German Media Giant Axel Springer Hires Russian TV Protester
Marina Ovsyannikova, the Russian TV editor who staged a protest during a live news program on the state-controlled Channel One early in March, has been hired as a freelance correspondent who will be reporting for Axel Springer’s German media brand Welt.
As freelance correspondent, Ovsyannikova will be writing for Die Welt (or The World), the national daily broadsheet, and making regular contributions to Welt, the TV news channel. Both media brands are owned by Axel Springer is the largest publishing house in Europe, and Die Welt is its flagship publication.
The appointment is effective immediately, according to the announcement released by the German media company. She will be covering news on Ukraine and Russia. Her first contribution, headlined “The Russians are afraid,” has already been published on Welt’s website. The column is a reaction to the onslaught in Ukraine, and the online harassment that she’s received online from both Russians and Ukrainians, as she claims “nobody wants to believe that it was a citizen’s emotional protest.”
As much as it was celebrated in the West, her protest received the ire of many Ukrainians. Many felt that it was part of the propaganda after all, and it took away attention from the actual attacks that Moscow was carrying out in Ukraine. A residential apartment building in Kyiv was shelled around the time of her protest.
Her new job is getting her some renewed flak, as her intentions and reputation remain in question.
Russian journalists have been looking to do their work elsewhere since Moscow criminalized reporting of so-called “false news” about the Russian military, effectively barring Russian media from calling the war what it is to maintain President Vladimir Putin’s grasp of the narrative.
Ovsyannikova was able to resign from her post at Channel One days after her demonstration. While people were initially worried that she might face up to 15 years in prison for the protest, she so far has only been fined US$293 for the social media post. Meanwhile for the on-air protest, she is facing up to US$610 in fines and is scheduled to go to court on Thursday.
Information for this briefing was found via Die Welt, Twitter and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
