Russia's Liberal Media: Handcuffed but Free

This was the first thorough academic study into journalistic practices and role perceptions at three of the most prominent independent media in Russia, among which the newspaper with the highest number of murdered journalists in the country - Novaya Gazeta. The book examines the challenges and pressures liberal journalists face in Putin's Russia. It presents the findings of an in-depth qualitative study, which included ethnographic observations of editorial meetings during the conflict in Ukraine in 2014. It also provides a theoretical framework for evaluating the Russian media system and a historical overview of the development of liberal media in the country.

Sample

Journalists and editors from three Russian media - Novaya Gazeta, Radio Echo Moskvy and Radio Free Europe/Liberty.

Main Findings

Russian journalists at media critical of Putin and the Kremlin faced numerous challenges in their work at the time of the conflict with Ukraine in 2014: physical threats and attacks, legal challenges and lots of financial difficulties. Despite these challenges and the real danger for their lives, they continued working because they believed in a different type of Russia to the one Putin and his regime were promoting. They believed journalism was not a living, but it was a way of life. The book summarises the main types of safety threats journalists faced and the main coping strategies they used.

Policy recommendations/implications

1. Russian journalists should not be left to fight all the difficulties Putin's regime poses on their own. They should be much more strongly supported by international NGOs and governments, and international organisations. 2. Putin's strategy of stifling critical voices has been very effective and can only become considerably more authoritarian, given the lack of support for crucial media organisations. Underestimating him and his strategy will only lead to decreased freedom of expression and a much more dangerous Russia for the whole world. 3. Global North policy-makers and academics should not simply impose their views of what journalism should be but they should listen to the stories and views of journalists in countries such as Russia to better understand how to best support them with the aim of tackling authoritarian leaders and tendencies.