This book examines the challenges and pressures liberal journalists face in Putin's Russia. It presents the findings of an in-depth qualitative study, which included ethnographic observations of editorial meetings during the conflict in Ukraine. It also provides a theoretical framework for evaluating the Russian media system and a historical overview of the development of liberal media in the country. The book focuses on some of Russia's most influential liberal national news outlets: "the deadliest" newspaper Novaya Gazeta, "Russia's last independent radio station" Radio Echo of Moscow (Ekho Moskvy) and US Congress-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The fieldwork included ethnographic observations of editorial meetings, long interviews with editors and journalists as well as documentary analysis. The monograph makes theoretical contributions to three main areas: 1. Media systems and terms of reference. 2. Journalism: cultures, role conceptions, and relationship with power, culture and society. 3. Mediatisation of conflict and nationhood.

Vera Slavtcheva-Petkova is a Senior Lecturer in Communications and Media Studies at the University of Liverpool, UK. She is the author of Global Journalism: An Introduction (with Michael Bromley, 2018).

Introduction

1. The Mass Media in Putin's Russia

2. Conceptualizing Russian Media and Journalism: A Theoretical Framework

3. Russia's Deadliest Newspaper: The History of Novaya Gazeta

4. Novaya Gazeta Today: Practices, Challenges and Role Perceptions

5. Russia's "Last Independent Radio": The History of Radio Ekho Moskvy

6. Radio Ekho Moskvy Today: Challenges, Practices and Role Perceptions

7. From Behind the Iron Curtain: Brief History of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

8. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Today: Challenges, Practices and Role Perceptions

Conclusion: Handcuffed but Free: Russia's Liberal Media