Published: November 10, 2026 1:39 pm
Author: RT
MOSCOW, NOVEMBER 10, 2026 — Journalists and other experts from RT, which co-organized the main media forum in Mali, Salon des Medias du Mali (SAM Mali), conducted panel discussions and educational workshops for journalists, bloggers, students, and media professionals at the event. The Head of RT en français, Natalya Lebedeva, was one of the speakers at the opening ceremony of the forum.
“RT en français is here today as part of a technical partnership aimed at training many of our young men and women in the media sector to build their professional capacity. Having RT en français as a strategic partner of this forum, along with its massive presence here today, reinforces our conviction that alliances must not be limited to governments and political leaders,” said Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop in an interview with RT en français on the sidelines of SAM Mali.
As part of the forum, RT en français correspondent Daria Vaganova moderated a discussion on the future of African media, information sovereignty, and pluralism.
Within the framework of the educational program RT Academy, the organization’s international educational initiative, Vaganova taught a class on reporting and conducting high-profile interviews. Additionally, Lilia Zaripova, head of protocol for RT’s editor-in-chief, and senior producer Anton Shmakov discussed international techniques and the challenges of organizing shoots in Africa.
In total, educational events hosted by RT Academy were held across several venues in the capital, Bamako, including a one-day intensive session at the Russian House cultural center. Participants learned how journalists can expand their reach on social media and explored the relationship between journalism and online content.
The educational program, which took place in Mali from November 5 to 8, was inaugurated by Lebedeva and Tatyana Lyutova, producer of RT Academy. More than 300 individuals participated.
RT Academy, launched in 2024, provides free online courses, in-person workshops, and in-house training for both aspiring and professional journalists. To date, over 10,000 students and professionals from more than 80 countries have completed online and offline RT Academy programs, many of whom have gone on to work for RT.
