Tatyana Mitkova
| Tatyana Mitkova | |
|---|---|
 Tatyana Mitkova in January 2012 | |
| Born |
September 13, 1957 Moscow, Russia |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Occupation | television journalist |
| Organization | NTV |
| Known for | 1991 refusal to read official Soviet news, NTV anchorship |
| Awards | CPJ International Press Freedom Awards (1991) |
Tatyana Rostislavovna Mitkova (Russian: Татья́на Ростисла́вовна Митко́ва) (born September 13, 1957 in Moscow) is a Russian television journalist for NTV. She became famous in 1991 for refusing to read the official Soviet Union version of the military response to the uprising in Lithuania.[1] In 2001, BBC News described her as one of Russia's "best-known news presenters".[2]
In 1991, she received one of the first International Press Freedom Awards from the Committee to Protect Journalists.[3]
In January 2001, she was summoned by prosecutors to discuss an alleged $70,000 loan from NTV. The summons came in the midst of an attempted takeover of the station by Gazprom, and Mitkova described it as "psychological pressure and a direct threat to journalists."[4] At the end of the month, a Moscow court gave Gazprom control of NTV's owner Media-Most, which was by then described by BusinessWeek as "Russia's sole independent national television station"[5] and by the New York Times as "the last nationwide voice critical of President Vladimir V. Putin".[6] Despite a lockout of some journalists who refused to "pledge loyalty" to new management, Mitkova was persuaded to stay with the station by new owner Boris Jordan.[5]
References
- ↑ Associated Press (30 January 1994). "Russian TV Seeks U.S. Sponsors for News". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
- ↑ "New blow against Gusinsky media". BBC News. 16 April 2001. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
- ↑ "Journalists Receive 1996 Press Freedom Awards". Committee to Protect Journalists. 1996. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
- ↑ "NTV presenter to be visited by prosecutors". Russia Journal. 26 January 2001. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "The Easter Raider". BusinessWeek. 29 August 2001. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ↑ Michael Wines (27 January 2001). "Putin Allies Seem to Gain in Battle Over Critical Press Empire". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.