In December 2022, INMA and Google News Initiative (GNI) awarded their third annual Elevate Scholarship to 50 news media professionals from 31 countries. This series features these impressive media professionals who are shaping our industry.

Ekaterina Kuznetsova said her life changed forever when she was 15: “I took part in a FLEX competition held in my city, Rostov-on-Don, and won a scholarship to study in high school for a year in the U.S. My family couldn’t afford to send me on such a thing, but it was all covered, and I went that year,” she said.

While in the United States, she realised her dream was to be a journalist, and she has been pursuing that dream ever since.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in England, she landed a job with BBC. “After that, I won a scholarship to study my master’s degree through the European Union’s programme in the area of human rights, which I always found interesting and motivating,” she said.

After earning that degree, she worked at Sochi Olympic Games in 2014 and fell in love with sports and the unity of the movement. “I applied to work with the Olympics, and I am still working for the company, now as a digital producer. I produce stories around human rights matters and about underrepresented athletes,” Kuznetsova said.

Although she is off to a strong start, Kuznetsova realises she has just begun: “I aspire to keep growing, and I am currently looking for ways to do so. Once you land a career in sports, in the highest institution there is in the world of sports — the Olympics — what else can you aim for? I love sports, but I want to explore my journalism path further.”

That could include writing more about minorities and human rights. She also has a YouTube channel she wants to grow by developing interesting content.

From the Elevate Scholarship programme, Kuznetsova is looking forward to learning more about the media world. “I would love to get mentorship from the media professionals who can share their skills and knowledge,” Kuznetsova said. “I love the idea of mentorship but to be honest never had a mentor who inspires me and elevates me. I hope I can get one through this scholarship.”

The Russian native said she has seen the harmful and sometimes deadly effects of discrimination and is determined to support human rights: “I have always been supportive of equality. I strive for inclusivity no matter what your background, gender, sexual orientation, skin colour, or religion is. We should all be looking for connection points, not separation points. I will keep being vocal about the importance of giving a job to underrepresented groups and minorities.”

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .