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Spies posing as reporters. There’s a long storied history. These make good fodder for novels and movies. Reporters travel to tough places and ask questions. A perfect cover, maybe.
Polish authorities have been holding Pablo González since February 28th. The date takes on certain significance. They accuse Mr. González of spying for Russian main intelligence service GRU, successor to the infamous KGB. Mr. González has duel Spanish-Russian citizenship. His Russian name is Pavel Rubtsov. He claims to be a freelance reporter. On the day of his arrest he was due to cross the border into Ukraine with a group of reporters, noted US international broadcaster Voice of America (VOA) (May 9). Four days earlier (February 24), Russian Federation forces invaded Ukraine. Mr. González has taken freelance reporting assignments with VOA and contributed to Spanish news outlet Publico.
Next Monday (May 16) the Polish Prosecutor’s Office must either request an extension of his pre-trail detention or release him, reported Publico (May 11). He has a Polish lawyer and receives consular services from the Spanish Embassy in Warsaw. Journalist advocates Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have argued for his release. (See more about journalism here)
The Polish Internal Security agency (ABW) released at terse statement shortly after his arrest (March 4). “He carried out his activities for Russia using his journalistic status. Thanks to this, he was able to move freely around Europe and the world, including zones affected by armed conflicts and areas of political tensions. During his stay in Poland, he obtained information, the use of which by the Russian secret services could have a direct negative impact on the internal and external security and defence of our country.” (See more about media in Poland here)
As typical with stories like this, there is just enough truth to whet the imagination. Pablo González family emigrated from the Spanish Basque region to Russia (then Soviet Union) to escape the Franco dictatorship. He speaks Russian and his father remains in Moscow. His recent journalistic interests revolve around immigrants, long a subject of particular interest to Polish authorities. After that, the rest smacks of conspiracy theory.
"There is no essential difference between the work of a spy and a journalist; both collect information in the same way – just the end consumers are different," said illustrious KGB Major General Yuri Kobaladze to Russian daily Izvestiya (December 7, 1996). "Journalists make the best spies; they have more freedom of access than diplomats.” Last year UK authorities expelled three Chinese spies posing as journalists, reported the Telegraph (February 4, 2021).
Most every rating, ranking, award and honor elicits some degree of angst in countries falling, dropping, losing or failing. In today’s post-modern climate of rampant insecurities this handwringing enters the popular consciousness. It resembles the immutable “stages of grief.”
After press freedom advocate Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) released (May 3) its 2022 World Press Freedom Index media watchers in several countries were delighted, others sad. Despite RSF suggesting restraint in making comparisons with the previous report due to changes in index criteria the opportunity was just too great. All life resembles sports; scores matter. (See more about press/media freedom here)
Austria took a major tumble in the 2022 RSF Press Freedom Index, 31st among the 180 countries from 17th one year on. "No more excuses,” noted the RSF Austria office. “You can no longer sugarcoat this crash.” Further, recently named RSF Austria president Fritz Hausjell noted the absence of “a meaningful media freedom law that promotes quality instead of tabloids,” quoted by Weiner Zeitung (May 5). “The constant party-political influence over (public broadcaster) ORF must urgently come to an end.” He faulted sour media economics, publishers unable to compete with social media or “online giants” for ad revenues. (See more about media in Austria here)
Austrian media watchers pointed fingers. “This is a Europe-wide phenomenon and there have been significantly more violent attacks - even murder attacks - in many other countries,” wrote Association of Austrian Newspapers (VÖZ) managing director Gerald Grünberger in Kurier (May 11), who took the opportunity to complain about advertising on ORF. “Freedom of the press and freedom of expression must also be defended daily in European democracies, but not with non-transparent blanket criticism and the charge of political change.” Others railed about the changes in RSF’s index criterial being “non-transparent.” They aren’t. Denial is one stage of grief.
Prizes and awards for journalism make news for about a day. Internationally, there are several each year. All media awards are special as they memorialize achievements and, for at least that day, focus attention. To all those honored by the 2022 Pulitzer Prizes, congratulations.
Several Pulitzers stand out this year. One is the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, always noted across journalism. This year’s recipient is The Washington Post for its in-depth coverage of the the assault on the US Capital in January 2021 by right-wing extremists seeking to reverse the election of US President Joe Biden. For Washington DC, WaPo is the local newspaper. Said the Pulitzer Prize Board (May 9), the reporting provided “the public with a thorough and unflinching understanding of one of the nation's darkest days.”
Two Florida newspapers were cited for local coverage. The Miami Herald took the breaking news award for coverage of the deadly Surfside condominium collapse. The Tampa Bay Times won for investigative reporting on industrial pollution. The Pulitizer was “a testament to the importance of a vital local newsroom,” said Tampa Bay Times editor Mark Katches in a statement. The Chicago Tribune with the Better Government Association were awarded for local coverage of poor enforcement of fire safety standards. (See more about journalism here)
This year’s Pulitzer Prize Special Citation was awarded collectively to Ukrainian journalists “for courage, endurance and commitment to truthful information during Vladimir Putin's ruthless invasion of their country and his propaganda war in Russia. Despite the bombing, abduction, occupation and even death in their ranks, they have worked hard to create a clear picture of the horrific reality that honors Ukraine and journalists around the world.” Indeed, despite the global interest, for Ukraine journalists it is a local story.
An inquiry has been launched by a special commission of the Italian Parliament to look into whether or not individuals sanctioned for activities supporting the Russian Federation invasion of Ukraine can be prevented from appearing on Italian television talkshows. Hearings will commence this week with officials from media regulator Agcom called. Earlier this month (May 1) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and state TV talkshow host Vladimir Solovyev, separately, gave bombastic interviews to Italian private TV channels. Both are under sanction by the Italian government and the European Union.
On the Sunday talkshow Zona Bianca (May 1) the typically diplomatic Russian Foreign Minister went on a raging anti-Semitic tirade in the context of the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine on TV channel Rete4, a subsidiary of Mediaset, principally owned by the Berlusconi family. The Israeli prime minister’s office issued a rebuke and demanded an apology. “The words (of Minister Lavrov) were delusional but they illustrate contemporary history,” offered Mediaset Director of Information Mauro Crippa in a statement (May 2). (See more about media in Italy here)
“(Foreign Minister Lavrov’s) appearance on TV endangers our safety and circumvents the sanctions,” said Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic (Copasir) member Enrico Borghi to La Repubblica (May 2). “Now, that’s enough. The manipulation of information is one of the pillars of the Kremlin's offensive. Who and why offers Russian propagandists the opportunity to pollute our public debate spreading false news.” He suspects “a disinformation operation organized and conceived upstream by men of the Russian government.” (See more about propaganda here)
By coincidence, perhaps, Vladimir Solovyev was interviewed on TV channel La7, owned by Cairo Communications. In Russia he is known as a Sunday evening talkshow host on state TV channel Rossiya 1, always offering wild conspiracy theories blaming “enemies.” From the Italian tabloids he is known for owning two villas on Lake Como, recently padlocked by Italian financial police due to the sanctions. Mr. Solovyev howled about that, too.
In the spirit of striking while the iron is hot, La7 invited Mr. Solovyev to an encore this past Sunday (May 8), albeit with several other guests. Massimo Giletti, host of the Non è l’Arena talk show, managed to draw out the best from his special guest. “Who gave you the right to talk about us in this way,” he screamed, “to judge our people and our country?” reported Libero Quotidiano (May 9). At the same time, Rete4’s Sunday night interview show featured former Ukraine president Petro Poroshenko.
UPDATE: More attention came to Italian television as public broadcaster RAI “scored” a live interview (May 12) with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. He appeared remotely, for obvious reasons, on the RAI 1 current affairs program Porta a Porta, hosted by Bruno Vespa. In contrast to earlier interviews on Italian TV with Russian officials and un-officials, President Zelensky gave a calm and thoughtful account of the Russian war in his country.
“Mr. President, thank you for choosing Porta a Porta for your first interview on Italian television,” said Bruno Vespa opening the 48 minute interview. Within Italian media and political circles Porta a Porta is known as “the Third Chamber of State” and Sr Vespa the “great old man of Italian journalism.” The Zelensky interview followed the broadcast of the second qualifying round for the Eurovision Song Contest, in which the Italian contestant performed. This is called the perfect lead-in. (See more about public broadcasting here)
“It is RAI’s response to Mediaset’s coup,” said one Italian media watcher, referring to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov appearing on Rete4. “A beautiful page for Italian journalism,” said Luciano Nobili, member of parliament aligned with the liberal Italia Viva party. “After so much pro-Russian propaganda from other networks, after rallies passed off as interviews, a good page for Italian journalism.”
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