What is a bribe? What is the highest bid? For many Russians, I would say money comes first. In American, my sense it is notoriety and fame. But at the end the day they are both the same.
On the highest bidder issue, only Chris Doss and few other readers on the list may understand. I ran into a journalist from one of Russia’s most influential business print papers a few days ago. He is 27 years old and can generate $25,000 a month for what he writes. Basically it is a bidding game at his paper. The highest bidder almost wins – sometimes the Kremlin steps in with bigger money to crush a story. Ten journalists summit bids (sorrry stories) on a daily basis to two editors. The editors then review the relative cost of running a story vs. the relative outcome its consequences – also calculating how much revenue can be generated from a paid story from an injured party written about to re-spin the original spin.
In the US media it is face time that generates income. This list discussed self-censorship at CNN over the past few days.
What’s the difference? The difference is what is considered of value. Cold cash still talks loud in Russia. In the US media returns come in many different forms.
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