Re: 2013-#13-Johnson’s Russia List (re Robert Bridge on the Moscow Times)

Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2013
From: James Beadle <jamesdbeadle@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Re: 2013-#13-Johnson’s Russia List (re Robert Bridge on the Moscow Times)

Robert Bridge may have a case complaining about the strength of Michael Bohm’s Anti-Americanism op-ed in the Moscow Times(#42 in JRL 2013-#13), but his blinded rapprochement of the entire Moscow Times publication is an affront to a high quality publication, which contributes constructively to international understanding of the complexity of Russia’s post-Soviet transition. Sadly the same cannot be said of the media organisation he works for, which favours pro-Kremlin views in a dramatic variety of situations, often in stark denial of reality.

Mr Bridge might do well to spend some more time in democratic countries, where he might learn the merits of free press. Constructive journalism is not slavish repetition of the government’s line and denial of a country’s problems, but honest efforts to expose corruption and misaligned interests that hinder progress. The western media does this, the Moscow Times does it too.

If there is a shortage of positive material in the MT lately, it likely reflects the state of Russia’s political environment. Luckily the paper also covers a broad range of economic and commercial topics, where the situation is slightly better. For a positive op-ed he might want to read my last piece, The Maturing of a Market, published on 19 December, 2012.