Platitudes for Tula
A Misdiagnosis of Reporting on Russia
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
M. Gathmann and S. Scholl recently criticized the media coverage of Russia. Journalists, they wrote, are fixated on Moscow and pursue “old-style Kremlin astrology”. Those who wish to provide adequate reporting on Russia should head out to the provinces, it was said. Such allegations are unfounded, such claims politically naive. A subjective lack of ability on the part of colleagues is not the problem. It is, rather, the near total absence of transparency in Russian political life that affects coverage.
(Osteuropa 1/2012, pp. 101–108)