enemies of the state on state radio
Moscow (September 1999/Februar 2000). There were only a few hundred people who came in February 2000 at the Moscow Pushkin Square to protest for the release of the Radio Liberty reporter Andrei Babitsky. Babitsky, the only Russian-language journalist who had reported after the start of the second Chechen war from the Chechen side of the front had disappeared mysteriously during the escape from the besieged capital of Grozny. And many said even then that the Russian secret service had his finger in the game.
At the beginning of the Putin-time came to such demonstrations often more journalists than protesters. After all, the rallies were allowed at that time still officially and not clubbed. Although the post was difficult, I wanted to have a news story for the "Voice of Russia" about Babitsky bring into the program. How would I succeed, I did not, after Putin had himself declared the Liberty reporter enemy of the state. Not the best conditions for a report on the Russian government international broadcasting also.
In the crowd I finally saw Wolfgang Kehl, the German media assistants Moscow German newspaper, which is a few photos shot. "What do Are you doing here? "He asked mockingly. "You do not even want you may send at you about it?" It was annoying, but I did not really believe it.
ran to my surprise, my contribution to the "Voice of Russia" without any problems on the station. No criticism, no discussions, no wegredigierten paragraphs or sound bites. What confirmed me in my conviction that I was in the editorial as a "German by the service" well something like fools freedom enjoyed.
very same thing happened to Mr Kehl, as he told later. He disliked his text only after heated debate in the Journal Press. The colleagues of the Moscow German newspaper, which was after all, funded with money from Germany Wolter, no expressions of sympathy for a journalist who was a traitor in their eyes. Topsy-turvy world, you'd think.
silent The "Voice of Russia" and was silent
However, it was also at the Moscow International Radio not easier, when Putin came to power. The "Voice of Russia" reported on principle and habit of absolutely everything and everyone basically party line. Or, if not the official line once it was clearly shown, she reported at all: When the campaign against the opposition television station NTV began and the media magnate Vladimir Gusinsky temporarily landed behind bars, the affair with the "voice" in a peculiar way, was a top priority.
The foreign-language broadcasting services should not post their own comments about the arrest, was the directive to which had to stick to the German program. Posts should alone by the central newsroom, the editorial jargon, the 7th floor are "called over. Worldwide Gusinsky fate was treated in the covers and in television news, but the "7 Floor "was silent. One day, two days or three days.
By the autumn of 1999 it was once very angry with an interview given. At that time, the neighboring republic of Dagestan Chechen militants had attacked. The beginning of the second Chechen war was in the air. At a meeting of the Naumann Foundation, I had some time previously met Emil Pain, Yeltsin's former advisor nationality. Pain was distinguished by his sharp forecasts and his expertise and cosiness of the army of political scientists who were talking a lot, but seldom said so.
Pains Because his advice and warnings in front of a fiasco did not like Chechnya, Yeltsin had fired his adviser of the moment. I called Pain and asked if he would be the "Voice of Russia" for an interview to the Chechen issue is available.
"Do you know because my views at all?" He asked, amazed.
"Yes, that's why I just want to talk to you."
"An interview? For the national broadcast? "Pain remained uncertain. "You want to send it?"
Yes, of course, I said. This is also everything has already been discussed with the editor. In fact, Valerie was Choschewa, head of the German section, my proposal well. Pain came a few days later, the radio station and we recorded a nearly hour-long conversation. Pain said amazing advance exactly how a possible second war lost and the fatal consequences, for the civilian population would have. I was just about to put together a summary of the conversation for the evening news magazine, as the disaster began.
top boss wants no terrorist propaganda
Because unfortunately there was also the "Voice of Russia", as usual in government organizations, many managers and supervisors of supervisors, directors of the transmission states of Western Europe for example. The top bosses had their own offices, which they have been working properly in their time, no one really knew. Usually the editors of all the matters governed by Valentina Choschewa.
I walked along the ready-cut the original sounds Hallway, when I suddenly Valentinas entgegenkam superior. Furious, red-faced, he stormed down the hall. In his hand, I discovered the manuscript of my contribution. "Not a word of it can be sent," he yelled. "This is propaganda of the terrorists. The man is paid for by the terrorists. No word of it is sent. "
As the situation threatened to become critical, I immediately turned around to me to get something in our editorial shooters help. Before the front door, I met our editor in chief. "A nice contribution," she said, praising, just loud enough for even the manager could still hear it, who was after me and at the same moment around the corner came.
It was an impressive argument between my boss and the top boss. With the result that the contribution was still sent. Now I had but also a long-planned version of the interview - and some of the most critical statements were not even mentioned in the excerpt.
To ensure that the "vote" no "false" reports on the station were running, had also long-time editors, all their contributions to the boss can sign off of each broadcasting service. The heads of the chiefs also received a list of the working titles of the articles and if needed could also request the manuscripts. Our editor in chief, there were fortunately no Problems. And the top leaders could also provide easy quietly
If I had my post with "Emil Pain warns of massacres of Chechen civilians" overwritten, the big interview would of course never went. But why provoke, where it is not necessary? Because we selected subjects for the internal preview the meaningless title of "experts on social development prospects for the region of southern Russia," everything was on the station.
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