Drama In The Studio, Authorities Hit Delete, Button Broken - Updated

Michael Hedges March 15, 2022 - Follow on Twitter

How often are we reminded that life imitates art. We are enthralled with the idea that art and literature both challenge and create reality. That words and pictures can inspire gives us hope.

Just yesterday a Russian TV news editor had her Howard Beale moment. It was dramatic. Most everyone in the world saw it or heard of it. It was on TV. It was in the 1976 Paddy Chayefsky film Network that the Beale character, played by Peter Finch, announced “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any more.”

On Monday (March 14) Channel One editor Marina Ovsyannikova quietly slid in behind the newsreader with a placard written in English and Russian. “No War,” it said. “Stop the war, don't believe the propaganda, here you are being lied to. Russians against war.” Newsreader Ekaterina Andreeva, properly trained, was unfazed. The director immediately cut to a pre-recorded feature. When the live program resumed Ms Ovsyannikova was gone. Police had hustled her away to the Ostankino Police station, next to the state broadcasting TV studios. She had not been seen or heard from until nearly a day later for a court appearance, noted the BBC (March 15).

Ms Ovsyannikova’s exceedingly rare act of civil disobedience did not go unnoticed, except by state TV. Independent Russian news outlets have almost completely eradicated, several disappearing since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The emasculated Novaya Gazeta published a screen shot of Ms Ovsyannikova on the TV set, captioned with “a woman appeared with a poster whose complete content cannot be published.” International news outlets, some with limited staff in Russia, latched onto the story.

Social media and the internet in Russia exploded. The brief clip of Ms Ovsyannikova and the placard has “gone viral,” said Spanish daily El Pais (March 15). According to Google Trends “propaganda” was top of the list in Russia Monday evening. “Marina” topped Google Trends in the UK.

Russian officials appeared unfazed as ever. “As far as this woman is concerned, this is hooliganism,” said government spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, quoted by Interfax (March 15). Mr. Peskov and his family, including the “social influencer” daughter, have been placed under US and UK sanctions.

Ms Ovsyannikova appeared at a Moscow district court (March 15) charged with “flouting protest legislation.” After pleading not guilty, the court imposed a RUB 30,000 (US$ 280) fine for “organizing an uncoordinated public action,” reported Meduza (March 15), related to a video she had produced beforehand. The court is continuing an investigation under the new law criminalizing “public dissemination of knowingly false information,” which potentially carries a 15 year prison term. Clearly, Russian authorities want this episode to disappear, too. Leaving the court she said the act of civil disobedience had been her “decision alone,” noted the BBC (March 15).

"It must be remembered that this courageous act is not the only one,” said Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) chief editor Pauline Ades-Mevel to French TV news channel BFM TV (March 15). “There are many state media journalists, not just independent, who have indicated that they are resigning, that they are ashamed. There is a lot of awareness of the journalists who work for these (state) media.”

UPDATE: Ms Ovsyannikova has a new job. Four weeks after utterly embarrassing main Russian state TV Channel One by ostentatiously sharing her views on the war in Ukraine she has been contracted by German publisher Axel Springer as a freelance correspondent in Russia and Ukraine for news magazine Die Welt. She will also contribute to the Welt News TV channel.

“At a crucial moment, Marina Ovsyannikova had the courage to confront Russian viewers with an unembellished view of reality,” said Welt Group chief editor Ulf Poschardt in a statement (April 11). “In doing so, she defended the most important journalistic ethics – despite the threat of state repression. I am excited to be working with her.” He added, to DPA (April 11), that her security in Russia will benefit "because she gets more visibility through us.”

That could be all she’s getting. Writing on the social media account of Varlamov News (April 11) she said she’s “on a gratuitous contract. I don’t get paid for this.”

See also...

• Hot Topics - TV News

• Hot Topics - Media in the Russian Federation