TV newsreader resigns live on air in Putin protest

A Russia Today news anchor resigned live on air last night, accusing the channel “whitewashing” the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Personally, I cannot be part of a network, funded by the Russian government, that whitewashes the actions of Putin,” said US-based journalist Liz Wahl.

“I am proud to be an American, and that is why, after this newscast, I’m resigning.”

She also made reference to her former colleague at the station, ‘Breaking The Set’ host Abby Martin, who also criticised Russian intervention in Crimea.

Labelling Russia’s actions as “military occupation of Crimea”, Martin said in a broadcast that she was “strongly … against any state intervention in a sovereign nations’ affairs”.

“What Russia did is wrong,” she said.

The network reportedly responded to the broadcast by pledging to send Ms Martin to Crimea “to make up her own mind from the epicentre of the story”.

She responded on Twitter by stating that she is not going to Crimea, despite the statement from Russia Today.

Hi @Josiensor, thanks for your article. But I am not going to Crimea despite the statement RT has made. Please update accordingly.

— Abby Martin (@AbbyMartin) March 4, 2014

The network responded to Ms Wahl’s resignation with a statement last night.

“Ms. Wahl's resignation comes on the heels of her colleague Abby Martin's recent comments in which she voiced her disagreement with certain policies of the Russian government and asserted her editorial independence,” the statement read.

“The difference is, Ms. Martin spoke in the context of her own talk show, to the viewers who have been tuning in for years to hear her opinions on current events – the opinions that most media did not care about until two days ago.

“For years, Ms. Martin has been speaking out against US military intervention, only to be ignored by the mainstream news outlets – but with that one comment, branded as an act of defiance, she became an overnight sensation. It is a tempting example to follow.

“When a journalist disagrees with the editorial position of his or her organization, the usual course of action is to address those grievances with the editor, and, if they cannot be resolved, to quit like a professional. But when someone makes a big public show of a personal decision, it is nothing more than a self-promotional stunt.

“We wish Liz the best of luck on her chosen path.”