Russian Roulette...I mean journalism

When you think of being a journalist here in the states, you think of an exciting life filled with traveling, investigative reporting and hopefully winning a pulitzer prize some day. Go to Russia to become a journalist and you get all of that, plus an added bonus! A bullet in the head if you cross the government. Even better, you might wind up fighting an illness that mysteriously no one can explain or cure. Sounds like a great job, eh?

This other link takes you to a page that discusses the issue of Russian journalism as a human rights crisis, which it pretty much is considering the lack of protection for the media.

WARNING

1.2 million was stolen from a bank courier right out of his car while on the highway. The oh-soo clever men were dressed as traffic police. Note to travelers carrying cash: if you go to russia and rent a car keep the doors locked AND possibly request bullet proof windows AND avoid traffic police.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/02/22/Armed_robbers_heist_12M_in_Russia/UPI-33461235341789/

waiting...waiting...waiting

Will Russia close the Manas military base in Kyrgyzstan? Currently keeping NATO guessing, Russia is slow to make a decision about a crucial American military base and the possibility of shutting it down. There is great uncertainty regarding Obama's plans for rebuilding a positive relationship with Russia and because of that no one is sure what will happen.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/weekinreview/22levy.html

What freedom of the press??

As a jumping off point for my journey into the curious world of the Russian media, I found an article about the irony of people claiming that there is no longer free press in Russia.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Russia-s-Free-Press-Hoax-by-William-Dunkerley-090215-778.html According to media analyst William Dunkerley, when was there ever freedom of the press under Russia's government? Media there has always been financed by corporations and political figures, creating very little independence for the media to report honest news but rather open avenues to push agendas. Dunkerley seems to think that Western news outlets have been painting untruths regarding journalism under Putin's government. Having investigated the death of Alexander Litvinenko, Dunkerley feels it is quite apparent that the lack of knowledge on Russia's media is rampant among Western writers. Like his article questions, is it all a big hoax?