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Networking, social and otherwise, in Davos --- Michael Hedges February 2, 2009
Location, of course, plays to the advantage of the World Economic Forum being in Davos, Switzerland. It’s tough getting there. Ten hours by train from Geneva when the helicopters are all booked. Even at that the WEF seems a million miles from anywhere, which is, of course, the point.

The millstone around Russia --- Michael Hedges June 23, 2008
Belarus, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan – all on Russia’s edge – are pushing media repression to new lows. With all broadcasting and most print media firmly under State control, the Web is the current target. Dictators on Russia’s borders perplex even Russian media.

Eurovision Is, Was And Will Be --- Michael Hedges May 26, 2008
A nice tune performed by a Russian singer, written and produced by Americans, swept the Eurovision Song Contest voting. Commentators from countries that got few votes pulled no punches, calling the most watched single pan-European live television event doomed. The Contest’s eastward trajectory cannot be denied, nor can the phenomenon of the people’s vote.

When the Kremlin starts throwing bombs, be sure to look the other way --- Michael Hedges September 16, 2007
It was a great week for Russia watchers. Moscow prosecutors ruled the suspicious death of a military journalist a suicide. President Putin named a little known pal Prime Minister. And then they dropped a big bomb.

Medvedev Tells The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) the Ongoing Dialogue With The Kremlin Over Russian Press Freedom Is Positive For It Would Never Have Been Possible Under The Soviet Era --- Philip Stone June 7, 2006
On the Monday President Vladimir Putin gave rather short shrift to The World Association of Newspapers campaign for more press freedom in the Russian Federation, and the next day the Kremlin rolled out Putin’s first deputy prime minister who said pretty much the same thing, but at least he did it with a smile.

The Kremlin Launches A Full Court Charm Offensive As 1,500 Of The World’s Leading Newspaper Executives and Editors Descend on Moscow To Hear Vladimir Putin and Top Aides Talk About Press Freedom in Russia As Part of the World Association of Newspapers Congress --- Philip M. Stone June 1, 2006
It was only six years ago that Vladimir Putin, the newly elected president of Russia said, “Without a truly free media Russian democracy will not survive and we will not succeed in building a civil society.” Since then at least a dozen journalists have lost their lives and there is very little independent media left with major media outlets now basically under Kremlin control. Once again in Mother Russia, things are done a bit differently.

Strange Meeting With The President --- Michael Hedges October 10, 2011 Follow on Twitter
It’s far from uncommon for politicians to call meetings with key media executives, particularly with elections on the horizon. It’s different in the UK, as we’ve seen, where Rupert Murdoch calls in the politicians. This meeting was a bit different, some witnesses calling it 'strange.'

Back In The USSR – You Don’t Know How Lucky You Are --- Michael Hedges October 19, 2009 Follow on Twitter
A bit of restructuring at two of Russia’s television channels looks to some like the cloud of Soviet times descending. All things Russian appear mysterious, not the least being its media. When times are tough, the tough make plans.

Journalism In Intensive Care --- Michael Hedges November 8, 2010 Follow on Twitter
Media workers are literally running for their lives. Another beating, another threat; it’s scary. The powerful – and scary – like it that way. Chasing a story can mean always looking over your shoulder.

Never Let The Truth Get In The Way Of A Good Story --- Michael Hedges November 28, 2011 Follow on Twitter
Put a provocative title on a video clip, in context or not, and world-wide attention on the world wide web is guaranteed. There are certainly a lot of people out there with nothing better to do. Ah, the viral flames; so creative, so very post-modern.