In the Eighties, lots of folks who regarded themselves as true Reaganites often said that The Washington Post should more properly bear the title of "Pravda on the Potomac". Indeed, the paper’s vicious anti-Ronny rhetoric, as well as its views on some other policy issues, were stylistically pretty close to Pravda in its heyday.
Ironically, with the collapse of Communism “Pravda on the Potomac” became a common epithet for The Washington Post not only among the people on the right but on the left and center as well. A recent Google search on this entry provided 13,100 links including articles and sites representing practically the whole spectrum of American politics.
The old Pravda, founded by Vladimir Lenin, is virtually out of business these days, as its pre-1991 staff has gone through multiple splits; it is but a blimp on Russia’s political radar. However, in this zero sum game of today’s politics, some Western papers have appropriated the old Soviet style of journalese and are now extremely Pravda-like in tone and vocabulary. Unfortunately, yet another flagship of American journalism, The New York Times, has also joined this dubious club, so that it might well be dubbed Pravda on the Hudson.
One could cite as many examples of Pravda-type rhetoric on NYT pages as one would wish. To save space, I will focus use on the latest editorial “Small Minds in the Kremlin” of June 19, 2009 (David Johnson's Russia List June 19, #44).
I cannot say much of the size of Kremlin folks’ brains, these being too distant from the circles I move in. However, individuals who produce over and over again such gems as “brutal Russian invasion of Georgia,” or “Moscow regularly bullies Ukraine and other neighbors and has even used its gas supplies to push around the Europeans,” as The New York Times editors do, the latter wouldn’t score high on any IQ test, that’s for certain.
It is common knowledge that it was the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili who started this bloody mess, by ordering the well-prepared and indiscriminate shelling of South Ossetian civilian targets and killing Russian peacekeepers who were stationed in South Ossetia under a UN mandate. The leading German magazine Der Spiegel, to cite just one source, has stated unequivocally that the latest European Union special commission's report on the conflict squarely blames Saakashvili for initiating the hostilities.
Then again, if asking Ukraine to pay market prices for gas instead of stealing it when it flows through its territory from Russia to Europe is called “bullying”, then the whole free market idea is total nonsense. In that case, instead of Hayek and Friedman, we should all be studying Marx and Lenin for political economy, and declaring the Somali pirates’ to be victims instead of thieves.
A few months ago I asked a good friend of mine who knows a lot of folks at The New York Times to help generate some publicity in that paper for my pet project, the Liberty Prize, which is awarded to outstanding American and Russian cultural figures trying to promote cooperation between the two countries. My friend did his best but was flatly turned down. One of the top guys at NYT said, quite bluntly, that the paper’s current policy on Russia is to “place it in the shit house,” and the Liberty Prize idea does not fit this agenda.
So, our winners – the world-famous ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshhnikov, Guggenheim Director Thomas Krenz, Librarian of Congress James Billington, and editor-in-chief of the New Yorker magazine David Remnick – were never mentioned by the NYT on that occasion. Ridiculously, Misha Saakashvili, whose resignation is daily demanded by tens of thousands of Georgians, including dozens of his former ministers and ambassadors, is featured in the paper more prominently than any Hollywood star.
No wonder NYT has over a billion dollar operating deficit and may go belly up as it follows good old Pravda on the road to oblivion.
Edward Lozansky is president of American University in Moscow.
Comments
Regarding David Remnick:
http://accidentalrussophile.com/2007/09/25/the-puff-pastry-opposition/
Relative to Dr. L's article, The NYT seems to prefer an ethnically neutered representation.
Some years back, I was chided by a NYT employee, who said that he's what I termed as a "Slavic Orthodox Christian." This person was replying to a piece I submitted to The NYT about how it downplays mainstream Russian and Serb views. My response to him was that his NYT performance has been that of a decaffeinated Slavic Orthodox Christian. I understand that he carried on somewhat differently prior to his NYT career.
Hence, this piece from Dr. L comes as no surprise to some others besides myself. Moreover, it underscores the need to seek more effective English language alternatives. HELLO! (for the umteenth time)
Like barking up a tree.
Meantime, is honoring Remnick a good move for seeking a better outside of Russia/English language understanding of Russia? PD
PS: The mentioned submission did acknowledge that ethnicity and religion are not the end all for determining appropriate sources. One need not be a Slavic Orthodox Christian Russian or Serb to competently reflect the predominating views in these communities. Moreovoer, people of that background can shill for the neocons and neolibs.
Posted by: Political Dissident | June 21, 2009 10:01 PM
Really??? The NYT may go belly-up??? ABOUT TIME!!! This native New Yorker remembers that as far back as 1965, we were making puns on the Times's signature slogan: We called it, "All the news that's fit to tint," but an even better one is, "All the news that fits, we print." The NYT has been an offshoot of Pravda for a long, long time now, and I will enjoy dancing on its grave. (Any chance of Argumenty i Fakty picking it up??)
Posted by: Meg | June 22, 2009 3:42 AM
Ambassador Tagliavini calls Der Spiegel's article on Georgia probe a complete fabrication. Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini, Head of Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia
Re: Der Spigel's article EU Probe Creates Burden for Saakashvili
The Spiegel's article is not based on information provided by the Head of IIFFMCG, Ambassador Tagliavini, or any other authorized sources. On behalf of IIFFMCG there has been no interview, background briefing or any other way of communication in order to provide information for the article.
The article's contents on the findings of the Mission are entirely factious as regards the so-called majority views among Mission's members relating to the alleged responsibility for the outbreak of hostilities or the alleged violation by either side of the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilians.
The report which shall be presented to the EU Council of Ministers by 31 July 2009 comes under the sole and exclusive responsibility of Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini, and not under the responsibility of the Mission's experts or the majority of its experts.
All experts' opinions are subject to the approval by the Head of Mission before being included in the Report, and not any of the contributions can be considered by itself as representing the Mission's findings.
Contrary to the allegations referred to in the article, there is not and has never been any reluctance or unwillingness on behalf of IIFFMCG to interview senior U.S. diplomats such as former Assistant Secretary for Europe Daniel Fried on America's role in the conflict. Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried was interviewed by Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini and her deputy former German Ambassador Uwe Schramm at the State Department in Washington on 14 May, together with other senior members of the U.S. administration such as Deputy Assistant Secretary Matt Bryza and others. U.S. Ambassador John Tefft had been spoken to already on several previous occasions.
The work of IIFFMCG is continuing. Until the process of collecting and evaluating of all relevant facts has been completed, no final conclusions will be drawn.
Posted by: George Shengelaia | June 22, 2009 8:19 AM
It is pretty conclusive that the Georgian government launched a strike against South Ossetia.
Meg, in New York, there are better sources for Dr. L to pursue than The New York Times and David Remnick. I respectfully advise Dr. L to spend more time pursuing and promoting those under-utilized options.
Positive change can happen with the right advocacy.
Meantime, beware of self serving flacks.
Posted by: Political Dissident | June 22, 2009 8:29 PM
Beware of Jamestown Foundation fronts like Georgian Daily too.
Posted by: Steve J. Nelson | June 23, 2009 8:52 AM
"Then again, if asking Ukraine to pay market prices for gas instead of stealing it when it flows through its territory from Russia to Europe is called “bullying”, then the whole free market idea is total nonsense."
Pray tell, what is a "market price" when you have a 100% monopoly?
Is Russia a "free market" economy?
Posted by: Andrzej | June 23, 2009 11:24 AM
The people that controlled the Pravda also control and have a monopoly on US and other western mass media.
Posted by: james | June 24, 2009 12:24 AM
@Andrzej
The same as they charge Europe which Ukraine pays below and syphions of gas which it then sells onto Europe at market price.
Yes Russia is a free market economy.
Posted by: james | June 24, 2009 2:25 PM