Russia’s media Olympics

While the majority of Russia’s news media have not even waited for the torch to get lit to declare the Sochi Winter Olympic Games a triumph, other journalists in Sochi have different news pegs in mind.

Among these is the contentious gay propaganda law, the environmental impact of the Sochi development projects and, of course, the enormous cost to the taxpayer.

But step-by-step, through the Vladimir Putin years, the Russian media – particularly on the broadcast side – have been brought to heel. The president and his inner circle can, directly or indirectly, manage the state’s message through the media.

Journalism can be a dangerous game in Russia. Pushing the boundaries can get foreign reporters expelled and it can get Russian reporters killed.

These are the Olympics the Kremlin wanted. But how will it like the news coverage that always comes with hosting the games?