Retreat from the Golden Age: Russian Journalists & Their World, 1992-2000

Abstract

ABSTRACT The overall processes in the first decade of independent Russian media can be divided into distinct phases. The first phase was characterized by a golden age of political independence in the early 1990s. This was followed by a shift toward partial government control and increased proximity to the ruling elites by the presidential elections of 1999. The final phase saw the transfer of power to Vladimir Putin in 2000. The authors argue that several factors contributed to the loss of independence in Russian media during this period, including the complicated economic realities of a transitional society, the growing interest of new financial tycoons (oligarchs) in media ownership, and the reassertion of political influences. Additionally, the specific understanding of professionalism among most Russian journalists played a significant role in the transformation from independent to controlled journalism.