Media Comparison

Media 3: Russia Today 

Russia Today is a state-controlled Russian broadcasting network, with content directed at those outside of Russia. The Russian government considers it to be strategically important, and it is generally seen as Russian propaganda. When reporting on the Ukraine-Russia war, articles tend to fall into one of two categories. Either they claim that Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the rest of the Ukrainian government are fascists, which is often cited as the reason for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, or they report on how Russia is winning the war and Ukraine is suffering devastating losses and has no chance of winning. The purpose of Russia Today seems to be to garner support for Russia from the people of western nations, which would make it more difficult for the leaders of those nations to oppose Russia.

Various Articles Within Russia Today: 

https://www.rt.com/russia/627016-encircled-ukrainian-troops-update/

This article makes the claim that Russia has surrounded and trapped roughly 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers in two sections of the front line of the war, and that the Ukrainian soldiers are failing to break through. The article acknowledges that Zelensky denies this claim, but states that this is just an attempt to make Ukraine’s army seem stronger and more likely to win than they actually are. This is a strategy that both sides are using in this war, and numerous examples of this can be seen on the Russia Today website.

https://www.rt.com/news/627032-putin-best-world-leader-carlson/

This article describes an interview that Russia Today did with Tucker Carlson, a popular American conservative political commentator. In this interview, Carlson describes Putin as the “most popular leader in the world,” and claims that almost everyone in non–English speaking countries has a positive opinion of him. According to Carlson, Putin focuses on the prosperity of his country, which has been successful, and he is used as a scapegoat and distraction by the leaders of countries who are less successful and facing issues.

https://www.rt.com/russia/626169-zelensky-intent-imposing-authoritarianism/

https://www.voicemedia.global/article/ukraine-cancels-local-elections

This article pushes the idea that the Ukrainian government (and especially Zelensky) wish to impose an authoritarian dictatorship in Ukraine, and that this is the reason for Russia’s invasion. They cite the postponement of local elections as evidence of this. Not described in the article is the government’s reasoning for this decision, which is that elections can not be held to a democratic standard and be safe for voters in a time of war.

Explanation of Media Comparison

       Although the types of media included in this analysis are very different from each other, there is still a multitude of similar tactics utilized to make the viewer think and act in a certain way.  One of the more obvious tactics is the framing.  Russia Today and the propaganda poster both frame Russia in a positive light while the video game footage frames Ukraine in a more positive light.  How do they do so?  Well, using other tactics themselves.  

       One such tactic is using language.  For Russia Today, a news website that is based mostly on written journalism, the language used is crucial to the point of view that they are trying to propagate.  They intentionally skew information, present it in a misleading way, or write stories based on an influenced viewpoint so that what they write can serve their goal of being a more conservative media source and painting Russia to not be the bad guy, just misunderstood.  Similarly, the propaganda poster also uses language for this purpose.  The translated phrase, meaning “The land loves its master” is used by the USSR government to not only paint themselves as worthy of love like a family member that helps those in need, but also as a “master” who Ukrainians should serve.  In contrast, the video game footage uses language to present Ukraine in a better light.  The title uses inflammatory language like “...Jet shot down Russian Fu-57” to present a powerful Ukraine.  These words make it seem like Ukraine isn’t just keeping the Russian forces at bay but instead are making strategic tactical advances that could only come from a strong and focused army.  Although the footage isn’t real, and the articles and the propaganda poster don’t really show true information as well, they all utilize language to sway the viewer.  

       Along with language, the visuals and tone help the framing as well.  As mentioned before, the Russia Today articles often have either a sympathetic tone towards Russia or a more aggressive tone toward any more liberal leaning party.  This, along with images accompanying the articles that also convey these messages, portray the narrative of a greater Russia.  The propaganda poster is a prime example of how visuals can establish tone and framing.  The smiling man shows that serving the USSR is not bad but rather fulfilling, the blue and yellow colors mixed with red that remind the viewer of Ukraine and convey a more happy and strong Ukraine when united with the USSR.  These are all things, accompanied with the words, frame the USSR as a loving figure that just wants the people of Ukraine to join them so they too can have a lovely life.  Unlike the friendly tone given by the poster, the video game footage uses the visuals of the jet shooting the tank to establish a more dominant and commanding tone.  It shows how Ukraine will not back down but instead will rise to the occasion and perform valiant strikes against the impending Russian army to win the land that is rightfully theirs.  It promotes Ukraine as stronger than, and frames them as such.  

       Though these tactics of framing with language, visuals, and tone are used in considerably different ways for different sides, they all can be effective in influencing the general public using misinformation.