Description
Book SynopsisIn
The Russian Press from Brezhnev to Yeltsin, John Murray charts and examines the main changes in the content and language of the Russian press over the last decade. This is the most up-to-date book covering the evolution of the post-Soviet press and makes an important contribution to scholarship through the inclusion of much original contemporary source material and a series of extensive interviews with leading Russian journalists.
Following a general survey of the Russian press since 1917, the book examines in detail the workings of the press before Perestroika, during Gorbachev's period in office, and under Boris Yeltsin's presidency. The author looks in particular at the changing relationship between the press and politicians, the emergence of Western-style newspapers and the economic problems facing the post-Soviet newspaper world. The book also examines separately how the language of the press changed as a result of the political liberalization of the late 1980s and continues to change in the 1990s. Included in the book are twelve interviews with Russian journalists taken between 1987 and 1993 that illustrate the changing self-perception of journalists during that period.
An award-winning journalist in his own right, Dr Murray has written a book that will be of interest both to academic researchers and working journalists concerned with analysing the language of political discourse in Soviet and Russian journalism.
Trade Review'His book has no rival as a survey of the late years of the Soviet press, and its hesitant, chaotic birth into the freedoms of the market. He knows the press, the journalists, the culture and above all he understands the varied languages.' -- Martin Walker, Sunday Tribune
'John Murray has explored a fascinating topic and his book is both thorough and thought-provoking.' -- Judith Devlin, Sunday Independent
'This is a well written and easily read book. Murray provides a significant amount of information which gives the reader a clear picture of the function of the press in the ex-Soviet Union. The volume can equally attract the attention and interest not only of those social scientists who are interested in the ex-Soviet Union but of anyone interested in the function of the press.' -- Yannis A. Stivachtis, Europe-Asia Studies
'Carefully selected and edited, these interviews are a good illustration to the events discussed in the book and the conclusions it reaches. The book is useful reading for specialists in Russian affairs and in the media in general.' -- Vera Tolz, Slavic Review
