ABSTRACT

The end of communist rule in the Soviet Union brought with it a brave new world of media and commerce. Formerly state-owned enterprises were transformed, often through private ownership, and new corporations sprung up overnight to take advantage of the new atmosphere of freedom.

Until now, most research on media and news production in Russia has focused on the scope of government control and comparisons with the communist era. However, extra-governmental controls and the challenges of operating in a newly capitalist environment have been just as important – if not more so – in the formation of the new media climate. Filling the gap in the literature, this book examines the various agents who ‘make’ the news, and discusses the fierce struggle among the various agents of power involved. Drawing on existing theories and scholarship, the book provides a wealth of detail on the actual daily practices of news production in Russia. Original research is combined with compelling first-hand accounts of news production and dissemination to provide an incisive look at the issues and power structures Russian journalists face on a daily basis.

part |2 pages

Part I Theories, methods and historical context

part |2 pages

Part II Agents of power

chapter 3|13 pages

State agents

chapter 4|13 pages

State and non-state agents of violence

chapter 5|13 pages

Owners

chapter 6|12 pages

Advertisers

chapter 7|20 pages

Sources of information

chapter 8|25 pages

Rank-and-file journalists

part |2 pages

Part III Special studies

chapter 11|8 pages

The story of Peterburg – 5 Kanal

chapter 12|13 pages

The story of NTV

chapter 13|21 pages

Change in the coverage of the Chechen wars