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Revision as of 00:46, 25 October 2011 editRussavia (talk | contribs)78,741 edits →Allegations of supporting conspiracy theories: rewording and removing sentence which has NOTHING to do with RT but everything to do with RFE/RL← Previous edit Revision as of 00:55, 25 October 2011 edit undoRussavia (talk | contribs)78,741 edits →Allegations of pro-Putin and Soviet bias: merged back to main articleNext edit →
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==Criticisms of news content== ==Criticisms of news content==
===Allegations of pro-Putin and Soviet bias===
According to a variety of sources such as ] and ], the channel presents pro-] ].<ref> ''Der Spiegel'' 20 November 2007</ref><ref> '']'' 21 October 2005</ref> Russia Today staff have nonetheless claimed that their coverage was fair and balanced.<ref> '']'' 12 December 2005</i></ref> A 2005 ] report interviewed Anton Nosik, chief editor of a major English-language computer internet site in Russia, in which he described the creation of Russia Today as an idea smacking of Soviet-style propaganda campaigns, and also noted that the channel was not created as a response to any existing demand.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Global TV Venture to Promote Russia|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2005-07-06-voa33-66930727.html?CFTOKEN=42597376&CFID=285357866|newspaper=VOANews|date=06-07-05}}</ref> while another article in the ] called RT a "pro-] news outlet"<ref name="Digital_journal">{{cite web|last=Camphausen|first=R.C.|title=Russia Today in propaganda war of words and images Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/286048#ixzz1JdjGscfI|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/286048|work=R.C.Camphausen|publisher=Digital Journal}}</ref> and its ] as "open propaganda war."<ref name="Digital_journal"/>

A 2009 article by journalist Luke Harding for ] reporting on RT's ] described the network as "unashamedly pro-]"<ref name="Guardian_Harding_RT">{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/18/russia-today-propaganda-ad-blitz|title=Russia Today launches first UK ad blitz|author=Luke Harding|date=18-12-09|publisher=The Guardian}}</ref> and part of the ]'s attempt to create a "post-Soviet global propaganda empire."<ref name="Guardian_Harding_RT"/> The article also interviewed RT's editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan where she said the network "takes a pro-Russian position"<ref name="Guardian_Harding_RT"/> and was unrepentant about RT's pro-Russian coverage of the ].<ref name="Guardian_Harding_RT"/> In 2011, an article by ] reported that Harding had been ] from Russia for unspecified reasons.<ref name="Guardian_expulsion">{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/feb/07/guardian-moscow-correspondent-expelled-from-russia|title=Guardian's Moscow correspondent expelled from Russia|date=07-02-11|author=Dan Sabbagh|publisher=The Guardian}}</ref> The expulsion was believed to be the first of a ] ] from ] since the end of the ].<ref name="Guardian_expulsion"/>

An article published in ] by ] characterized the news reportage of Russia Today as, "virulent anti-Americanism, worshipful portrayal of Russian leaders, and comical production values," that "can't help but revive the pettiness that was a distinctive feature of Soviet-era propaganda."<ref>{{cite news|last=Kirchick|first=James|title=Pravda on the Potomac|url=http://www.tnr.com/article/pravda-the-potomac|newspaper=The New Republic|date=02-18-09}}</ref>

An article in the ] ] watchdog organization ] criticized RT as a "propaganda network funded by the Moscow regime of Vladimir Putin"<ref name="AIM_RT">{{cite web|url=http://www.aim.org/aim-column/kgb-tv-to-air-show-hosted-by-anti-war-marine-vet/|title=KGB TV to Air Show Hosted by Anti-war Marine Vet|date=05-04-11|publisher=Accuracy in Media}}</ref> and charged that it "regularly features ] and ].<ref name="AIM_RT"/> The article also cites the description of the network by ] ] as “a part of the Russian industry of misinformation and manipulation” designed to mislead foreign audiences about Russian intentions."<ref name="AIM_RT"/> Furthermore, ] argues that Russia Today utilizes methods of propaganda that are "managed by Directorate 'A' of the ]...with the specialty of Directorate ‘A’ is deceiving world public opinion and manipulating it. It has got a lot of experience over decades of the Cold War."<ref name="AIM_RT"/>

An editor for the ] has noted criticism towards RT and its perceived anti-Western and ] propaganda.<ref>http://www.kyivpost.com/news/ukraine/detail/114840/</ref>

In response, according to RT's editor, the channel welcomes controversy as it "provides an alternative to mainstream media."<ref> ''The Moscow Times'' 17 March 2010</ref>

===Allegations of supporting conspiracy theories=== ===Allegations of supporting conspiracy theories===
Critics{{who}} have challenged the neutrality of RT's reporting and suggested that the channel has provided a platform to ].<ref> ''The Economist: Eastern Approaches'' 6 July 2010</ref> ] claims that Russia Today is a ] propaganda outlet featuring "fringe-dwelling experts" and "was just a way to stick it to the U.S. from behind the façade of legitimate newsgathering."<ref name="CJR">{{cite journal|last=Ioffe|first=Julia|journal=Columbia Journalism Review|year=2010|month=September/October|url=http://www.cjr.org/feature/what_is_russia_today.php}}</ref> Critics{{who}} have challenged the neutrality of RT's reporting and suggested that the channel has provided a platform to ].<ref> ''The Economist: Eastern Approaches'' 6 July 2010</ref> ] claims that Russia Today is a ] propaganda outlet featuring "fringe-dwelling experts" and "was just a way to stick it to the U.S. from behind the façade of legitimate newsgathering."<ref name="CJR">{{cite journal|last=Ioffe|first=Julia|journal=Columbia Journalism Review|year=2010|month=September/October|url=http://www.cjr.org/feature/what_is_russia_today.php}}</ref>

Revision as of 00:55, 25 October 2011

RT, previously known as Russia Today, is a global multilingual television news network based in Russia and funded by the Russian government.

Below are the controversies and criticisms of RT.

Criticisms of news content

Allegations of supporting conspiracy theories

Critics have challenged the neutrality of RT's reporting and suggested that the channel has provided a platform to conspiracy theorists. Julia Ioffe claims that Russia Today is a Kremlin propaganda outlet featuring "fringe-dwelling experts" and "was just a way to stick it to the U.S. from behind the façade of legitimate newsgathering."

Ben Smith criticized an interview between Alex Jones and Russia Today discussing Osama bin Laden death conspiracy theories and called Russia Today a "raw propaganda channel."

Criticisms of coverage of specific news incidents

During the 2008 South Ossetia War Russia Today correspondent William Dunbar resigned saying "he real news, the real facts of the matter, didn't conform to what they were trying to report, and therefore, they wouldn't let me report it." Human Rights Watch said that the claim of 2000 South Ossetian casualties, announced by Russia Today, was "exaggerated." The Moscow correspondent for the Independent said that Russia Today's coverage of the war was "obscene", claiming that the channel was "extraordinarily biased" and had "instructed reporters not to report from Georgian villages within South Ossetia that had been ethnically cleansed."

Staff controversies

An article in The Daily Telegraph reported that alleged spy suspect Katia Zatuliveter was now working for RT.

See also

References

  1. Airwaves wobbly The Economist: Eastern Approaches 6 July 2010
  2. Ioffe, Julia (2010). Columbia Journalism Review http://www.cjr.org/feature/what_is_russia_today.php. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  3. Smith, Ben (03-05-11). "Alex Jones on Russia Today". Politico. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. Russian TV reporter resigns after station cancels his Georgian broadcasts The Guardian, citing the Moscow Times 12 August 2008
  5. Death toll in South Ossetia reaches 2,000 Russia Today 10 August 2008
  6. Russia exaggerating South Ossetian death toll, says human rights group The Guardian 13 August 2008
  7. From Russia with news The Independent 15 January 2010.
  8. "Russian spy suspect to work for Russian TV". The Daily Telegraph. 19-03-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

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