MILITARY PAPERS' CIRCULATION DECLINES

• Document Type: FOIA
• Keywords: UFO SPECIAL COLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005516712
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: January 31, 2011
• Case Number: F-2010-00651
• Publication Date: January 14, 1993

C00175453
Page: 1 of 13
CLAS UNCLASSIFIED
CLAS UNCLASSIFIED
AFSN PM1801120193
DRAT 930114
SLIN Moscow KRASNAYA ZVEZDA in Russian 14 Jan 93 pp 1, 3
SUBS [Roman Zadunayskiy report: "Market Dictates Tough Conditions for Military
Press. Expert Commission Has Formulated Proposals To Improve Mass Media
System in the Armed Forces"
SUBJ Military Papers' Circulation Declines
Full Text Superzone of Message
1 ]
2 [Text] The optimization of the military mass media system -- this was how
Lieutenant General Konstantin Bogdanov, expert commission chairman and
chief of the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense Main Directorate for
Work With Personnel, defined the main task of the work of the expert
commission on the military mass media system.
3 Despite the fact that the military press is subsidized by the Russian
Ministry of Defense, he said in an interview with an ITAR-TASS
correspondent, the print runs of military newspapers and magazines, like
those of most other publications, are decreasing. Thus the total print
run per issue of all military magazines in the first half of 1993 will be
412,000 copies, and of all military newspapers 400,000. Compared with the
first half of 1992, these indicators constitute 45 and 42 percent
respectively of the former print runs of military mass media.
4 The former military mass media system collapsed with the formation of
national armies, and a Russian Federation Ministry of Defense mass media
system was rapidly formed, Gen. Bogdanov went on to say. Right now the
following are published in the Russian Armed Forces: Two central
newspapers KRASNAYA ZVEZDA and SYN OTECHESTVA, the central journal ARMIYA,
14 journals issued by the Russian Federation Armed Forces General Staff,
the branches of the Armed Forces, and the main and central directorates,
17 newspapers issued by military districts and army and fleet groups, as
well as approximately 100 army, flotilla, and regional newspapers, and the
printed publications of large strategic formations, naval bases, ships,
military training institutions, district construction directorates, and
road construction brigades. The Russian Federation Ministry of Defense
television and radio broadcasting studio "Slavyanka" and a number of
regional military television and radio centers are also in operation.
5 According to Lt. Gen. Bogdanov, most district and grouping newspapers are
switching to weekly publication, except for publications in regions where
information is particularly necessary.
6 At the moment, unfortunately, we have no soldier's or sailor's journal,
Konstantin Bogdanov went on. Therefore the expert commission has proposed
to publish a journal entitled SOBESEDNIK VOINA [Serviceman's Interlocutor]
based on the magazine AGITATOR ARMII I FLOTA [Army and Navy Agitation
Worker]. This will be a soldier's and sailor's journal similar to an Army
version of ARGUMENTY I FAKTY. It will be aimed at those wishing to serve
on a contract basis. It is planned to publish a journal for military
sociologists, psychologists, lawyers, and teachers.
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However, the market is dictating tough conditions to military journalists,
just as it is to "civilian" journalists, for the survival of their
publications. Therefore the editorial offices of military newspapers and
magazines are looking for new topics and changing the way in which they
present their material. It is true that some military publications, in
trying to attract readers, are filling their pages with light fiction,
detective stories, and yarns about UFO's. By doing this they are moving
away from their principal tasks -- informing servicemen about the life of
the Armed Forces, Gen. Bogdanov said in conclusion. (endall) 14 Jan
18/1301z Jan BT #9898 NNNN