Following is an official statement by RIA Novosti issued today:
RIA Novosti, Russia’s leading multimedia news agency is neither a “sponsor” nor a “backer” of Russia Today, an English language satellite TV channel, contrary to recent claims in media reports.
The reports followed an ad campaign launched by Russia Today in the USA and Europe, like the one featuring superimposed images of US President Barack Obama and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and asking “Who poses the greater nuclear threat?” The campaign sparked a strong reaction from both the authorities and the media. The media embarked on speculations of who is behind the Russia Today campaign. Some of the media reports stated that RIA Novosti “sponsors” or “backs” Russia Today.
These reports wrongfully drew on the fact that RIA Novosti had participated in establishing Russia Today as an Autonomous Non-Profit Organization, which in fact provided for the channel’s complete legal, editorial and operational independence from RIA Novosti.
“We do cooperate on various projects as independent partners,” says RIA Novosti’s Editor-in-Chief Svetlana Mironyuk. “Russia Today is mainly a broadcaster, while RIA Novosti is a news agency with strong Internet presence and a few print projects - it’s only natural that we try to use the synergies that appear.”
RIA Novosti ranks as the #1 brand in the Russian segment of the Web. According to TNS Web Index, RIA Novosti website www.rian.ru drew an audience of over 11 million Russians in December 2009.
“RIA Novosti is the leading provider of multimedia news content in Russia,” says Svetlana Mironyuk. “We are happy to support Russia Today, as well as other Russian and international media outlets, by making our content available for their coverage.”
MOSCOW, February 4 (RIA Novosti)
on Feb 4th, 2010 at 13:59
is a correct summary of this story:
“RIA Novosti supplies content to RT but does not sponsor or back RT”?