Council of Ministers Official Urges Improved Economics Reporting

This document is a JPRS report from May 1990, featuring an article by Lev Tsvetkov, a specialist in the USSR Council of Ministers Information Department. The text serves as a critique and analysis of how the Soviet press covered the country's difficult transition toward a market economy. Tsvetkov argues that the press often struggled to explain complex economic phenomena to the public, leading to confusion and anxiety. He cites specific instances, such as the AUCCTU's protest against government plans for commercial trade and auctions, which threatened to make consumer goods inaccessible to ordinary laborers. The report details how various newspapers, including IZVESTIYA, TRUD, and SOVETSKAYA ROSSIYA, reported on these economic shifts, often highlighting the disconnect between government policy and the realities faced by workers. Tsvetkov notes that while the goal of economic reform was to normalize the national economy, the implementation was fraught with difficulties, including rising costs for fuel and transport, which triggered labor unrest. The document also touches upon the political climate, mentioning the Congress of People's Deputies and the debates surrounding the government's economic recovery program. Tsvetkov emphasizes that the press has a responsibility to provide clear, well-argued analysis rather than just reporting on surface-level events or engaging in speculation. He concludes by urging a more constructive approach to economic reporting, suggesting that the media must help the public understand the necessity of practical steps toward a market economy, rather than simply fueling dissatisfaction or focusing on 'cannibalistic' economic metaphors. The document provides a snapshot of the internal Soviet discourse regarding economic reform, the role of the media in a changing political landscape, and the challenges of managing public opinion during a period of significant systemic transition.