Russia Today channel anchor, Abby Martin, says what Russia did is wrong, 3rd March 2014
At the very end of Monday, March 3rd's episode of Russia Today's Breaking the Set programme, anchor Abby Martin delivered a monologue, explaining her own personal position over Russia and the United States playing with the sovereignty of the Ukrainian people, and spoke against any military aggression.
In the wake of Martin's remarks, RT (formerly Russia Today) released a statement saying that all RT journalists are “free to express their own opinions, not just in private but on the air", and that “there will be absolutely no reprimands made against Ms. Martin." However, RT also announced that Martin would be sent to Crimea, the site of the Russian invasion: “In her comment Ms. Martin also noted that she does not possess a deep knowledge of the reality of the situation in Crimea," an RT spokesperson said. “As such we'll be sending her to Crimea to give her an opportunity to make up her own mind from the epicentre of the story." - wrote Josie Ensor on telegraph.co.uk, on Tuesday, March 4th. Martin’s reaction on Twitter was: “ ...thanks for your article. But I am not going to Crimea despite the statement RT has made.”
As the first invitee of CNN's Piers Morgan Live Blog on Wednesday night, Abby Martin said that at least her program offers editorial freedom, and that she's experienced support from her network since the incident, suggesting that other media outlets aren't allowed the same leeway. "“You guys are beholden to advertisers that you cannot criticize. That's why I work for a station that I can criticize," she said. (Piers Morgan denied not being allowed to say anything he wanted.)
RT anchor, Liz Wahl realized that the Cold War is not over, 5th March 2014
Another anchor at RT, Liz Wahl, is clearly not of the same opinion as Abby Martin regarding the RT channel, as she told viewers on air, on Wednesday, that she was resigning because of its coverage of President Vladimir Putin's actions in the Ukrainian region. She described herself as a "Filipina-Hungarian-American", the daughter of a military veteran, and wife of a military base physician. Her grandparents arrived in America as refugees "escaping Soviets during the Hungarian revolution" in 1956. She posted on Twitter that they are "Amazed to hear about new Cold War fears".
“I cannot be part of a network funded by the Russian government that whitewashes the actions of Putin. I'm proud to be an American and believe in disseminating the truth, and that is why, after this newscast, I'm resigning." :Liz Wahl said.
Her resignation was described by RT as an unprofessional act and “nothing more than a self-promoting stunt”, she was informed by Piers Morgan on his same blog programme. She responded by repeating her statements: “I believe in the truth, trying to seek the truth and disseminating the truth. What's become very clear, especially in the face of this crisis in Crimea, is that the objective of RT has been to promote Putinist propaganda, to promote the conflict as Putin wants us to see it. And to bash the U.S., and to make us look like we're the bad guys."
To Piers Morgan's question on why she had joined an organization that is “pretty favorable towards Putin”, with such a family background and such strong personal feelings, she replied: “I did not know exactly the extent of the propaganda and... thought that the Cold War was over."
edited by Csilla Katona
To Piers Morgan's question on why she had joined an organization that is “pretty favorable towards Putin”, with such a family background and such strong personal feelings, she replied: “I did not know exactly the extent of the propaganda and... thought that the Cold War was over."