MOSCOW. June 18 (Interfax) - Director General of the World Association of Newspapers Timothy Balding has voiced skepticism about the newspaper market in Russia.

The Russian newspaper market is so far underdeveloped compared to other growing economies, he told a Monday press conference in Moscow on the sidelines of the Russian Editors Forum.

Balding explained the meager market with the poor quality of Russian newspapers.

Newspapers are not a source of reliable information, and that is why they have few readers. The poor content of the newspapers is the reason, he said.

Asked whether the Russian media has changed since his participation in the World Newspaper Congress a year ago and severe criticism of the local press, Balding said in comments on his meetings with Russian colleagues that the situation is stable.