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Russia media takes a turn for the worse
http://atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/CEN-02-161213.html
Russia media takes a turn for the worse
Dec 16, '13
MOSCOW - Russia is set to lose one of its few relatively objective news outlets as the Kremlin moves to tighten its grip on the country's media. In an unexpected move last week, President Vladimir Putin ordered the closure of the RIA Novosti news agency and the creation of a new global news agency - Rossia Segodnya - to be run by one of the most pro-government figures in the media.
The Kremlin said the decision was taken for financial reasons. But critics say the development means that the new station will almost certainly become just a tool for government propaganda.
Tatiana Gomozova, a journalist and political analyst with Kommersant FM radio station, told IPS: "It's another media outlet being turned into a propaganda bureau with all RIA's facilities now to be used for propaganda."
Although state-owned, RIA Novosti was seen as one of Russia's most objective news services in a media landscape which is heavily regulated and largely under government control.
