“It is important not to waste your talents”: Alena Spiridovich told about life in the profession

She is called the symbol of the Slavic Bazaar, the first lady of the Belarusian airwaves. Alena Spiridovich, a well-known Belarusian TV presenter, gave a detailed interview. Read about the philosophy of her profession, the modern media environment and personal life values in the material of the correspondent of the Minsk-Novosti agency.

Alyona, you’ve been in the media sphere your whole life. Generations of journalists have changed before your eyes, bloggers have appeared, television is no longer the only source of information. What do you think about these changes in media?

- I want to warn you right away that I do not consider myself a grandmother who says that the grass used to be greener. I am very curious and try to delve into everything new. But it is impossible to compare a spontaneous 10-second video with a full-fledged project on television, on which professionals work. Many bloggers have flared up and faded out; they have a one-day popularity. And TV programs have been around for years. For example, the “Belarusian Time”, which I lead, this year will be 20 years old. Your question is about quantity and quality. These categories cannot be compared. Although I understand that if there is a demand, then there will be a supply. As the Eastern proverb says, “Let there be many flowers and let them all bloom.”.

- Do you use neural networks?

- Of course, I use artificial intelligence, but I always double-check the information myself. And texts written by neural networks, by the way, I quickly recognize: they always have a very beautiful style, but there is no meaning.

- Television is a creative field. You've probably faced competition, competition, maybe even envy. How did you feel about those moments and worry about them?

- My husband once said to me, You have to pick a tiny piece of work and learn how to do it better than anyone else. Then you will have a chance to be in demand.” And I began to improve my “little piece of work”, honing professionalism. I had no time to think or worry about competition. I have never been in a foreign garden. They once offered to work in information broadcasting. I honestly admitted that this is not mine: I can’t help but smile on the air, everyone will think that I was sick.

- There was a time when there was less of you on the screen. What was the reason and what were you doing at the time?

- Yes, there was a time when my television projects were shut down for years. I don't know the reason, but as I always say, if one door closes, others open. During those five years I conducted a huge number of concerts, public holidays, events, festivals, the same Slavic Bazaar. Then the idea of concert tours in Belarus “Kvitney, Belarus!” and “For a strong and prosperous Belarus” was born. We traveled all over the country, and there were three concerts a day. I hosted Kinotavr (it was shown in Russia), Golden Aries, the days of Russian cinema. I have traveled to the United States twice during this time. There was also the Art Arctic festival, where I went live every day. Oh, I don't even remember!

- You can read a lot about you on the Internet. How much do you think public life should be part of society?

- Publicity is part of my profession. I have to be open. Otherwise, how do you communicate your thoughts? And then, about something silent – on the Internet will write their own, think. But, of course, you need to leave some things for yourself and protect loved ones and friends from “extra eyes”.

- Are you a distrustful person?

- On the contrary, I am very open and trusting. But if there are betrayals in my life, I always think, ‘It’s good that this happened now! Otherwise I would have been wrong about this man for a while.”.

Your field of activity is associated with constant communication. How do you unload your head?

- Why unload it? Sometimes it feels like I'm so tired, I can't read anything else at work. And then I caught my eyes for the line in the script, for the second, for the next... "Oh, how interesting! What's next? - and it went. In general, I like to walk, cook and rest. And when the dark days come, I have to go out. I will not allow myself to cry and sour. Besides, I'll be loaded with other things right away. I will look at them and think that everything is not so bad, it can be much worse.

Alyona, you have many victories and awards in the professional field. Are there any personal victories that no one knows about?

- For me, the day-to-day win is waking up in the morning on an alarm clock. I always miss sleep: I am a night person, it is difficult for me to put myself down early, there are always some things to do. Especially after moving to a country house. And here I must say about my second feat - to get somewhere on time. I respect other people’s time and try not to be late. But before I leave the house, something distracts me every time.

- You are known as a tactful, diplomatic person. What can you say about the quality of modern television?

- There is an expression: "Nothing to blame on the mirror, if the face of the curve." Therefore, when they say that the program is not like this, I say: You guys are confusing. We are a mirror. Television reflects what is happening around us. There are different things happening, and we talk about it. But I'm sure there's a lot of good in the world, and that's something to talk about. To turn on the TV in the morning, look at the screen and think: Life is beautiful and amazing! I will go and do something good.” That’s why people like us are needed.

- Have you ever thought about a political career? Would you like to influence the life of the country?

- I may sound presumptuous, but given my reputation, I think I already have an influence. People trust my words, and that's how I'm able to influence public opinion. So I think politicians and I are doing the same thing, only in different areas. The politician did not think about his career. I'm softer and weaker than women in that field, and I look at them with admiration.

- How can you describe your style?

- One of the great fashion designers said, “There is nothing more false than fashion and nothing more true than style.” And so when they say, for example, that now everyone wears pants with a flat waist, I ask you to make pants with a belt to the chest. Perhaps it’s an echo of what’s going on in my life: it’s like that and I’m not!

- In psychology, there is such a practice: turning to yourself young. What would you like to say to that 20-year-old Alena, who is on the threshold of a big life and does not know what awaits her?

- It is very tempting to answer this question: “I would not say anything.” Go, baby, and live. But, probably, if it really happened, I would not be able to shut up and say: Take care of yourself and those you love. Take care of your soul, your attitude. Beware of negativity, do not go to bad people.” It is important not to waste what is given: your talents, destiny. And take care of those you love.

- You've had a lot of interviews. Is there a question that no one asked you and you were waiting for?

- I'll answer a little differently. I don’t give interviews to everyone because time is very valuable to me. And I want to do it for myself, even get some insights. What matters is how similar I am to the interviewer, how similar both look at things in life. Because I want to be understood. By the way, thank you for your questions: you haven't asked any of the ones I usually hear from journalists.

Photo from the interviewee's archive