First off, we have an article over at the BBC web site (I should probably learn to broaden my horizons, or at least add a few new RSS feeds 🙂 ).
Anyway, a survey recently carried out revealed that 40% of some 11,000 people from 14 different countries believed that a press free from the shackles of governmental or military censorship was not as important for society, compared to social harmony and peace. Just as interesting, for me at least, was that news that Russians (as well as Egyptians and Germans) believed that state run media was more likely to give an unbiased account of events, compared to private owned media companies.
For a quick summary, see the BBC’s graph below…
Although it is sometimes difficult to discuss political matters in this country, especially as I am a relatively inexperienced foreigner in a different culture to that I grew up in, I have to admit I do not have a great deal of respect for the vast majority of local TV stations and newspapers, when it comes to reporting Kazakh-based news that has a political slant. Would I feel any differently if I had lived through the years of even heavier repression? Quite possibly, but in knowing what can be achieved by a free press, it can be frustrating to watch the personality-based ego feeding that often occurs on the news reports around here.
The world does not revolve around one man, no matter how great his achievements… if a balance is not achieved between respect and kowtowing, then disillusionment will eventually form.