New Books in Communications "Assignment Moscow" with author James Rodgers
Aug 20, 2025
James Rodgers, a former BBC correspondent and current program director at City University London, explores the dire state of independent journalism in Russia. He reflects on historical biases in Western media coverage from the Russian Revolution to Stalin's famine denials. The discussion highlights the severe challenges journalists face under Putin, with an emphasis on the courageous work of exiled Russian journalists. Their efforts are essential for delivering genuine insights into contemporary Russia, amid rising repression and media control.
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Journalists Shape Western Views Of Russia
- Rodgers argues Western ideas of Russia are shaped disproportionately by journalists because few Westerners visit Russia.
- That limited access makes correspondent accounts especially influential in forming outside perceptions.
1917: Telegraphs Controlled The Story
- In 1917 telegraph control let Russian authorities limit external news; foreign outlets often guessed about events.
- Headlines like “no news from Russia” reflected deep informational bottlenecks.
Early Reporters Wore Their Politics
- Many early correspondents like John Reed openly sympathized with the Bolsheviks and wrote partisan accounts.
- Conservative papers meanwhile dismissed the new regime, showing reporting often reflected reporters' sympathies.
