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01.10.2008 How the News is Reported in Russia Sept, 2008 by Andrei Nesterov The two largest state-run television stations in Russia are First Channel and Russia Channel. Most Russians get their news from one of these two stations. SRAS's Andrei Nesterov compiled the following synopsis of how major events in the FSU were covered by news reports on these two stations. This news review is part of SRAS's monthly "obzor" publications. For more reviews, see the newsletter for this corresponding month. If you would like to request that a story occurring in June be covered here, inform our editor. To receive the free monthly newsletter and obzori by email, simply sign up.   US Financial Crisis Russia Channel and First Channel both sharply criticized the $700 billion bailout plan offered by the Bush administration for America's troubled financial system. "Money can be obtained either through the self-delusion of inflating a loan-bubble or taken from the taxpayers' pockets. Yet, it is possible to stop inventing trivial quibbles and form strategic alliances with those who hold solid cash – Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia," stated a commentator on Russia Channel. Later, when the plan was not approved by the US Congress, Russia Channel questioned if the plan was feasible but also quoted Warren Buffet who called the current US financial situation "an economic Pearl Harbor." First Channel questioned if the USA would be able to persuade the rest of the world to accept America's financial debt. "The European countries are not eager to rescue the US economy at their own expense," First Channel reported after broadcasting a statement made by German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck that the global financial crisis would deeply transform the global financial system, and the United States will likely to lose its status as the superpower of that system. The channel also reminded viewers that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had said the same things in June at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg and even re-broadcast Medvedev's statement from the forum which ran: "The disparity between the formal role of the US in the world economic system and its real potential is one of the main reasons for the current crisis. As strong as the U.S. market is, and as reliable as the US financial system is, it isn't capable of replacing global commercial and financial markets." First Channel also quoted French President Nicolas Sarkozy as saying that all countries need to take joint efforts to overcome the financial crisis.   Russian Stock Market Plummeting On September 26, Russia Channel reported that the Russian Trading System (RTS) index had fallen by 1,300 points. RTS is Russia's most popular stock market. Newspapers, such as Komsomolskaya Pravda, went further and stated that Russian tycoons had lost between one and ten billion dollars in the fall. Russia Channel broadcast optimistic prognoses saying that the crisis would actually be beneficial for the domestic stock market since the government lifted the ban for marginal lending after the crisis, and this might lead to the market growth. Russian TV praised the government's financial support of domestic banks (currently valued at about 50 billion dollars) in order to alleviate the crisis. It stated that such support proves the strength of Russia's economy.    McCain-Obama Debate Russian TV was more favorable to Barack Obama in its coverage of the first debates between the two US presidential candidates. "The opponents do not have a single opinion about dialogue with Russia. Unlike McCain, Obama was more reserved in his judgments," Russia Channel reported and added that both the candidates believe that "Washington and Moscow should not return to the Cold War era relations." "McCain expressed caustic criticism of Russia in his usual manner, while Obama reminds us that the issue of Iran cannot be resolved without the assistance of Russia and China," First Channel reported, adding that US opinion polls showed Obama was also favored by the American public in his performance at the debate.   UN Security Council Resolution on Iran's Nuclear Program After debates with Russia, on September 27, the UN Security Council approved a new "non-sanction" resolution on Iran for refusing to halt its uranium enrichment program. First Channel stated that "Russia's partners from the Security Council were proposing too tough a version of the resolution, with a set of sanctions aimed at creating an economic blockade of Iran." Furthermore, First Channel's commentator continued, "Moscow believes that such measures are premature and, in addition, the opinion of non-permanent members of the Security Council should be asked." First Channel said that the resolution demonstrated that the Security Council works not on the basis of imposing sanctions, but on the grounds of diplomatic settlements. Later, on September 28, First Channel reported that "Teheran will not comply with the provisions of the adopted resolution," citing the Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Qashqavi, and saying that the spokesman had called the resolution "empty" and "only words." Russian TV has not commented further on Iran's refusal to halt its program, and only quoted a Russian Foreign Ministry statement about its intentions to continue negotiations with Iran to clarify its viewpoint and find a solution.   Air Catastrophe in Perm National media gave heavy coverage to the crash of a Boeing 737 plane in Perm on September 14. All 88 people on board were killed, including 20 foreign nationals. The channels have been reporting changing versions of the story and the reasons for the crash. As of September 25th, Russia Channel had reported that "a non-standard navigation device" on the plane could have caused pilot error and led to the crash. Earlier, on September 18, the channel quoted an "authoritative test pilot" named Magomed Tolboev, who said that the plane's operating system malfunctioned during landing. Both First Channel and Russia Channel reported that there had been an argument between the plane's pilot and co-pilot, although the Minister of Transport, Igor Levitin, was quoted as not confirming this. The Ministry was quoted as confirming that the plane's automatic pilot was not working properly and was turned off, but that this was "permitted." On September 15, The Head of the Investigation Committee of the Office of the General Prosecutor was shown on Russia Channel as saying that, according to preliminary information, a malfunction of the plane's right engine caused it to catch fire and explode, leading to the destruction of the aircraft. In that broadcast, the commentators called the pilots "heroes" because they had steered the falling plane away from residential areas before it crashed. According to First Channel, investigators are considering ten versions of the catastrophe.   Study Politics in Russia The Library: Politics in Russia SRAS Resources for Teachers   Find out more! SRAS Travel Services More Study Abroad Programs Internships in Russia Heath and Safety in Russia The SRAS Newsletter Journal for Students More Free Resources! Questions or comments? Contact the editor. « back to News archive print this page email this page