Russia: BBC Sent Wrong Boy To Volga!
Hello,Sometimes I see things that are very wrong & I have found something that BBC is doing that falls into this category!
BBC has sent a reporter into Russia to make a road trip. This trip is to find out about the things that are wrong with Russia.... (below a quote from Rupert Wingfield-Hayes)
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"However, the trip was never supposed to be a pleasure cruise. We set out to try and look at some of the major problems confronting Russia, and that may be why I came across as sounding rather negative. It is, I suppose, in the nature of journalists to look for the dark underbelly." said, Rupert Wingfield-Hayes
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This trip started out with a reporter that basically lambasted Russia for her many faults & was incredibly negative about the trip through Russia! The reporters attitude was summed up in the quote above. Then as the complaints about the story, started pouring into BBC, the attitude of the reporter had a significant turnaround. The last story even had a question answer session, where the reporter tried to correct statements of negativity from earlier articles. This question & answer session was too late the damage has been done.
This is what I constantly struggle with: The media from Europe and America put Russia down every chance they get! The media wants the world to think Russia is a bad place......
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7230502.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7226848.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7217149.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7213397.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7234960.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7241042.stm
I feel that this trip was started to degrade Russia, Britain has a problem with thinking that they are better than Russia!
I think that someone from Russia should do a road trip in England to: "set out to try and look at some of the major problems confronting Britain!" They could: "look for the dark underbelly"
Kyle & Svet
comments always welcome.
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dude, shut up.
i know some people from russia, i know some stories from russia, i know of their experiances of russia.
apart from the fact that it remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world, underage sex is rife, and we're talking 11 year olds here, people that age are taking drugs and going to orgies.
on of my friends went to visit russia on a business trip and got mugged at gun point.
people slate russia because its one hell of a messed up country. the society, the system, everything.
hopefully Putin will sort this out.
i know you will not allow this comment, but you and your fellow readers should know of the 'dark secrets' within russia.
Hey dude shut up, (nice name)
Thanks for the comment...
You also know me from Russia, :) I live here!
This blog is about Russia and how the country is different than what you hear....
Russia is a Great Country...
I can match one on one things that you say are bad about Russia I can tell you that the USA has the same problems.
I had a family member shot in the head in America because she did not have a lighter to light a cigarette for him and he got mad.
Please come back and read the blog. You will find out that Russia has much to offer and just like the rest of the world there are problems also!
Kyle
I read BBC news-online-world-edition, it was not there.
I expected something very ugly. I don't think that the story is bad: it's very subjective, but it does not lie, as it seems to me. Many other "guys" could perform worse: like drink vodka with expats in hotel bars, and writing something mr. Dude Shutup-like (street-walking bears included) not having seen anything. Or really study Russia and then write absolute lies.
It's not a high quality story (it does even have mistyping in the 4.2.2008 thing: "new" instead of "knew"). But he really tells some things. (I write about the most nonsense part as I see it.) He does not understand (at least seems to), that while "ultra-nationalist" about Zhirinovsky is european cliche, but a ridiculously stupid one. He names Bogdanov "nobody", but it's true only from a very dangerous point of view (the journalist himself and most if not all the readers would be "nobodies" too). He expects candidates to tell general russian public about things that are interesting to an english liberal journalist, but not to russians.
But he tells about real russian problems, not imaginary ones, too. And it's up to reader to think about the cost of a classy highway web for a large country for the climate he describes (I am not sure that the whole stab. fund is enough for construction, maintenance not included).
Of course, these stories would not convert mr. Dude Shutup, but they allow one to think about some things: if Volga-car was not so bad when it was made in USSR, and Russia is almost 20 years in "capitalism", were these 20 years really good to Russia? Is it wise to expect good results for Russia from the western recipes? If good school students are taught meaningfully during lessons and can say meaningful things themselves, why not assess what they think about NATO? Etc.
I think that some russian journalists tell more pearls of hateful liberal stupidities against Russia, than this englishman.
BTW. Funny thing about "nobody": he said today, that Russia should enter NATO, but without USA:) He didn't answer, where did he find such a NATO.
Hey пётр,
Thanks for stopping by, as usual you come up with good information and give me a better way to look at things.
I still do not approve of his writings in the beginning and his back peddling at this point does not make me forget. I am glad that you read the articles and gave your opinion.
Maybe I am overly protective of Russia at times, but I lived in a society (America) that is unmerciful if weakness is shown.
This is much deeper than just a young reporter on a joy ride in Russia. I feel that the reporter is too immature for the job & he will print what ever his bosses want. BBC is looking for a Bad Russia, The Bad Russia is not there to the extent that they wish it to be there!
So yes the reporter could be much worse, but his trip is a pleasant one and it is hard to write crass about so much fun!
As you know I live in Russia full time now, I have traveled over 30,000 km in a Volga (outside of Moscow)! As a guest in this country I find it open, warm, fun, interesting & accepting!
I have a saying: The bad is easy to find, Finding the good takes more effort!
(Thank you for reminding me of that saying.)
You found the good about the articles.
Thanks for your comment as always,
Kyle
I desperately hope that your suggested trip to Britain never happens. It is desperately easy to present any country in a negative light, and unbalanced reporting is rather a speciality of BBC journalists abroad.
I remember during the Budenovsk massacre ('97 or '98) the BBC had huge reports about the Russian army in Chechnya and alleged attrocities there, and almost as an aside mentioned that a group of "rebels" were making an armed protest inside a hospital. Brilliant use of language!! Armed protest is so much better than "terrorists have taken sick women and children hostage and have started shooting them at random!" My blood is already boiling just remembering it!
The BBC I believe is the best public TV company in the world - unfortunately that doesn't say very much about the rest!!!!
Hey Matt,
Thanks for stopping by.
I have always and still use BBC information. I feel that BBC is not as good as they were 20 years ago, sensationalism has stepped in.... BBC is better than NBC, CBS and Fox in my opinion.
I had forgotten about the Budenovsk Massacre.
In America the only news that we relied on for European news is BBC. This is why Americas impressions of Russia are twisted to the darkside.
Most news that an American receives is very one sided! Granted the Internet has changed that a lot but it is amazing how many people sit in front of the TV set and believe all they hear....
Good comment.
Kyle & Svet
Dear Kyle & Svet,
Whereas I am growing increasingly pessimistic about developments in Russia, I agree with you that western news coverage of Russia is becoming increasingly problematic. This is serious, because it brings the risk of misperceptions in play also for political decision-makers.
Yours,
Vilhelm
I myself read international BBC version in english, because russian version is awful and very biased. International version is biased too, but I know what many people do read, I don't really believe each word.
In my opinion, media quality (inside a specific "genre", of course) may be compared only if one has researched something thoroughly or by measure of internal inconsistencies. BBC is not bad, and some articles about Russia are outstanding: it's good, because it's obvious that they are biased.
I don't believe, that the editor told one what to write: they honour freedom of speech, they select journalists, who will write what they need, and employ them. And heighten those who do what they expect. This opinion is based on what my working in England academic (so he has enough free time to spend on personal interests and is independent: he is mathematician, not humanitarian) friend told me.
The articles we discuss make me feel, that they don't contradict the view (mentioned above) on some western major media.
I almost don't want to read the British news about Russia anymore. It's so trite and clichéd - all going with the stereotypes of "Inside Putin's Russia" and the grim world of totalitarian repression within of mafia, hookers, junkies and crims. Totalitarian repression!?! It's no better in England's surveillance society - talk about every individual action under scrutiny!
I was reading the blog of a British journo travelling across Siberia (blah, blah, exposing Putin's Russia and what not) and all he did was sensationalise his meetings with the local mafia boss (oh-ah, what a bad guy, only in Russia) but then rave about the food they ate together and how it was oh-so-much better that the kolbassa that a Tatar couple offered him on the train. Why even bother travelling if you prefer it so much at home, I wanted to ask him.
And as for the "thoughts" of Mr. Dude Shutup... well at least it proves that all the numbskulls aren't just working in the British press. Open your eyes, Dude. I've seen more drug-taking in the US, UK and Australia than in Russia. And as for the 11-yr-olds at orgies... sheesh... you think it's only happening in Russia? Crime, prostitution and narcotics are by no means endemic to Russia, but are instead a worldwide issue. Everyone has "friends" who have stories about anywhere.
I would like to read some Russian exposés where reports partake in some shock-journalism about the single teenage mums and prolific drug-taking in the UK... how the tables can so easily turn!
Excellent. I am glad I'm not the only one taking Rupert to task for his biased reporting. The thing about him, though, is that it is so blatantly obvious that's it's kind of funny. I love how he began one piece by complaining about the Cyrillic alphabet, "foreign tourists arriving at Moscow's ghastly Sheremetyevo airport could be seen scratching their heads and muttering things like: "What the hell does this mean?" as though having their own language was the first red flag that these Russian were going to be difficult to deal with and backwards! Proof! As silly as it is, I think it says much more about his own attitude of entitlement and exceptionalism than it does about Russia. It's one thing to make a sincere attempt to illustrate how Russians relate to their country, quite another to assert that a country which does not bend over backwards to meet this Englishman's desires is implicitly sub-standard. Rather arrogant, I think...
That said, I've done a Volga boat trip, and it was no pleasure cruise. But I did manage to both enjoy myself and learn a lot. Maybe because I didn't have an agenda. Maybe I'll get an agenda and go on a British boat trip. :)
BTW, nice blog.
Hey Vilhelm Konnander,
Thank you for stopping by! I agree with you except, I extend the "increasingly pessimistic about developments" to the whole World from what I see!
I stopped by your Blog very nice, I will spend some time this next week and see what your articles are all about.
Thanks again.
Kyle
Hey Пётр,
Thanks for stopping by. As always you have a keen insight to issues. Your thought that they do not physically tell one what to write, but they hire those who write the way they like is correct! All Mass Media is that way. The same goes for paparazzi and the picture taking. No one tells someone that they must invade privacy to get that great picture but if they do, they get more money!!!!
Thanks for a very good comment and stop back by soon.
Kyle & Svet
Hey Europe Trotter.
Your comment made us smile. You have traveled to other countries and see that the world is the same and not always pleasant everywhere.
What people (in countries like Britain and USA who have never traveled) think about a country like Russia, comes from the media that sways opinions all the time.
Someone like Hey Dude Shutup has never traveled but his friends tell him the bad of the world... We all know that friends like to create stories....
Thank you for stopping by and say Hi the next time you are here to read.
Svet & Kyle
Hey Poemless,
Thanks for a good comment. I agree with what you say and think that Rupert started out with the wrong attitude.
Thanks for stopping by.
Kyle & Svet
Living and working in Russia for the past decade, the Volga story was just another dreadful piece of BBC journalism about Russia. Had Hayes spent even 20 minutes in Nizhniy he would have seen amazing new construction, a vibrant downtown, terrific first class shopping malls and more. His comments about GAZ, that maybe the company won't be there in the next 40 years, shows incredibly sloppy journalism. GAZ stock has more than doubled in the past year; Russia is now the largest European car market after Germany and although the Nizhniy GAZ plant is inefficient, Isuzus, Fiats, Fords and other cars are being built here and Russians are snapping them up. What annoys me most is the lack of context in Hayes' report. Driving into and through Russia's "red belt" is not the same as going to Novosibirsk.
Of course people here are conservative. The "worry" about the West is because the West is luring newly democratic states into NATO and then trying to arm them with missiles against who? Iran? Please, even Putin saw the idiocy of this "defense" and put Condoleeza Rice in her place. By not mentioning the West and NATO as the causal agents for Russia's new anxiety, Hayes puts forth the old canard that Russians are still fighting the cold war. Nothing is further than the truth. As the third richest nation in the world, with foreign debt a zillion times less than America or England, Russia could be spending its money like Britain and America--fighting foreign wars and arming itself and its allies to the teeth (who do you think NATO members buy their weapons from?). Hayes just reported what we all have heard and seen before--gee, Russia is big, cold, underpopulated, rusting and worried. What about Russia's rather amazing initiative in funding nanotechnology? The billions in EU foreign investment here in everything from high-tech to biofuels. How it is amassing vast billions for the future by setting aside some of its oil royalties? The BBC should educate itself and the world by doing a story about "what's going on that's NEW in Russia....not the same old news that consistently portrays the worst. Lack of democracy? Absolutely--but what about British police raids on "terrorists" that turned out to be incredible violations of civil rights? All countries have their dark side. Russia is no paradise...but it's no gulag either.
Hey Anonymous,
Thank You for your insight! I can tell by your answer that you do live in Russia!
You have very good points and I agree with you! The BBC articles by Hayes hit me wrong and I think that he shows his immaturity in the articles. If you are going to pay someone to travel another country and send you articles then you need to make sure you got a good journalist. Not the "incredibly sloppy journalism"
The world seems to like a dark evil Russia, I guess it makes other countries feel like the good guys!
Thank You and always feel free to comment.
Kyle & Svet
He is a mommas boy, what a joke