Protecting Independent Russian Media: The EU's Role

Location: Baker Hall, Rm 116, 100 Tower Parkway

It is fair to say that there are no independent media left in Russia. The exodus of journalists has been massive and painful. As a result, the remaining Russian independent media now operate abroad. Nevertheless, they still own the language and are attempting to reach their audience inside Russia in order to challenge the Kremlin’s narrative and agenda from abroad. In this current situation they are struggling to remain “Russian and relevant.” Individual countries are unable to secure and maintain a media environment for their competitive development. Yet Russian-language independent media and quality journalism will be essential for the development of Russia and European security after the war in Ukraine. Can the EU play a more instrumental and efficient role in creating favorable conditions for the work and development of Russian-language media across the bloc? Can Russian media be truly European?

Pavel Bandakov will speak about the media exodus, guerilla newsrooms, the borders and the cats, followed-up by a discussion with Prof. Marci Shore (Yale University) and Prof. Jonathan Knee (Columbia University/Yale University).

Sponsored by: YLS European Law Association and the European Studies Council at the Yale MacMillan Center