreast of the pulse and be in the information flow, both international, Russian, and regional. I am happy to learn everything that our profession gives, to learn from everyone who shares it and does not share it. Unfortunately, the removal has "crippled" many young journalists: they want to work from home, dump texts to the editorial office and not go anywhere. This type of cooperation may sometimes be acceptable, but it severely limits professional development. My opinion: in order to master a profession, you need to be inside the team – to understand the spirit of the editorial staff, communicate with senior colleagues, argue at creative meetings, work in a team and understand that the result depends on everyone's contribution, hurry up to the broadcast and generally understand what kind of essence it is – his majesty the ether.
– I can't imagine how you can manage such a large holding! Or has it become such a regular job for you?
– One of my favorite films is "Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears." The main character, Katerina, became the head of a large enterprise. In one episode, she is asked how many people she has under her command and how to organize them. She answers: "When you learn how to organize three people, the number doesn't matter anymore." Of course, I have a team of like-minded professionals, there are wise senior comrades who will always tell me, and, of course, it is of great importance that GTRK South Ural is part of RTR. We have colleagues in every region of Russia, we know each other and share our experience. And it is also very important to love your profession and people!
– You hold a senior position. Have you probably encountered various stereotypes about strong women?
– Indeed, these are only stereotypes.
– Then let's dispel them!
– And how to determine the boundary – is a woman already strong or still weak? The strong one is the one who works as a manager, and the weak one is the one who goes to manicures and shops? Well, no? Of course, we have to face challenges. This is a job in a federal holding company. A large team, many tasks in different structures: three TV channels, four radio stations, a website and new media, a printed newspaper. There must be high ratings, financial stability of the company, the economy is in order: batteries, roofs, electricity... But the most important thing is a team of creative people. You need to hear their ideas, create opportunities for creativity, understand when to criticize and when to praise. But strength probably arises from the feeling and realization that there is a team behind you, and at home your support is a family that loves, supports and waits for you to come home from work or come home from a business trip at night. It is very important. That's probably what gives you strength. You know, I want to be weak too. There's nothing wrong with that. And I cry sometimes, and I like to lie around doing nothing.
– And where to find a balance between work and family?
– Both are important, it is an integral part of life. Both work and family provide development, experience, strength and emotions. Why choose? The "either–or" approach is absolutely wrong.
– Probably, you still need self-discipline to keep up with everything?
– Any job is about discipline, commitment, control. It's the same in school. University is the most important step before acquiring a profession and future work. Responsibility is fostered there. If you don't have time for something, you understand: you either need to catch up, or you will lose something. But, believe me, you can always find time for study, work and family. And more than enough. There would be a wish.
– Since we are talking about universities, why SUSU?
– I have been working in television for several years, but I did not have a specialized education. You need to know the theory. And the Department of Television and Radio Journalism at SUSU was very young at that time. Lyudmila Shesterkina's personality played a big role in choosing this particular department. I was still a young girl at that time, and she was a huge figure in the profession, her own correspondent for RTR. I was lucky enough to work with her a little bit and look at this level of professionalism. And now, together at the Department of Journalism, Advertising and PR, we are preparing journalists of the future!