Media Workers Reveal Cognitive Dissonance, Face Zombies

Michael Hedges March 22, 2022 - Follow on Twitter

Television is supposed to be a happy place, not just for games show and goofy ads for pillows. With dreadful viruses and wars on the loose, not to forget the chanting people with pitchforks, television has become very unhappy. Caught up in that emotion, in different ways, are TV people.

Last week (March 14) Russian state TV broadcaster Channel One editor Marina Ovsyannikova slid in behind the newsreader carrying a “No to War” placard. She made a few asides, the screen faded to black and she was gone. Shortly thereafter she surfaced at a police station, interviewed for hours, fined for something barely related, and went into hiding. Oh, she was also fired.

She has not vanished, certainly disturbing to former bosses and colleagues. Indeed, Channel One deputy general director and talkshow host Kirill Kleymenov whined (March 20) about “betrayal” and accused Ms Ovsyannikova of being a “British spy,” reported UK Daily Telegraph (March 21). News outlets around the world have clamoured for interviews.

Most were rather tame depictions of that certain day with a bit of background. Quite different - and astounding - was her interview with Russian exile news portal Meduza (March 21). “I experienced genuine cognitive dissonance, because my convictions were at odds with my work,” she said. In earlier days with Channel One she worked on a team with news anchor/correspondent Zhanna Agalakova. “She was my idol.”

Ms Agalakova appeared today (March 22) at a press conference organized by press freedom advocate Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF). The former Channel One Europe correspondent confirmed that she resigned (March 3) and left the job two weeks later. "I want the people of Russia to hear me and learn what propaganda is and stop being zombified,” she said, not holding back, reported AFP (March 22). “Many journalists, producers or people who work in the media think like me. It's easy to accuse them, to ask why they don't resign, don't protest. But those who stay have families, elderly parents, children, houses to pay for. They are hostages of the situation.”

Others choosing to separate themselves from Russian state media include NTV news anchor Lilya Gildeeva, who exited NTV after 15 years. She also left Russia for an undisclosed location. "I left first because I was afraid they would not let me go just like that, then I submitted my resignation,”she said to Russian blogger Ilya Varlamov, quoted by Newsweek (March 15). NTV is owned by state-aligned Gazprom-Media, a subsidiary of Gazprombank. Gazprom-Media recently shuttered national news/talk radio channel Ekho Moskvy (March 3), dismissing the entire staff, and days later began distributing the state radio network Sputnik on the same frequencies across Russia. A week earlier (February 24) Gazprom Media Radio general director Yuri Kostin abruptly resigned.

Not related to television but sure to offend Russian authorities, Novaya Gazeta editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov announced (March 22) he is putting up his Nobel Peace Prize medal for auction. "Novaya Gazeta and I have decided to donate the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Medal to the Ukrainian Refugee Fund," he wrote in the news portal, quoted by NPR (March 22). ”There are already over 10 million of refugees. I ask the auction houses to respond and put up for auction this world-famous award.” Mr. Muratov was jointly awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize with Filipino American journalist Maria Ressa for "efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.”

Meanwhile, Russian Federation media regulator/censor blocked (March 21) distribution of international news channel Euronews in the country as well as the website for violating rules of coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Access to social media portals Facebook and Instagram was also blocked.

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• Hot Topics - TV News

• Hot Topics - Media in the Russian Federation