It is a Hard Life…

By Jared DeLuna

While Googling “how to become a freelance Journalist in Russia” the very first thing that popped up was “list of journalists killed in Russia.” This got me thinking. This is a very hard life, but someone has got to do it, right? According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, there have been 52 journalists killed in Russia since 1992. This figure only accounts for those whose murder where CPJ has confirmed that they were killed in the line of journalistic duty.

Russia is known for not allowing people the freedom of speech. In fact, most of the news networks here in Russia are state-owned. They will say whatever they can as long as the government allows them to say it. They will take the line of what the government says and does.

Being an American who happens to be a journalist here in Moscow isn’t all that bad at all. No one bothers me and I don’t bother them. We walk this fine line here and I am glad I am treading carefully. I love Moscow. I love Russia for that matter. I think the government here is doing a good job at keeping the country on track to success. What I am not sure about is the fact of how scary it really is to live here when you tell people you studied journalism.

For example; most of the jobs here are to write guides about the city, different night clubs and movies you may have seen while in Russia. There are no jobs for people like me who could care less about doing all these guides, the ones who want to report what they see around them from the other side of the world. I am grateful that in America we have such places that are willing to post my articles and have readers who are interested in Russia — not for the nightclubs but for the life on the street.

The media here need to walk carefully if they want to be operating and making millions. If they take one misstep, that could mean saying good bye to their great lifestyles. Or in the most extreme cases, their lives.

One day, I hope Russia will allow more freedom of speech and maybe then we will be able to see what the real Russia is like.

Before I leave you, here is the web search I have done and yes, here is the link to the Wikipedia page that popped right up (first on the list): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_journalists_killed_in_Russia.