Putin’s media shake-up

How will the president’s decision affect Russia’s news landscape?

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a session of the Moscow State University’s tutorial council, in Moscow, Russia, 03 December 2013. (EPA/MIKHAIL METZEL/RIA NOVOSTI/KREMLIN)

Independent Russian media are concerned with President Vladimir Putin’s decision to dissolve the country’s main state news agency, RIA Novosti, and replace it with one that will promote Moscow’s image abroad. The new agency, Rossiya Segodnya (Russia Today), is headed by Dmitriy Kiselev, a news anchor who’s known for his staunch support of the Kremlin, anti-Western and anti-gay views. So, where is Russian media headed and who is it serving? We discuss at 19:30 GMT.

In today’s episode of The Stream, we speak with:

Marc Bennetts @marcbennetts1

Author, Kicking the Kremlin

Kevin Rothrock @KevinRothrock

Editor, RuNet Echo Project

Maria Baronova @ponny1

Journalist

Vitaly Milonov @Villemilonov

Member, Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg

What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.