Transcript
CHRIS BANNON:
This is On the Media. I'm Chris Bannon.
BROOKE GLADSTONE:
And I'm Brooke Gladstone. Last week we devoted the entire show to the subject of press freedom in Russia. The response was very positive, but not entirely. A few of you were irked by what you thought was overlooked. Vel Nurtis, for one. Vel wrote, quote, "While Brooke Gladstone's points were well taken, one needs to keep in mind that there are a good many issues with free speech right here in the U.S. that stem not from politics but from economics, which doesn't make them any less serious."
Alan Wright from Westchester, Pennsylvania agreed, writing that, quote, "Your description of the subtle ways in which voices and perspectives critical of the dominant system in Russia are shunted to minor media struck me as identical to the ways in which truly progressive voices in the U.S. are restricted, by some invisible hand, to small-circulation publications such as The Nation."
CHRIS BANNON:
We received this from Irina Pecherskaya from San Francisco. Quote, "I have lived the first half of my life in the U.S.S.R and the second half in the U.S.A. I am simply amazed at this show. For the whole hour there has been no statement, qualification, attitude or representation that I, as a native, would find uniformed, missing the point or overlooking a subtlety of the modern life in Russia. Thank you. I learned something new about my country from your show."
And Michelle Hadley of River Falls, Wisconsin, wrote in to say that she, quote, "personally enjoys the country-focused format. Expense, I'm sure, makes these programs prohibitive on a regular basis, but they are very informative and valuable." Next up, China?
BROOKE GLADSTONE:
Actually, Irina and Michelle are among the early adopters in our audience who have already figured out how to take advantage of our newest online gadget - comments. Go to any segment, click on the "Comments" link and your thoughts will immediately be published online. Now, not only do we see your comments but your fellow listeners do, too, and that has its advantages.
For example, a few of you wondered where to find more music from the Russian bard I interviewed. Before we could answer, fellow OTM listeners had already posted the answers.
So now you can speak your mind on the Comments section of our website, and write to our inbox at onthemedia@wnyc.org. But, please, don't forget to tell us where you live and how to pronounce your name.
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