Cherkessk, December 26, 2014. The North Caucasian journalist forum named "Covering ethno-religious development in modern media" started in Cherkessk, Karachay-Cherkessia. The event was organized by the Inter-ethnic journalism guild, the Karachay-Cherkessia Journalists’ Union, the local ministry of nationalities, mass communication and press, and the KChR Media information holding.

The forum assembled over 50 journalists from all North Caucasus Federal District regions and representatives of federal mass media. The rally is designed to discuss pressing issues of ethnic journalism, coverage of interfaith relations in Russian media, specifics of Islamic topics, etc.

Opening the event, Karachay-Cherkessia minister of nationalities Evgeniy Kratov noted that in 2013 the federal government had designed a federal target program called "Strengthening unity of the Russian nation and peoples’ ethno-cultural development" which provides funds and tools for solving problems under the program.

The forum will feature meetings for journalists and experts in ethnics and religions, seminars, workshops and master classes on developing a new branch of domestic media – inter-ethnic journalism. Participants will also discuss strategies of the Russian national policy until 2025 and the ethics code for journalists covering ethnic issues in Russia.