St. Basil's Cathedral
St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow

The Other Russia

This week, OTM turns its focus to Russia. How are the Russian media operating during an era of dramatic economic change, a clampdown on freedom of speech, and a struggle to reposition the country on the world stage? Host Brooke Gladstone, producer Mike Vuolo and technical director Dylan Keefe traveled to Moscow to speak with journalists, dissidents, and lawmakers about the current climate for press freedom.

Garry Kasparov is known around the world as a chess champion. He’s also a vocal opponent of Vladimir Putin and what he calls Putin’s “police state.”

Yevgeny Kiselyov was a big-time television anchor under Yeltsin. He’s a smaller-time radio host under Putin.

Vladimir Ryzhkov is an independent member of Russia’s lower legislative body. He says the Kremlin is passing legislation to drive its opponents out of power.

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Novaya Gazeta

The Russian Peculiarity

Outright censorship is not the only challenge facing critical Russian journalists. Some dissident voices and investigative reporters are silenced, but others are just ignored. The Russian public has been largely apathetic, with little appetite for tenacious journalism. Reporters, editors, journalist advocates, former propagandists and current state supporters explain the stakes and costs of freedom of the press.

Vladimir Posner was an unofficial Soviet spokesperson during the Cold War. He’s now a free-speech proponent.

Anastasia Izumskaya quit the Russia News Service after being told that a half of her stories would have to be "positive."

Igor Yakovenko is the head of the Russian Union of Journalists, with more then 100,000 members throughout Russia.

Oleg Panfilov is a journalist, historian and founder of the Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations.

Sergei Sokolov is the deputy editor of Novaya Gazeta which, since 2000, has lost three reporters under suspicious circumstances.

Andrei Richter is the director of the Moscow Media Law and Policy Center.

Alexander Prokhanov is a newspaper publisher and an ultra-nationalist commentator for radio station Echo Moskvy.

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Vladimir Mamontov

The Price of Stability

When you’re an American media-analysis show looking to talk about free-speech, not many media heavyweights in Moscow will speak with you. One of the few who will is Vladimir Mamontov, editor-in-chief of one of Russia’s most important newspapers – Izvestia. He defends the Kremlin's view of the relationship between a free press and political stability.

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Russian bard

The Bard

The tradition of “bards” has its roots in the Soviet Union of the 1960’s. Singer-songwriters wrote metaphorical protest songs that represented subtle opposition to the government. One of the best bards of the new generation, Timur Shaov talks about how the genre has evolved.

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A woman holds a picture of Russian late president Bori Yeltsin (Getty Images)

Bear Down

Looking at the recent history of press freedom in Russia, it's worth considering the changes ushered in by former president Boris Yeltsin. When he died two months ago, Brooke compiled this report on Yeltsin's mixed legacy.

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The Process

Between interviews in Moscow, Brooke, Mike, and Dylan recorded some of their impressions of the reporting process. Click here to read their behind-the-scenes blog.

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highlights from past showsHighlights from Past Shows

The destroyed shrine of the Askariya mosque is seen on June 13, 2007 in Samarra, Iraq

Struck Gold

June 15, 2007

On Wednesday, a sacred Shiite shrine in Samarra was bombed for the second time. The first bombing famously triggered a wave of reprisals, and thus became a turning point in the war. Or did it? Washington Post reporter Thomas Ricks says that narrative was mostly Bush Administration spin.


Courtesy of the SITE Institute

Directing Terror

June 08, 2007

A new video released by the militant group, Islamic State of Iraq, is one example in a new trend of insurgent videos, a move away from gore and toward highly stylized dramatization. The Washington Post’s Philip Kennicott explains that the video shows a profound awareness of pacing, dramatic effect, and American media imagery.


On the Media is funded by The Bydale Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Overbrook Foundation.