Constrained or Irrelevant: The Media in Putin's Russia

{
  "authors": [
    "Maria Lipman"
  ],
  "type": "legacyinthemedia",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
    "Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center",
  "programAffiliation": "",
  "programs": [],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "Caucasus",
    "Russia"
  ],
  "topics": []
}

In The Media

Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center

Constrained or Irrelevant: The Media in Putin's Russia

By Maria Lipman

Published on Oct 1, 2005

Source: Current History

The Soviet Union had an enormous number or newspapers, but no independent media. Objective reporting, working with a source, investigative journalism, news itself were unfamiliar concepts. Competition, advertising, profitability were unheard of. Holding the government accountable on behalf of the public was not an issue: the Soviet press was an arm of the state, and it preached to the public on the state's behalf.

Reprinted with permission from Current History (October 2005) c 2005, Current History, Inc.

Click on the link above for the full text.

About the Author

Maria Lipman

Former Scholar in Residence, Society and Regions Program, Editor in Chief, Pro et Contra, Moscow Center

Lipman was the editor in chief of the Pro et Contra journal, published by the Carnegie Moscow Center. She was also the expert of the Carnegie Moscow Center’s Society and Regions Program.

Recent Work

Commentary
The Russian State Power and the Ukrainian Human Factor
- Maria Lipman
Commentary
Putin’s Crimean Conquest Pushes Russia to an Anti-Modernization Course
- Maria Lipman

Caucasus Russia

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie Europe

Commentary
Strategic Europe
Europe Falls Behind in the South Caucasus Connectivity Race
The EU lacks leadership and strategic planning in the South Caucasus, while the United States is leading the charge. To secure its geopolitical interests, Brussels must invest in new connectivity for the region.
Zaur Shiriyev
Commentary
Strategic Europe
Taking the Pulse: What Issue Is Europe Ignoring at Its Peril in 2026?
2026 has started in crisis, as the actions of unpredictable leaders shape an increasingly volatile global environment. To shift from crisis response to strategic foresight, what under-the-radar issues should the EU prepare for in the coming year?
Thomas de Waal
Commentary
Strategic Europe
Solidarity Is a Must for Europe to Ensure Its Own Security
Europe is designing a new model of collective security that no longer relies on the United States. For this effort to succeed, solidarity between member states that have different threat perceptions is vital.
Erik Jones
Commentary
Strategic Europe
Taking the Pulse: Is the EU Too Weak to Be a Global Player?
Beset by an increasingly hostile United States, internal divisions, and the threat of Russian aggression, the EU finds itself in a make-or-break moment. U.S. President Donald Trump calls it a decaying group of nations headed by weak leaders. Is Europe able to prove him wrong?
Thomas de Waal
Commentary
Strategic Europe
Trump’s Peace Lessons for Europe
U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims to have ended eight wars may be debatable, but his peace efforts raise valid questions. Europe can learn lessons from Washington on how to break the deadlock in protracted conflicts.
Thomas de Waal

More Work from Carnegie Europe

Commentary

Strategic Europe

Europe Falls Behind in the South Caucasus Connectivity Race

The EU lacks leadership and strategic planning in the South Caucasus, while the United States is leading the charge. To secure its geopolitical interests, Brussels must invest in new connectivity for the region.

Zaur Shiriyev

Commentary

Strategic Europe

Taking the Pulse: What Issue Is Europe Ignoring at Its Peril in 2026?

2026 has started in crisis, as the actions of unpredictable leaders shape an increasingly volatile global environment. To shift from crisis response to strategic foresight, what under-the-radar issues should the EU prepare for in the coming year?

Thomas de Waal

Commentary

Strategic Europe

Solidarity Is a Must for Europe to Ensure Its Own Security

Europe is designing a new model of collective security that no longer relies on the United States. For this effort to succeed, solidarity between member states that have different threat perceptions is vital.

Erik Jones

Commentary

Strategic Europe

Taking the Pulse: Is the EU Too Weak to Be a Global Player?

Beset by an increasingly hostile United States, internal divisions, and the threat of Russian aggression, the EU finds itself in a make-or-break moment. U.S. President Donald Trump calls it a decaying group of nations headed by weak leaders. Is Europe able to prove him wrong?

Thomas de Waal

Commentary

Strategic Europe

Trump’s Peace Lessons for Europe

U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims to have ended eight wars may be debatable, but his peace efforts raise valid questions. Europe can learn lessons from Washington on how to break the deadlock in protracted conflicts.

Thomas de Waal