ATN: Novosti

ATN: Novosti (Agency of Television News, Агентство телевизионных новостей) is the news production division of the Belarusian state media holding Belteleradiocompany. It was established in late 1994 as the Main Directorate 'Agency of Television News' and began broadcasting on 9 January 1995, a date treated as its founding. The unit replaced the previous information-programming editorial office of Belarusian Television, introducing a faster, more contemporary news format. Its first team was drawn largely from young journalists across Belarusian Television, and for a long time the staff numbered only about 15 people. The division pioneered the role of news anchor on Belarusian television, replacing the Soviet-era announcer institution, and introduced formats such as the 'news of the day' focus, studio redesigns, and author-driven analytical programs. ATN produces regular news bulletins and the evening flagship program 'Panorama', as well as special reports, cyclical programs and special projects broadcast on the channels Belarus 1, Belarus 2, Belarus 3 and Belarus 24. Its output is archived on the Belteleradiocompany website and on the agency's official social media communities. On 15 April 2014, an internet news directorate was created within ATN to develop online projects and distribute Belteleradiocompany news and ratings programs via social networks and video hosting platforms. By the mid-2010s the agency employed more than 300 specialists and produced seven daily news bulletins plus the evening 'Panorama' information channel. It has set broadcasting records, including hourly news coverage during the 2015 presidential election and the 2021 migration crisis. ATN is part of Belarus's state broadcasting system and is frequently criticized for a pro-government editorial line. International experts and the Belarusian opposition have described state television, including ATN's output, as a key propaganda instrument of the Belarusian authorities, accusing it of disinformation, propaganda of political repression, election manipulation and insults against critics of the Lukashenko regime. In 2020, journalists who resigned amid post-election protests said there was serious censorship at the agency, including lists of banned names and topics. The agency is headed by Sergei Gusachenko, who became its director in 2017 and was appointed deputy chairman of Belteleradiocompany in May 2018.

Before December 1994, daily news bulletins and the evening summary program 'Panorama' on Belarusian Television were prepared by the information programs editorial office. To deliver information more efficiently and in a new modern format, a decision was made to create a special news subdivision: the Main Directorate 'Agency of Television News' (ATN) of Belteleradiocompany. The first news bulletin in the new format aired on 9 January 1995, and that day is considered the agency's founding date. The ATN team was formed mainly from young Belarusian Television journalists from various editorial offices. For a long time the staff consisted of only 15 people. The live broadcast schedule was demanding for the new unit: it had to maintain the previous volume of broadcasting while changing the content's form and bringing it closer to world standards. It was then that a new profession appeared on Belarusian television — the news program anchor — replacing the Soviet institution of announcers. The anchor now participated in the full cycle of creating a news bulletin: each item was 'passed through' the anchor, the style of presentation changed, and links between different information blocks were introduced. Anchors also frequently acted as correspondents. From 1995, the structure of information programs changed substantially. Each bulletin highlighted the most important 'news of the day' as the leitmotif of the entire program. The studio design and the format of the bulletin also changed. In summary programs, up to five people could appear on screen simultaneously: two anchors, a political commentator, a sports commentator and a weather specialist. Their dialogues were often pure improvisation. With the new approach to presenting information, a format relatively new to Belarusian TV also appeared — the author-driven program. Thus, from May 1995, the weekly information and analytical program 'Rezonans' with Alexander Zimovsky began airing. In 1996, the program 'Spetsialny Reportazh' (Special Report) appeared as a response to major events in the world and in Belarus. It aired in the evening in a block with 'Panorama'. Its authors actively used material filmed in the regions. Until January 1995, news bulletins aired only during the day. As of 2015, the program included seven news bulletins plus the evening summary information channel 'Panorama'. On the day of the Belarus presidential election on 11 November 2015, ATN of Belteleradiocompany broke a record for information broadcasting: news aired every hour from 8 a.m., and the summary program 'Glavny Efir' broadcast live from 19:50 to 3:00 a.m. On 11 November 2021, news bulletins aired every hour amid the migration crisis in Belarus, and from 12:00 to 14:10 as part of an information marathon. In addition to news bulletins, ATN prepares permanent television projects, cyclical programs and special projects broadcast on the channels Belarus 1, Belarus 2, Belarus 3 and Belarus 24. The archive of ATN projects and news bulletins is posted on the Belteleradiocompany website and in the official communities of the Agency of Television News on social networks. Within ATN's structure, an internet news directorate has operated since 15 April 2014. Its tasks include creating its own internet projects and presenting Belteleradiocompany news and ratings programs on social networks and video hosting platforms. Since 2017, ATN has been headed by chief director Sergei Alexandrovich Gusachenko, who was appointed deputy chairman of Belteleradiocompany in May 2018. The previous head of the Agency of Television News, Ivan Mikhailovich Eismont, was appointed deputy chairman of Belteleradiocompany and in February 2018 took the post of chairman of the country's largest media holding. ATN currently employs more than 300 specialists. The agency's work has received a number of awards and prizes. Plans include creating a new news channel comparable to Euronews and BBC on the basis of the Agency of Television News. The Agency of Television News, which produces news bulletins and special projects for the channel, is often accused of a biased pro-government point of view. According to critics, 'Belarus-1' unjustifiably spends most of its airtime on government news, including news about Alexander Lukashenko. International experts and the Belarusian opposition traditionally call state television one of the most important propaganda tools of the Belarusian authorities. It is accused of disinformation, propaganda of political repression, manipulation during elections and insults against critics of the Lukashenko regime. A journalist of the Agency of Television News who resigned in August 2020 amid protests after the 2020 presidential election said that serious censorship existed at her workplace. For example, there was a list of people whose names could not be mentioned in news, including opposition politicians; there was a blacklist of economists and political scientists from whom comments could not be taken; and the use of the words 'Stalinism', 'cult of personality' and 'GULAG' in reports was not allowed. The existence of censorship was also confirmed by ATN journalist Alexander Luchonok, who resigned at the same time.

• Decision to create the Main Directorate 'Agency of Television News' (ATN) within Belteleradiocompany, replacing the previous information programs editorial office.

• First ATN news bulletin in the new format airs; considered the agency's founding date.

• Weekly information and analytical program 'Rezonans' with Alexander Zimovsky begins airing.

• Program 'Spetsialny Reportazh' (Special Report) is launched, airing in the evening block with 'Panorama'.

• Internet news directorate established within ATN to create online projects and distribute content via social networks and video hosting.

• ATN sets a record for information broadcasting during the Belarus presidential election, with hourly news and the live program 'Glavny Efir' from 19:50 to 3:00.

• Sergei Gusachenko becomes head of ATN.

• Former ATN head Ivan Eismont becomes chairman of the country's largest media holding.

• ATN head Sergei Gusachenko appointed deputy chairman of Belteleradiocompany.

• Journalists resign amid post-election protests and allege serious censorship at ATN.

• ATN broadcasts news every hour amid the migration crisis, including an information marathon from 12:00 to 14:10.

State-run news agency and news production unit of Belarusian state television, providing news and current affairs programming for Belteleradiocompany channels.

• Panorama (Панорама)

  Evening summary information program, the flagship news broadcast of ATN.

• News bulletins

  Regular daily news bulletins; as of 2015, seven bulletins per day plus Panorama.

• Rezonans (Резонанс)

  Weekly information and analytical program launched in May 1995 with Alexander Zimovsky.

• Spetsialny Reportazh (Специальный репортаж)

  Special report program launched in 1996, responding to major events in Belarus and the world.

• Glavny Efir (Главный эфир)

  Summary program that aired live during the 2015 election coverage.

1. 1Wikidata: ATN: Novostiwikidata.org
2. 2Агентство телевизионных новостей — Википедияru.wikipedia.org