Between November 1 and 10, 2021, the Independent Journalism Center monitored and analyzed informative, political, analytical, and/or military content retransmitted from the Russian Federation by the stations Primul în Moldova/Channel One [Pervyy kanal], NTV Moldova/NTV, and RTR Moldova/Russia-RTR [Rossiya-RTR] – audiovisual media service providers with important audiences in Moldova, who massively retransmit content on the above-mentioned topics from Russia.
The purpose of the analysis was to identify, quantify, and describe trends in messages with elements of propaganda, as well as to estimate the effects that these messages can have on the public.
Assessment based on the content analysis of media products shows that messages from the monitored content, which popularize ideas and opinions addressed to the Russian people, citizens of the Russian Federation, and/or Russian speakers outside Russia, who more or less identify themselves as part of the Russian world, convey propaganda in favor of the Russian Federation. Regularly transmitted, reinforced, and repeated, these messages can certainly manipulate public opinion in Moldova and can influence public behavior and attitudes, including in elections or in the perception of the country’s leadership, in a direction favorable to the Russian Federation.
A number of techniques have been used to reinforce messages delivered to the public, including:
- Repetitive coverage of the same topics (at least 6 topics were addressed in more than half of the monitored content, with repeated and constantly reinforced messages in favor of Russia and directed against other countries/persons. The topics referred to the situation in the Donbas region; the process of arming in Russia; the USA uncontrollably supporting Ukraine in the conflict with Russia, militarily advancing in the Black Sea, and getting dangerously and illegally close to Russian borders; the USA as the equivalent of the land of hate, revenge, chaos, where the president makes desperate attempts to avoid a civil war; the Covid-19 situation in Russia versus Europe and the USA; the Glasgow Climate Change Summit).
- Labeling (positive in relation to Russian authorities, negative in relation to the USA, Ukraine, and the West).
- Image transfer (positive in the case of Russia, negative in the case of the USA, Europe, Ukraine, and the persons/events related to them).
- Calling on citizens to support the messages conveyed, especially in the case of social topics.
- Biased selection of arguments and facts, in support of the messages transmitted and against the pluralism of ideas and opinions.
- Use of the image of the enemy, massively embodied by the USA, the Ukrainian authorities, and/or Europe as a general entity.
- Use of prejudices and stereotypes to support one point of view and discredit opposing ones.
- Resorting to hate speech.
- Resorting to dramatization and intrigue to attract the audience to one position.
- Use of a positive model (person and/or country), presented as the only source of truth, possessing special qualities/characteristics (massively referred to as Vladimir Putin).
In conclusion, the propaganda elements in the content retransmitted from the Russian Federation pose major risks for manipulation of public opinion in Moldova and/or for influencing opinions and behaviors. Most of the analyzed messages are biased, insignificantly comply with the standards of fair journalism, and do not contribute to the formation of correct opinions in relation to the events/facts addressed. By consuming these products, Moldovan citizens can be significantly influenced to think, express opinions, or act in disfavor of the state of the Republic of Moldova. Therefore, these contents encroach on the information security of the Republic of Moldova and constitute a real risk for it.
Aneta Gonta, media researcher
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Note: The case study was conducted before the appointment of Aneta Gonta as a member of the Broadcasting Council.
Image source: Phoenix bird
