| Source | The Times, 14th April 1961 |
| Event referred to | 12th April 1961: Yuri Gagarin – First Man in Space |
| Technological characteristics | Text file, scanned into computer |
| Description of the source | Newspaper article from library microfiche archive. |
| Contextualisation of the source | The Times newspaper is regarded as being a conservative paper, expressing conservative views. This article was written two days after the event. Other reports which appeared in the days after the event tended to be factual in nature, with no real opinion being expressed but the tone and inclusion of certain details could be regarded as making a political point against Russia. |
| Interpretation of the source | This article makes reference to the jamming of BBC radio’s Russian broadcasts by the Russian authorities and how the decision to allow broadcasts has normally coincided with important events. This article could be regarded as criticising Soviet censorship without making a formal statement against the USSR. Through it’s content it suggests that Russia deliberately restricts the news which Russians receive, in particular anything which might show Russia in a bad light.
This article not only presents a thinly veiled criticism of the actions of the USSR but also heightens the awareness of the British public as to Russian censorship. |
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