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28.09.2009 How the News is Reported in Russia September, 2009 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 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.     Missile Shield Dropped First Channel called the US decision to drop its planned Eastern Europe missile shield "the main event in the politics around the globe" on the day it was announced. The report went on to state that the decision "is obviously caused by the growing role of Russia in the world politics" since, according to the anchor, such problems as the Iran's nuclear program, Middle East conflicts and the issue of stability in Europe "cannot be solved without Russia." First Channel was very sarcastic about the negative reaction of Poland's government, saying that "nobody paid attention to it" and "the US President was speaking about two other countries" (implying that he was not concerned about Poland and the Czech Republic, but about Russia-US relations). First Channel stated that the Kremlin perceived Obama's words about the cancellation of the missile shield plans "in a calm manner, with satisfaction, as the prevalence of the common sense," and quoted President Dmitry Medvedev as saying that the US move demonstrates "that our American partners are ready, at the very least, to listen to the arguments and opinions of Russia." The opinion was also expressed that the missile silos near Russia's borders were needed for shooting down Russian or Chinese missiles since "neither Iran nor North Korea have or may have in the foreseeable future intercontinental ballistic missiles."   The channel stated that most Czech citizens are happy that the missile plan was dropped, saying that surveys revealed that 70% of Czechs were against the plan. "Those who are disappointed with Obama's decision are 'hawks:' Republicans in the USA and anti-Russian political circles in Poland," stated First Channel. At the same time, First Channel quoted Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's ambassador to NATO, as saying that the USA still intends to implement the missile shield plan by installing missile defense weapons in military ships. Meanwhile, Russia Channel broadcast two contradictory reports on the same day of September 19. One report quoted an anonymous "military and diplomatic source" as saying that "Russia's plans have been frozen, and may be dropped altogether, to deploy military measures in response to the US missile shield." These plans consist of deploying short-range Iskander missile systems or Tu-22 medium-range nuclear-capable bombers in Kaliningrad. The source also mentioned other measures which Russia could have taken as a counterbalance to the US missile shield program, such as equipping ballistic missiles with new warheads and reducing the acceleration time of the Russian missiles which could have reduced the effectiveness of the shield substantially." However, in report issued later on September 19, Russia Channel quoted Russia's military Chief of Staff as saying that Russia had not dropped plans to deploy Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad because "the President should make such a decision." Makarov also stressed that the USA has not dropped the plans for missile shield as the missile shield in Eastern Europe is to be replaced by one based at sea. REN-TV, which is often regarded as one of Russia's most independent television stations, stated that, prior to dropping the plans, Barack Obama had sent Dmitry Medvedev a secret letter with offering to drop the missile shield program if Moscow would support a tough policy towards Iran.   Acquisition of Opel In its coverage of the acquisition of German car maker Opel by a consortium of Sberbank and Canadian auto-parts maker Magna, First Channel stated that "one of the oldest car brands in the world was saved by the Russian-Canadian tandem from bankruptcy and liquidation." According to First Channel, Opel was sold to the Russian-Canadian consortium because that "tandem" had offered the most "socially responsible plan of overcoming the company's crisis." "Staff reduction is inevitable, but not 20,000 workers are to be made redundant, as the previous owners of Opel planned, but only 10,000; and no car plant will be closed down. In addition, 500 million Euros will be invested in the company," stated First Channel. First Channel also said that the purchase of Opel would help to save the Russian car-making industry since domestic carmakers would gain access to the Opel's latest technologies. The channel quoted the president of Sberbank German Gref as saying that Opel's new owners will choose Russian plants for assembling Opel cars, and the plants of Russian carmaker AutoVAZ may be chosen for this.   President Dmitry Medvedev visits USA Russia Channel in its coverage of G-20 summit in Pittsburgh stated that "the G-20 is going to replace G-8" and quoted President Dmitry Medevedev as saying that "the G-8 proved to be unable to solve the most important problems of the global economy, while the G-20 is." The Russian President continued, saying that "the Pittsburgh summit confirmed again that the G-20 is rapidly developing and that the most influential world leaders meet in the G-20 format more often than in the G-8 format." Russia Channel also reported that the world leaders' attitude to the initiative of Dmitry Medvedev to institute a reserve currency is changing for the better, and quoted the Russian President that it is important to make the Russian Ruble an "attractive currency" in order to implement this idea. Russian TV also provided detailed coverage of the meeting of Dmitry Medvedev with the students and faculty of the University of Pittsburgh. First Channel reported that the university and its students showed great interest in Russia and its culture, and one of the university landmarks is "the Russian room" where students study and practice Russian. Meanwhile, Russia Channel broadcast a potentially politically important comment made by the president at the university, while First Channel avoided it. Medvedev was shown saying that "if I work well, if all (results) are good, if the Russian people trust me – why shouldn't I run (for the presidency in 2012)?" Answering a follow-up question about Vladimir Putin's plans to run, Medvedev recommended that that the question "be addressed to him (Vladimir Putin)." In place of this, First Channel reported on the question and answer period by discussing only a student's question on the relations between Belarus and Russia, without mentioning any other questions and answers.   Rio de Janeiro wins Olympic bid Reporting about the victory of Brazil's bid to host the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, First Channel stated that "the fight was not easy, as initially Chicago was the obvious favorite in the race of the prospective Olympic capitals." First Channel also stated that "the political weight of the US bid had been increased by President Barack Obama who came to Denmark for the session of the International Olympic Committee, but nevertheless, Chicago and Tokyo left the competition in the first round of voting." Shortly before the IOC voting, on October 2, Russia Channel broadcast an interview with Gennady Shvets, the Russian Olympic Committee Press Attaché, who said Chicago had the biggest chance to win because US businesses are long-standing sponsors and partners of the International Olympic Committee, and in addition, the USA is the most advanced country in sports. On the same day, Chicago lost the bid, which was not commented upon by Russia Channel. As for the victory of Rio de Janeiro, Russia Channel stated simply that it "demonstrated the growing role and prestige of Brazil in the world."   Lisbon Treaty vote in Ireland On October 3, Irish voters approved the Lisbon Treaty which, according to BBC, "is aimed at streamlining decision-making in the 27-nation bloc." In its report about the voting results in Ireland, First Channel quoted Spokesman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Andrei Nesterenko expressing hopes that "the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty will give added impetus to the development of the Russia-EU strategic partnership" and "the ratification of the Treaty will have a positive impact on the negotiations for a new Russia-EU framework agreement." Russia Channel stated that "Ireland is creating a destiny for a United Europe," and expressed the opinion that the treaty had been approved by the Irish people during the second voting because of active agitation campaign by the media and because of the concerns that Ireland might lose foreign investments if it rejects the Treaty again.   Moldova Changes Government The Russian TV reports on Moldova's shift from a Russian-oriented communist government to a Western-oriented liberal government have been brief and provided almost no commentary. One brief comment was made on September 25 by Sergey Naryshkin, the Head of the Presidential Administration, who said in a Russia Channel interview that "we are not indifferent to what is happening there (in Moldova)." Naryshkin expressed hope the summit of CIS leaders which had been previously scheduled for the beginning of October in Moldova, would take place. First Channel reported that the newly-elected speaker of the Moldovan parliament, Mihai Gimpu, who heads the Liberal Party, is known for "Russophobe statements and his active support of the idea of Moldova joining Romania." The channel provided no other comments, except for saying that the political forces in the Moldovan parliament still "hold irreconcilable positions," and that if the parliament fractions fail to come to an agreement and elect a president, parliament may be dissolved again. There is little information about the new Moldovan government leaders on Russian TV. In its report about the appointments of the new Cabinet members, both First Channel and Russia Channel only give the name of the new officials, but no biographical information about them. Russia Channel also quoted Moldova's ex-president, Vladimir Voronin, as saying that he resigned "with a heavy heart" and does not believe that "the politicians who united based only on the negative feelings and blackening their own country and dividing government posts (between them), will be able to offer society a positive program."   Elections and Violence in Afghanistan Reporting about the results of the first open presidential elections which took place in Afghanistan, First Channel stated that the official election results could not be considered as final because "the special commission on appeals stated that recalculation of 10% of all ballots is required immediately because of possible ballot rigging." Russia Channel reported that incumbent head of state Hamid Karzai had 54.6% of the votes while his key competitor Abdulla Abdulla had only 27%, and stated that Abdulla "does not recognize the election results." At the same time, Russian TV reported about increased violence in Afghanistan, stating that "NATO is unable to stop terrorist attacks in Afghanistan." According to Russia Channel, the Taliban is growing stringer while the international coalition in Afghanistan is breaking apart. In its report about the decision of the Italian leader Silvio Berlusconi to withdraw all Italian troops from Afghanistan, Russia Channel stated that, for ordinary people of Europe and America, the military campaigns of their governments in the East still do not have clear purposes. The channel backed up this statement by a quote from a man-on-the-street in Rome, who said that "they don't know what they are doing – at one moment they want to build the state, at another – to destroy the Taliban, at the third – Al-Qaeda."     Study Journalism in Russia The Library: Politics in Russia SRAS Resources for Teachers   Find out more! 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