Monday, September 28, 2015

Europe Tries To Counter The Kremlin`s Media Blitz

Sara Miller Llana, Christian Science Monitor: To combat Kremlin's message, West gets into Russian broadcasting biz

Estonia's new Russian-language channel, ETV+, launches Monday. It is one of many projects across Europe meant to counter the Kremlin's own media blitz.

Jelena Solomina, a petite blond, and Dmitri Pastuhhov, whose wavy mane of hair is pulled back with sunglasses, pace across their unfinished television studio in central Tallinn.

As hosts of the new “morning show” on Estonian’s first public television station in Russian, which launches Monday, they face a formidable to-do list: everything from deciding when their working day starts to the design of the on-air kitchen where they'll make their coffee. Mr. Pastuhhov says his goal is clear: “To do the best job we can for the people living here.”

But far beyond this Baltic nation, from Berlin to Brussels, Warsaw to Washington, officials will be tuning in – and not for the fitness segments or musical guests.

WNU Editor: Will providing an alternative to Russian state television for Russian citizens living outside of Russia have an impact .... hmmmm .... I would have to say no. The Baltics have some of the most restrictive laws against the Russian language/culture ... everyone knows that, and having a broadcast telling you that "everything is awesome" is not going to be accepted by these Russian minorities.

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