Elena Plotnikova: Why I Became a Journalist
A new interview with Elena Plotnikova, journalist, author and host of her YouTube channel.
Hello, Elena! We’re happy to have you as our guest. Your professional path began at the university, please tell us more about that.
When I was deciding which university to attend and really, what to do with my life, my mother suggested journalism. I got involved in a small, local news organization that summer and it was life changing for me. I discovered that I loved investigating and digesting tons of information and then turning my findings into something impactful for everyone else, especially obscure subjects or things the general public may not normally be exposed to. I ended up majoring in journalism and when I got to the point where I had to do an internship, I managed to land one with one of the top ten publications in my country. When I graduated, I was really lucky to be able to smoothly transition from being an intern to a full-time reporter. It wasn’t like that for a lot of my classmates, it can be really tough when you’re first out there, trying to get started.
Why did you choose to specialize in one subject and become an expert in the consumer market?
I’ve always been passionate about investigative journalism, even back to my internship days. I’ve always been drawn to examining problems that plague our society: identifying them, exposing them and trying to correct them. Consumer rights are so important because they relate to things we do every single day. These issues impact our local communities and people all over the world. I’ve been focused on this area for six years now and I have a growing network of experts in the field who help me do my job better and keep motivating me to do more.
What do you consider the most important investigation in your career?
I’ve been part of a lot of investigations that I’m proud of, especially the ones that brought about tangible changes in my country’s consumer protection policies. But I think the piece that was most important to me was a human interest piece. It was about a terrible accident that happened a few years ago. A group of children were canoeing in a lake when the boat capsized. Some of the children were not strong swimmers and tragically, drowned. I searched until I found one girl, Yulia Korol, who had been on the boat and had actually been able to save a couple of the children by helping them swim ashore. All the major media outlets in Russia picked up my story, including television. Soon after, Yulia was honored by the Ministry of Emergency Situations and received multiple grants and awards. Also, Snob Magazine recognized her as Person of the Year. While it was a horrific situation, I was glad that my work brought attention to Yulia’s heroism and I hope that her story will inspire others to be more like her if they ever find themselves in the midst of a life or death situation.
What are your goals when conducting investigations?
First of all, to change people’s lives for the better. My mission is to use my reporting to call out violations and help not only one person, but everyone impacted by a particular problem. It’s also important for me to garner the attention of local and state authorities and ensure that these issues are rectified in the courts. That’s what’s most inspiring to me.
You run a YouTube channel about moving to the US and the specifics of doing business here. Why did you decide to become a blogger?
When I came to the USA and started studying, I realized that I wanted to stay and continue my career as a journalist in this country. I knew it was going to be a big challenge, but I believed I had a unique perspective and that I could bring my understanding of Russian business practices to an American audience. I also realized that my Russian viewers might want to find out what it’s like to build a life here in America. I’ve done a lot of videos where I’ve interviewed immigrant business owners about how they got started, mistakes and lessons they’ve learned along the way. With these types of pieces, I get to show my followers that you can do what you love, even if you move to another country. It’s all possible as long as you have a solid action plan and the right motivation.
I also use my channel to share other content that is important to my audience and me, personally. For example, I made a video that showcased the experiences of transgender people living in the the US, Europe and Russia. I wanted my audience, and especially, my transgender audience members, to understand what kind of opportunities are available to them in different parts of the world.
Which interview are you most proud of?
I would say I am most proud of my interview with the UFC fighter, Slava Borshchev, in the English edition of Russian Time. I am also particularly excited about the work I’m doing for Russian American Media, one of the largest publishing houses aimed at Russian-speaking Americans. I’ve been so grateful to work with them, they do incredible work.
Thank you for your time!
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