someRussiantelevisionq&otherquestions

[ZitaD at AOL.COM]

August 17, 2001

Dear SEELANGERS:

This week I have been reviewing my editor's comments on revisions  for the 
second edition of "The Russian Way" that I sent to McGraw-Hill Publishing 
Company. I have a few  areas in which I would appreciate help. In early April 
I had written:  

1)  Point 66 Television and Radio: "Programs dealing with politics are 
popular in Russia. The best known anchors and programs are Nikolai Svanidze 
on RTP's "Window" "Zerkalo"/ Ptƒhrfkj6 Evgeny Kiselyov on NTV's "Roundup," "I
togi"/Bnjƒub76 and Svetlana Sorokina on NTV's "Hero of the Day" "Geroy dnya"/"
Uthjƒq lyz") which features one-on-one interviews with political and cultural 
figures. Two NTV programs which satirize politicians are especially popular, 
"Itogo"/Bnjujƒ ("Altogether") and "Kykli"/Reƒrks ("Puppets"). On "Kykli," 
puppets in the likeness of various politicians appear in satirical skits, on 
the former, anchor Viktor Shenderovich, in the manner of  "Saturday Night 
Live," satirizes actions and  statements made by politicians in the course of 
the current week. The government has made several attempts to take the show 
"Kukli" to court for its sharp criticism of it."

In Mid-April NTV ceased to be an independent station. I realize that Kiselyov 
moved to a local TV station. Does he have a specific program, and if so, what 
is it called? Is Sorokina still with NTV,  or has she moved to another TV 
station, and if so, to which one and does she have a specific program of 
which she is in charge of?  Regarding "Kykli," I understand that it is still 
on air, but less offensive to the government. What about "Itogo"/Bnjujƒ 
("Altogether")?  Is it still on air with Viktor Shenderovich?

2) Revision of Point 47, "Politics and Parties": Gusinsky was jailed at one 
point for embezzlement (he has since fled abroad), but many believe that in 
the view of the government, what he was really guilty of was heading an 
independent media group of a television station, NTV, its affiliated radio 
station, Ekho Moskvi/"[j Vjcrdsƒ6 magazine "Itogi"/Bnjƒub and newspaper "Sevod
nya"/Ctujƒlyz, all of which served as a center of resistance to Putin's 
political machine. In April 2001, NTV was taken over by Gazprom, a 
state-controlled energy giant, the magazine's entire staff was fired, and the 
newspaper was shut down. Boris Jordan became the new CEO of NTV." 

My question here is to what extent Ekho Moskvi/"[j Vjcrdsƒ is still an 
independent and respected station? Probably not so independent any more.... 
Are the other facts in the paragraph  correct?

3) Is the former Soviet holiday "Soviet Army and Navy Day" now called "Den 
zashchitnika or zashchitnikov otechestva?  And how would it be translated 
into English? 

4) Finally, if anyone can recommend some websites that would be especially 
useful for travelers to Russia, that would be great. 

Please reply off line. Thank you!

Zita Dabars
zitad at aol.com
CORLAC in retirement
7223 Lanark Road
Baltimore, MD 21212
Phone & fax: (410) 821-1994

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