Since the failed coup of August 1991, the media of the former Soviet Union have been attempting to adapt to the conditions of the market economy and emerging democracy, amid continuing political and social turmoil. This article examines the media's role in the final years of the Soviet state, and identifies the main challenges of the transition. These are discussed in terms of economic, political and cultural problems, and set against the background of Russia's recent constitutional struggles. The article also seeks to identify the conditions required for the stable development of the post-Communist media in the coming years.
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