<
https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-12-months-on-the-role-of-the-russian-media-in-reporting-and-justifying-the-conflict-199820>
"The media war that has accompanied Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shown how
important a part of 21st-century conflict journalism is, and also demonstrated
the power authoritarian regimes possess to restrict reporting – even in the age
of smartphones and social media.
In a move that echoed the draconian censorship laws of earlier ages, the
Russian government declared its media war just days after it invaded its
neighbour. New legislation meant journalists risked jail if they refused to
follow dutifully the official line that the war was “a special military
operation”, and not a war at all.
As the BBC director general, Tim Davie, said at the time, the legislation
“appears to criminalise the process of independent journalism”. The BBC
temporarily suspended its reporting from Russia, presumably while it sought to
establish the real extent of the risk to its reporters.
Eventually, they resumed their work, with Steve Rosenberg and his colleagues
bringing to international audiences stories such as that of Denis Skopin, a
university lecturer in St Petersburg, sacked for his protest against the war.
For The Guardian, Andrew Roth has also reported on anti-war activism, including
the quiet defiance of those who mourn Ukrainian victims of the Kremlin’s war
machine.
Many others, though, left – often when their editors felt it no longer safe for
them to stay – and are yet to return."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
