Journalists Fleeing Russia WEB
Metadata
- Journalists Fleeing Russia WEB
- April 13, 2022
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English FOR USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TV Journalists Fleeing Russia – Avetisyan HEADLINE: Over 150 Journalists Have Left Russia Since Start of Ukraine Invasion TEASER: Nongovernmental organizations such as Reporters Without Borders have been finding ways to help Russian journalists inside and outside the country PUBLISHED: 04/13/2022 at 1:20 pm BYLINE: Anush Avetisyan CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Washington VIDEOGRAPHER: Andrey Degtyarev, Dmitry Shakhov PRODUCER: Marcus Harton SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, Holly Franko, BR VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, AFP, Reuters, Other (see courtesies) PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 3:36 VID APPROVED BY: BR TYPE: TVPKG UPDATE: )) EDITOR NOTES )) ((INTRO)) [[More than 150 Russian journalists have left the country since its invasion of Ukraine. More are working with international organizations safeguarding the rights of journalists. Anush Avetisyan looks at how the international community is helping independent Russian journalists in these difficult times.]] ((NARRATOR)) Journalists were among the stream of Russians leaving the country since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th. For independent journalists, Russia has become unsafe because of a de facto law declaring as fake any information that contradicts the Defense Ministry. Spreading such information can lead to a prison sentence of up to 15 years. ((Roman Badanin, Investigative Journalist (in English) )) ((Mandatory cg: USAGM/IREX)) “Honest independent journalism is the most important thing right now. Only real journalism can effectively fight propaganda. // All independent journalists are enemies of the state now. Why? The answer is simple – because journalism makes a difference in Russia. (The) Kremlin is really and deeply afraid of journalists.” ((NAT SOUND – Reporters saying goodbye (in Russian)) ((Needs English VO)) ((Mandatory cg: TV Rain/YouTube)) "Guys, stay with us. We won’t let you down! We just need a little bit of time to get things sorted, and I am sure we will all be back!” ((NARRATOR)) Journalists at TV Rain, Echo of Moscow, Meduza and Novaya Gazeta have left Russia, when their outlets were forced to stop work in the country. ((NARRATOR)) Some of these journalists are getting help from international groups. ((Sharon Moshavi, International Center for Journalists President)) (in English) )) ((Mandatory cg Zoom)) "So, what we are trying to do now is to offer support to journalists who have had to leave Russia, who are still trying to report … and offering what we can do, (such as) grants.” ((NARRATOR)) The NGO, Reporters Without Borders, is working with the blocked Russian-language media outlets as well as independent journalists whose online platforms have been forced to shut, by creating mirror websites to provide access to the censored information. ((Pauline Ades-Mevel, Reporters Without Borders Editor-in-Chief (in English) )) ((Mandatory cg: Zoom)) “We used our mirror site technology to unblock Meduza for example — the most popular independent Russian news site. /// Most of the work we do in Russia right now, with journalists or with media, is not advertised for security reasons.” ((NARRATOR)) Reporters Without Borders has also created a fund for Russian journalists, to help them leave Russia and work from a safe place. It is also compiling a list for the urgent relocation of about 100 journalists to EU countries. Meanwhile, Russian journalists outside of Russia are urging the international community to help their counterparts still in the country. Anything — from grants to special refugee status — counts. Arizona immigration attorney Natalia Polukhtin says if Russian journalists can find an employer in the U.S., they can relocate on a special visa. ((Natalia Polukhtin, Immigration Attorney (in Russian) )) ((Mandatory cg: Skype)) “It's not too difficult to get it. If the person in question really works in journalism, there are various options for him or her, including something connected with university lectures or other sociopolitical activities.” ((NARRATOR)) Many who have lost hope in getting an American visa have headed to the U.S.-Mexican border. ((Natalia Polukhtin, Immigration Attorney (in Russian) )) ((Skype)) “These people get to the entry checkpoint, say the magical words "political asylum," and they are taken in. It’s still not a walk on a beach, mind you, it’s a serious challenge people are willing to face.” ((NARRATOR)) Experts believe independent journalists are not likely to return to Russia any time soon. For now, they just need a chance to work — freely and without fear. ((Anush Avetisyan, VOA News, Washington))
- Transcript/Script FOR USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TV Journalists Fleeing Russia – Avetisyan HEADLINE: Over 150 Journalists Have Left Russia Since Start of Ukraine Invasion TEASER: Nongovernmental organizations such as Reporters Without Borders have been finding ways to help Russian journalists inside and outside the country PUBLISHED: 04/13/2022 at 1:20 pm BYLINE: Anush Avetisyan CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Washington VIDEOGRAPHER: Andrey Degtyarev, Dmitry Shakhov PRODUCER: Marcus Harton SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, Holly Franko, BR VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, AFP, Reuters, Other (see courtesies) PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 3:36 VID APPROVED BY: BR TYPE: TVPKG UPDATE: )) EDITOR NOTES )) ((INTRO)) [[More than 150 Russian journalists have left the country since its invasion of Ukraine. More are working with international organizations safeguarding the rights of journalists. Anush Avetisyan looks at how the international community is helping independent Russian journalists in these difficult times.]] ((NARRATOR)) Journalists were among the stream of Russians leaving the country since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th. For independent journalists, Russia has become unsafe because of a de facto law declaring as fake any information that contradicts the Defense Ministry. Spreading such information can lead to a prison sentence of up to 15 years. ((Roman Badanin, Investigative Journalist (in English) )) ((Mandatory cg: USAGM/IREX)) “Honest independent journalism is the most important thing right now. Only real journalism can effectively fight propaganda. // All independent journalists are enemies of the state now. Why? The answer is simple – because journalism makes a difference in Russia. (The) Kremlin is really and deeply afraid of journalists.” ((NAT SOUND – Reporters saying goodbye (in Russian)) ((Needs English VO)) ((Mandatory cg: TV Rain/YouTube)) "Guys, stay with us. We won’t let you down! We just need a little bit of time to get things sorted, and I am sure we will all be back!” ((NARRATOR)) Journalists at TV Rain, Echo of Moscow, Meduza and Novaya Gazeta have left Russia, when their outlets were forced to stop work in the country. ((NARRATOR)) Some of these journalists are getting help from international groups. ((Sharon Moshavi, International Center for Journalists President)) (in English) )) ((Mandatory cg Zoom)) "So, what we are trying to do now is to offer support to journalists who have had to leave Russia, who are still trying to report … and offering what we can do, (such as) grants.” ((NARRATOR)) The NGO, Reporters Without Borders, is working with the blocked Russian-language media outlets as well as independent journalists whose online platforms have been forced to shut, by creating mirror websites to provide access to the censored information. ((Pauline Ades-Mevel, Reporters Without Borders Editor-in-Chief (in English) )) ((Mandatory cg: Zoom)) “We used our mirror site technology to unblock Meduza for example — the most popular independent Russian news site. /// Most of the work we do in Russia right now, with journalists or with media, is not advertised for security reasons.” ((NARRATOR)) Reporters Without Borders has also created a fund for Russian journalists, to help them leave Russia and work from a safe place. It is also compiling a list for the urgent relocation of about 100 journalists to EU countries. Meanwhile, Russian journalists outside of Russia are urging the international community to help their counterparts still in the country. Anything — from grants to special refugee status — counts. Arizona immigration attorney Natalia Polukhtin says if Russian journalists can find an employer in the U.S., they can relocate on a special visa. ((Natalia Polukhtin, Immigration Attorney (in Russian) )) ((Mandatory cg: Skype)) “It's not too difficult to get it. If the person in question really works in journalism, there are various options for him or her, including something connected with university lectures or other sociopolitical activities.” ((NARRATOR)) Many who have lost hope in getting an American visa have headed to the U.S.-Mexican border. ((Natalia Polukhtin, Immigration Attorney (in Russian) )) ((Skype)) “These people get to the entry checkpoint, say the magical words "political asylum," and they are taken in. It’s still not a walk on a beach, mind you, it’s a serious challenge people are willing to face.” ((NARRATOR)) Experts believe independent journalists are not likely to return to Russia any time soon. For now, they just need a chance to work — freely and without fear. ((Anush Avetisyan, VOA News, Washington))
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date April 13, 2022 13:28 EDT
- Byline Anush Avetisyan
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America