It was presented at the national conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, Seattle, Washington, November 1997.
Some observers find grounds for optimism in Russia's present media landscape.
True, different points of view are usually not found within individual print or electronic media outlets. If one reads half a dozen newspapers a day and watches a variety of television networks, one gets a fairly accurate picture of the news. However, this argument assumes that readers or viewers have the time and the inclination to seek out many news sources. It is more likely that the current situation will fuel public cynicism about the media. Others find grounds for optimism in the values held by certain Russian journalists, who recognize the need for professionalism and fair play.