How independent is Russian-language media in the United States?

Sam Kliger, American Jewish Committee’s liaison with the Russian Jewish community:

Well, that’s the million dollar question; it is not easy to answer. Russian-language media in the United States takes full advantage of America’s freedom of speech and has adopted various positions – leftist, rightist, centrist – that reflect the broad variety of views in our community. At the same time, it has not yet grown to be the equal to American mainstream media.

U.S. media owners can define the strategy and course of their publications, or radio and TV companies; however, they cannot intervene in the everyday creative process of the media. Also, American media always gives their opponents the opportunity to share their views; for example, the liberal CNN often gives the floor to conservatives, while the conservative Fox News gives coverage to liberals.

The owners of Russian-language media not only define the general position of their companies, but – in the worst Soviet traditions – intervene in the everyday work of their companies, exercising their right as owners. That is why the ideological orientation of our media is more pronounced, and they never give coverage to their opponents. Moreover, owners often use their media for revenge, to get even with people or organizations. If a person becomes persona non grata for a publisher or an owner of radio or TV company, that person is either totally ignored or is portrayed negatively.

Abby Scher, director of Independent Press Association - New York:

Here in America, media are considered independent if they do not depend on big corporations – are not owned by them. Working with the ethnic press, however, I realized that for ethnic media independence has another meaning: a publication is independent if it does not depend on the government of its homeland. There are some ethnic publications that are financed by the governments of their native countries, or influential factions in their countries. For example, there was an Arab newspaper that went out of business soon after 9/11 – it was “fed” by Egyptian government, which paid for the bulk of its ads. IPA tries to “enlighten” ethnic publications, by explaining to them that American businesses are not willing to advertise in propaganda papers, especially those boosted up by foreign governments.

Gennady Katzov, ditor-in-chief of Metro magazine:

Fortunately we are no more in the Soviet Union, where media were dependent on the Communist party ideology, and journalists were always in danger. Still, there are Russian-language media in America that represent Russia or other post-Soviet countries. The independence of these media is relative, though they cannot be regarded only as mouthpieces of the Russian or, say, the Ukrainian government. Their owners can have personal interests in the United States and they use their media to achieve their goals. For example, Novoe Russkoe Slovo may not necessarily reflect the position of Ukrainian President Kuchma, but the interests of its new owner, Ukrainian mogul Vadim Rabinovich. V Novom Svete may reflect the interests of its publisher Pavel Gusev and not those of Russian President Putin.

There are also Russian-language media in the United States that are not branches of Russian media, but receive part of their materials from Russia or other former Soviet Union countries. This, again, limits their freedom and independence. And then there are media that do not depend on Russia at all. Their orientation depends on their owners’ party affiliations and political views.

As for the journalists, there is no independent journalism as such. The position of a journalist is defined by the company he or she works for. However, there is freedom of choice: a professional journalist can always choose to work for a company that shares his or her political position.

Vladimir Kozlovsky, journalist:

There is no independent press. All newspapers and magazines depend on their owners, on businesses that place their ads in them, on the views of its publishers and editors, on their readership. The Russian-language media in the United States are among the most dependent, the reason being a very poor advertising market. If The New York Times or any other influential mainstream American publication offends one of its advertisers, it will still have plenty of others, while Russian-language media have to cling to every ad. For example, Russian papers never criticize doctors, because doctors often place their ads in our newspapers. Although Russian-language publications are defined by the prejudices and whims of their publishers, I think that with the growth of the advertising market our press will become more independent. Still, our press is not that bad. It performs its duties, being the source of information and entertainment.

Bella Zelkin, member of New York Association of New Americans’ Consulting Board for Immigrants Affairs:

I remember a sad joke: Russian-language media in the United States are independent because nothing depends on them. But seriously, each publication, radio or TV company does have its position, its traditions, its voice, its face defined by the owner – I think the owners try to hire people that share their views or, at least, do not have totally opposite views. At the same time, in each of our media you can find various, sometimes contradictory views. Does it reflect the independence of journalists or manipulation by the publishers? I am not familiar with the inner workings of media, but I think that journalists are special people who do not want to go against their own views and try to be faithful to themselves.

Boris Faygin, journalist:

Russian-language media simply cannot be independent. People who grew up during the dictatorial Soviet regime cannot create independent publications. If you grant complete freedom to a publisher of a Russian-language media, he or she will be taken aback, and – like Russian peasants after the elimination of serfdom – will not know what to do with this freedom. All publishers are looking for the “boss” (the “master,” Stalin, the Party, etc.) because they are not used to living without them. So they find their “masters” in the Republican party, the Democratic party, Orthodox Judaism, or Reform Judaism. Some look to Russia, while others look to America. And when you have found your “master,” all you have to do is to guess what he likes and to play up to him.

The situation inside publications is also Soviet-like: publishers oppress editors, editors oppress journalists, journalists oppress proofreaders and so on. Everyone is glad to use the possibility to humiliate those that are under him or her. The professionalism of Russian-language journalists is also very relative – former doctors, teachers, engineers, policemen and mechanics write for the media. That is why the quality is “excellent.”

Alexandra Sviridova, writer:

I do not know any independent Russian-language media in the United States. There is the illusion of independence because there is no ideological pressure. But, instead of the Communist party censorship there is the trap of poor taste and poor education of publishers, editors, associate editors – all those who play the role of the “big boss” and try to raise their self-esteem by pushing journalists around. I left many publications because of their dependence on Moscow – I don’t want anybody to have problems because of me. Many of my articles were censored, mutilated, rejected to protect the security of the publishers or the publications. I could reach people without barriers only through WMNB [TV network] and the Russian Forward, the only paper that accepted (without any changes!) my interviews with Elena Bonner and other Russian human rights activists. But even in your paper there are things that you can say and things you cannot.

Irina Shmeleva, actress and owner of VIA-3 Public Relations [PR company]:

I think that Russian-language media in the United States are not free at all; unfortunately, they do not realize it. Publishers depend on advertising and journalists on publishers. But there are exceptions: several brave journalists who try to work for their readers or viewers. These journalists are not indifferent to the problems of ordinary immigrants from the former Soviet Union. They try to provide people with solid information, which helps them to navigate through American life. American mainstream journalists are not totally free either, but still they have much more freedom.