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InternationalJournalismJournalismFrom Russia—Yevgenia Albats, an independent journalist in Russia, describes what it is like to try to be aninvestigative journalist in Russia amid forces—applied by both government and business—thatwork to make this kind of enterprising reporting less and less possible. As she writes, “mediaoutlets become controlled by the elite and powerful who don’t want their power and prosperityto be threatened.” The consequence: For journalists such as Albats, there are fewer and fewerpublications that will print what they report.Two other perspectives on what is happening to the Russian media come from professors whohave closely observed changes during the past few years. Ellen Mickiewicz, the author of“Changing Channels: Television and the Struggle for Power in Russia,” and Director of the DeWittWallace Center for Communications and Journalism at Duke University, echoes many of Albats’sobservations as she examines what is broadcast as news on Russian television, who controls thedecision-making and how viewers respond. Then, Virginie Coulloudon, a former Frenchjournalist who directs the research project “The Elite and Patronage in Russia” at the DavisCenter for Russian Studies at Harvard University, expands our look at the media in Russia byassessing the situations faced by local regional news outlets. Her conclusion: Russia’s 1998financial crisis provided an opening for powerful provincial leaders to assume greater controlover local newspapers. She writes that, “One thing is certain: The local political leadership willtry to assert greater control over the press in an attempt to secure their governing positions.”About China—Webster K. Nolan, the former Director of the East-West Center Media Program in Honoluluand a frequent visitor with journalists in China, describes the rapidly changing circumstances forChinese journalists. Marketplace pressures, such as the unstoppable increase in advertising, area force that editors must now consider in deciding what to cover and how to report it. Nolancompares much of what is happening now in China to similar trends taking place in U.S.journalism. He finds similarities but also points out contrasts that are rooted in political andcultural differences.From Spain—Dale Fuchs, who is reporting in Spain while on a Fulbright Fellowship for journalists,explains why that country’s reporters are so “starry-eyed” in their coverage of the euro. Whilereporters in other European countries include in their coverage some skepticism about the newsingle European currency, Spanish journalists rarely touch on this aspect of the story. Fuchs helpsus understand why press coverage in Spain is so different. ■24 Nieman Reports / Fall 1999