In Russia, all the world is green - at least that's the impression you're left with from watching the Kremlin mouthpiece news channel Russia Today. Founded in 2005 by state news agency RIA Novosti, the government funded 24-hour channel features an impressively high production value, churning out flattering soft news pieces without even taking commercial breaks. If you live in the United States, you might be surprised to find it deeply tucked away in your cable TV listings.
But strangely, I am in complete agreement with Heidi Brown's opinion column in Forbes about the channel's strange appeal: I know I am watching propaganda, but it is well made propaganda.
Brown writes "Slick, fast-moving and well-produced (and with theme music suspiciously similar to the BBC's), Russia Today is mysteriously compelling. My boyfriend has begun watching it several times a week; he laughs at the earnestness with which the young Russian reporters--usually attractive and fluent in English--strive to conform to the official stance on various issues. And yet we find ourselves wanting to keep watching."
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That article wasn't particularly accurate.
RTTV's coverage of the recent Duma election had plenty of harsh criticism about it from Kasparov, Limonov, Zyuganov, Nemtsov and Yavlinsky.
At last notice, the top left of RTTV's web site has pages under the names of Litvinenko and Politkovskaya.
RTTV has also featured individuals who aren't known for being particularly Russia friendly.
RTTV's Q & A with Dmitry Rogozin didn't hold back in questioning some past actions of the political movement he belonged to.
RTTV can definitely do a better job. They should have a McLaughlin Group type free for all show. I've been told that budgetary considerations are one reason why that's not done. I've also heard that one relatively well known Russian pundit, who is Khodorkovsky friendly doesn't come on because he/she finds the RTTV appearance fee to be low. I can't fully vouch for those last two points. I don't rule them out altogether. It's obvious that RTTV's operating fees aren't close to matching that of the BBC, Al Jazeera and CNN.
No media is perfect. I recently saw a BBC host state that Russia looks to provoke the West whenever it can. This was followed by a segment on Russia's position on Kosovo. I didn't didn't find that BBC host's presentation to be particularly objective and there've been several other instances like that at the BBC.
Posted by Michael Averko![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.robertamsterdam.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 28, 2008 10:45 AM
Posted on February 28, 2008 10:45