Echo of Moscow

Echo of Moscow

Echo of Moscow was a radio station in Russia that broadcast news and talk shows. It reached many cities in Russia, some parts of the former Soviet republics, and listeners online around the world. Alexei Venediktov, the main editor, led the station from 1996 until it stopped.

On 1 March 2022, Russian authorities called Roskomnadzor turned off the station. They said the station shared stories that were not true about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Two days later, the station's leaders decided to close it for good. But Alexei Venediktov and many of the team's members started a new video channel on YouTube named Zhivoi Gvozd. They kept the same style as the old station. By October 2022, Echo of Moscow started broadcasting again, but this time online from Berlin, Germany, using its own app.

History

Echo of Moscow became well-known during the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt. It was one of the few news outlets that spoke out against the State Committee on the State of Emergency. The station followed a simple rule: "All important points of view about events should be presented." Many popular talk show hosts worked there, sharing different ideas on social and political issues.

In 2018, the station was mostly owned by Gazprom-Media. In March 2022, the station was taken off the air after the Prosecutor-General of Russia asked for restrictions due to its coverage of the invasion of Ukraine. The station's frequencies were later used by state-run Radio Sputnik. Some former staff started new online channels to continue their work.

Editorial independence

In 2008, the main editor of Echo of Moscow, Alexei Venediktov, was asked if the station's owner, Gazprom, affected its news choices. He said the editor could make the final decisions. Some companies tried to influence stories, but they did not change the station's overall policy. The station also agreed to share Gazprom's official messages when asked and would seek the company's comments before reporting negative news about it.

Frequencies

Echo of Moscow could be heard in many cities in Russia and also in Chicago in the United States. The station used different radio frequencies in each place so people could easily listen.