Is there an alternative?

Considering my previous posts about freedom of speech, it should be said that one of the saddest aspects of Russians’ views on media coverage is that they can’t see any decent alternative outside the country.

By mid-'80s a sustainable myth was formed about free press in the West. People of the late USSR were convinced that the USA and Europe were a home of true democracy and justice.

The experience of the following 30 years destroyed those beliefs. Take the latest elections in the US or the Brexit campaign which both have clearly shown that European and American media can also play dirty games, manipulating people's minds.

Some of media outlets use the same intonation as the most affected Russian show-propagandist Dmitry Kisselev. Rather than just informing people about current events, they strive to make the public think and act in particular ways.

“Brexit caused by low levels of education”, 'Enjoy your miserable life on your island’ – these are among the milder examples that you could come across in the sea of biased and insulting headlines.

Isn't it a good excuse for Russian media managers to say that propagandistic style is now standard worldwide? And now we face a new storm of myths about Western Media which are now seen as opposing. Exaggerated Political Correctness which hampers objectivity, total anti-Russian brainwashing, manipulative and aggressive propaganda against “traditional values” - those are a few things that many Russians now think of American and European everyday news agenda. A horrifying migration crisis, confusing far-left statements of European politicians, a war-like rhetoric of American military experts - all of these are welcome guests in Russian headlines.

Should Western media be concerned about their reputation in non-Western countries? I believe that professional reflection must be part of daily routine of media society. It is crucial for genuine freedom of speech all over the world.
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