Reporters Never Forget And Always Get The Last Word

Michael Hedges March 7, 2022 - Follow on Twitter

Reliable, important news agencies and outlets began removing themselves last week from the Russian Federation. By the weekend, the sprinkle had become a deluge. The exits were explained by almost all as necessary to avoid the siege of laws threatening the flow of information. Through the history of journalism attempts to thwart the collection and dissemination of needed information have, eventually, failed. This is no different.

Among the most recent withdrawals are correspondents for Spain’s national public broadcaster RTVE, Catalan public broadcaster CCMA and news agency EFE. "It is the first time since 1970, the year that EFE opened its permanent office in Moscow, that the Agency is forced to suspend the activity of its accredited journalists in the Russian capital,” said a statement (March 6) by EFE president Gabriela Cañas. The EFE agency deeply regrets this very serious attack on freedom of expression; an obvious attempt by the Kremlin to hide the truth from public opinion." In a report on the media exodus Spanish newspaper El Pais (March 5) added: “In the same vein, for the same reasons, El Pais will no longer report from Russia either, and this temporarily.”

Pausing to “assess the repercussions of the new measures taken in Russia,” French public broadcaster Radio France has not, so far, removed its reporters in Russia, said news director Vincent Giret, quoted by Le Monde (March 5). An earlier report from news agency AFP said Radio France reporters would be leaving. For its part, AFP also seems to be staying in Russia. Along with Ukraine it is the big story. Among those “suspending” their reporting from Russia are UK public broadcaster BBC News, German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF, Italian public broadcaster RAI, Canadian public broadcaster CBC, news agency Bloomberg, US-funded international broadcasters RFE/RL and VOA as well as global news channel CNN.

The law enacted (March 4) by the Russian State Duma, the lower house of parliament, punishes news outlets and their reporters for disseminating anything considered “fake” by Russian authorities about military operations, obviously with Ukraine in mind, or “discrediting the Russian Armed Forces.” In other words, publishing anything other than state-approved press releases is prohibited. On conviction for these missteps there would be stiff fines and jail terms up to 15 years. Russian president Vladimir V. Putin signed the measure into law with immediate effect.

For years, Russian authorities have battled independent Russian outlets and foreign media. In the last week, the last standing independent news outlets closed, some by direct order. TV Dozhd chief editor Tikhon Dzyadko fled to Poland. At the end of the channels’ final broadcast (March 5) the staff walked off the set chanting “No to war.” Radio channel Ekho Moskvy was shuttered by owner Gazprom Media, long serving chief editor Alexei Venediktov fired.

At the same time, the Russian media regulator/censor blocked distribution in Russia for foreign media outlets. BBC World News television channel was removed Sunday (March 6) and was Russian human rights investigative portal Mediazona, founded in 2014 by Pussy Riot members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina. Russian authorities were incensed by European Union sanctions (February 27) effectively blocking distribution of propaganda channels RT (Russia Today) and Sputnik within those 27 countries.

Certainly, the draconian Russian laws figured into the exits of that long list of foreign and international news organizations. Memories remain sharp of events in Kabul last summer, with reporters and staff struggling for the last flights as wild-eyed Taliban extremists circled. Decisions to leave Moscow and other parts of Russia were held to the last minute rather than the last second as in Kabul. The ambush and shooting by a Russian “death squad,” reported the Guardian (March 5), in Kyiv of a Sky News crew removed the last doubt.

But these news agencies and outlets - steeped in speaking truth to power - are not fleeing, as some observers profess. They are exacting a particular bounty on the Russian regime. By withholding their presence yet another layer of credibility is pealed away. It happened to the Afghan Taliban. Losing Ikea, Zara, Puma and Mastercard pales to the loss of media coverage. Russia dwindles.

“War is madness,” said Pope Francis after reciting the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square (March 6). He thanked journalists who “risked their lives” in the conflict zone. “Thank you brothers and sisters for this service which allows us to be near the drama of the people and to see the cruelty of war.”

See also...

• Hot Topics - Conflict Zones

• Hot Topics - Media in the Russian Federation