By Rebecca Ampah
Rossotrudnichestvo, the Russian federal government agency responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and international cultural exchanges in collaboration with Russia Today Television (RT TV), launched the New Generation Internship Program in Moscow on Monday, 20th July 2026. The one-week program runs from 20th July to 25th July 2026 and is hosted at RT’s headquarters.
The Week-long program brings young international leaders to RT headquarters to explore modern journalism, AI in media, and Russia’s global perspective
The initiative is part of the broader “New Generation” program, implemented by Rossotrudnichestvo under Presidential Decree No. 1394 of 19 October 2011. It’s aim is to develop public, business and scientific ties between Russia and foreign countries, promote an objective image of transformations in Russian society, and expand the number of young active foreign citizens with an impartial perception of Russia.
Since 2011, more than 11,000 foreign citizens from 154 countries have taken part in the “New Generation” program, visiting over 35 regions of the Russian Federation. The current Moscow internship focuses specifically on media, journalism, and international broadcasting.
Participants are young leaders aged 14 to 40 who do not hold Russian citizenship and have not previously joined the program. Candidates are selected by Russian Centers for Science and Culture and partner organizations worldwide.
The team was welcomed by senior RT and Rossotrudnichestvo officials who introduced participants to RT’s operations and editorial approach. Those present included:
- Anna Kovtunova, Head of RT Academy
- Natalia Lebedeva, Head of RT en Français
- Nikita Nolkov, Deputy Director, International Cooperation and Distribution Department, RT TV
- Anton Konkin, Chief Producer, RT Africa
- Alexey L. Nikolov, RT Deputy Editor-In-Chief, Senior Management
- Maria Zeleranskaya, Head of RT Interns Newsroom
- Alta Sabritskaya, Deputy Head of Producers Department, RT International
- Kirill Bogomolov, Specialist in Development Assistance and Foreign Aid, Rossotrudnichestvo
The officials briefed participants on how RT TV operates and the structure of its international newsroom.
Over five days, interns will explore key aspects of modern broadcasting and digital media. The curriculum includes:
- Understanding RT TV: How the network operates and reaches global audiences
- Newsroom Operations: Making news broadcasts watched by millions, including how RT’s international newsroom and producers’ desks function
- Field Reporting: The know-how of a correspondent and specifics of working for an international media outlet in Africa
- Next-Gen Television: Mastering AI tools for media outlets
- On-Camera Skills: Work of a TV presenter, tips and tricks for filming with a mobile phone
- Content Creation: Video formats that make news coverage stand out
- Cultural Context: Knowledge of tourist attractions in Russia
Rossotrudnichestvo emphasized that the program does not end after one week. Particular attention is paid to post-program interaction, conducted by Rossotrudnichestvo offices abroad in cooperation with partner organizations, local authorities, and program graduates. The goal is to encourage participants to strengthen partner relations between the Russian Federation and the states they represent.
The New Generation Internship at RT marks another step in Moscow’s effort to engage young global voices in media and build long-term professional ties across continents.
