This guest blog post was written by Kari Torborg.
[Photo of Max Shatto (Maksim Kuzmin) who died on January 21.]
The article which is the focus of this blog assignment is entitled “All eyes on Texas town at center of Russian adoption drama“. It was published on February 22, 2013 by Richard Solash with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The topic of this article is of adoption. Most notably, the story of a young child recently adopted from Russia who died in January and is now the subject of an international media frenzy.
The strengths of this article include that Mr. Solash provided necessary and unbiased background information regarding details available about the child’s death, communication with the police department and medical examiner’s office, and about the family who adopted the young child. Mr. Solash detailed both positive and negative character descriptions of the adoptive mother and did not paint a picture of her character that would lead the reader to be persuaded either that she was guilty or was not guilty of her son’s death. Mr. Solash also provided available information confirming that the adoptive mother completed necessary steps of the adoption process but also included the factual detail that child protection has since become involved.
The limitations in the article include the inherent negative connotations in regard to the information provided which related to the accusations from the Russian officials. Although the information coming from Russian officials appears to be potentially prejudiced and perhaps unfounded, Mr. Solash’s communication style could leave the general audience feeling as though the Russian officials were defiant, oppositional, or unreasonable. Also, Mr. Solash only briefly mentioned (in one sentence) the current ban on Russian adoptions by U.S. citizens with respect to this case. The general population would benefit from additional information regarding the federal law signed into law on January 1, 2013 banning adoptions from Russia to the United States.
A common myth about adoption that was mentioned in this article was described in the following statement by the county sheriff, “I understand they think these things get covered up, get thrown under the rug, and nobody investigates, but this is not investigating a Russian kid. This is investigating a Texas kid that has died” (Solash, 2013). This statement speaks to the myth of cover ups and the subsequent or anticipated mistreatment of adopted children. This statement dispels the myth that internationally adopted kids are seen perhaps as unworthy of due process due to their status as someone originating from another county. What the sheriff is trying to say is that this child who has lost his life, although he is from Russia, he was adopted in the United States and the jurisdiction is on Texas’ authority to investigate. This article also encourages the myth of adoptive children who have the potential to be exploited in the media. It also brings up the question and common misperception regarding whether or not biological parents are able to get their child back after an adoption. Although the article does not take a stance on this topic, it does present the information that the child’s biological mother is asking that her surviving son be returned to her care.
This article provided very useful information regarding the current state of this case, the United States and Russian response, and future implications depending on the outcome of the investigation.
To read the article, click here.
The strengths of this article include that Mr. Solash provided necessary and unbiased background information regarding details available about the child’s death, communication with the police department and medical examiner’s office, and about the family who adopted the young child. Mr. Solash detailed both positive and negative character descriptions of the adoptive mother and did not paint a picture of her character that would lead the reader to be persuaded either that she was guilty or was not guilty of her son’s death. Mr. Solash also provided available information confirming that the adoptive mother completed necessary steps of the adoption process but also included the factual detail that child protection has since become involved.
The limitations in the article include the inherent negative connotations in regard to the information provided which related to the accusations from the Russian officials. Although the information coming from Russian officials appears to be potentially prejudiced and perhaps unfounded, Mr. Solash’s communication style could leave the general audience feeling as though the Russian officials were defiant, oppositional, or unreasonable. Also, Mr. Solash only briefly mentioned (in one sentence) the current ban on Russian adoptions by U.S. citizens with respect to this case. The general population would benefit from additional information regarding the federal law signed into law on January 1, 2013 banning adoptions from Russia to the United States.
A common myth about adoption that was mentioned in this article was described in the following statement by the county sheriff, “I understand they think these things get covered up, get thrown under the rug, and nobody investigates, but this is not investigating a Russian kid. This is investigating a Texas kid that has died” (Solash, 2013). This statement speaks to the myth of cover ups and the subsequent or anticipated mistreatment of adopted children. This statement dispels the myth that internationally adopted kids are seen perhaps as unworthy of due process due to their status as someone originating from another county. What the sheriff is trying to say is that this child who has lost his life, although he is from Russia, he was adopted in the United States and the jurisdiction is on Texas’ authority to investigate. This article also encourages the myth of adoptive children who have the potential to be exploited in the media. It also brings up the question and common misperception regarding whether or not biological parents are able to get their child back after an adoption. Although the article does not take a stance on this topic, it does present the information that the child’s biological mother is asking that her surviving son be returned to her care.
This article provided very useful information regarding the current state of this case, the United States and Russian response, and future implications depending on the outcome of the investigation.
To read the article, click here.