Thread: Russian Media: Do Russians trust them - why/why not?

Originally Posted by hddscan

I think more or less the same view is a problem of all British media on all topics. It seems that the same view could be due to lack of actual journalism or because that "opinion" is not really an opinion but a government-controlled narrative. I've been reading British press for several years now, mostly Russia-related topics and what I see is kinda disgusting: any(or most) of positive things about Russia are not delivered to the media readers like they don't even exist and any negative things are always delivered and often exaggerated.
If I would read English-version of RT I would find positive and negative things about Russia but if you'd mention RT anywhere on British media you gonna get labeled as a Putinbot right away(BTW comments moderators on British media are very biased too).

Yes - On the topic of Russia, all British paper have the same view. Where they differ is mainly on the EU, immigration and family values.

—The conservative papers don't like Russia because the USA says so, and because "Russia is a threat to national security" etc.
—The more liberal papers don't like Russia because "Putin is anti-gay", "there are human rights abuses in Russia" etc.

(and there is a certain overlap...)
They will never, ever publish any "normal" news about Russia, unless possibly if there has been an accident. But even then, they'll try to sneak in some negative accusation if they can.

It must be very frustrating to read untrue information about your own country like that. As for commenting in British paper - yes, they would think you were a "paid Putin troll" if you defended Russia.
So you can't win. If you defend it, you are a Putin troll, and it's part of a Russian propaganda offensive.
If you don't defend it, they will get away with the lies.

But RT is getting more viewers across Europe all the time. I've noticed Sputnik News is referenced a lot by alternative media in Sweden.
If people notice that what they are saying is more in tune with reality on certain issues - it doesn't matter where the info comes from.

I wanted to post a video of that funny RT clip which they run quite often that says "Turn off your TV, this is Russian propaganda", and with quotes from John Kerry and Hillary Clinton. But I can't find it.

Originally Posted by Hanna

Yes - On the topic of Russia, all British paper have the same view. Where they differ is mainly on the EU, immigration and family values.
...
They will never, ever publish any "normal" news about Russia, unless possibly if there has been an accident. But even then, they'll try to sneak in some negative accusation if they can.

And the big question is: if you know that British media have no problem publishing biased information and withholding facts about Russia, how could you trust them about any other topic? How could you know they deliver real facts and all the facts?
Going back to what you said: "I think that British media is a little bit better than Russian media.", don't you think this statement is a personal belief which was formed by the media overtime, constantly saying that Russian media is "propaganda" and British media is not, while in reality it is clear that British media does not hesitate to bend the facts to support a certain narrative?

What I found - there is no way one can find a truthful source of information anywhere in the world, sometimes because such sources withhold some information, sometimes because they lie and sometimes because they publish some information that they believe to be truthful but in reality it was fabricated and planted by somebody else. Some sources try to be objective more than other but not all the time.

Originally Posted by hddscan

And the big question is: if you know that British media have no problem publishing biased information and withholding facts about Russia, how could you trust them about any other topic? How could you know they deliver real facts and all the facts?

That's exactly the problem! When it comes to areas of the world that I know very little about - I am completely at their mercy. If they talk about something that happens in Bangladesh, Somalia, Bolivia or Yemen - I simply can't say what the truthfulness is. I can't call a friend, I haven't been there and I don't have time to do research....

And that's the same problem most Europeans (and Americans) would have with news from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus.

Originally Posted by hddscan

Going back to what you said: "I think that British media is a little bit better than Russian media.", don't you think this statement is a personal belief

The only reason I said that is for 1 simple reason:
Snowden's material could be published in the Guardian without any major consequences for the publisher. If there was a Russian Snowden, could Izvestiya or Novaya Gazeta publish the material?
My impression is that they couldn't. But I am not sure, just guessing!

Between RT and BBC for world news - my preference is actually for RT, at the moment. I think their credibility is higher in most areas, although I am aware that there is an agenda to some of their choices of what to report and what not to.

Originally Posted by hddscan

What I found - there is no way one can find a truthful source of information anywhere in the world, sometimes because such sources withhold some information, sometimes because they lie and sometimes because they publish some information that they believe to be truthful but in reality it was fabricated and planted by somebody else. Some sources try to be objective more than other but not all the time.

I agree. And it's got even worse now, with social media where anyone can start a rumour.

My approach to the news has always been to try to consider both sides of the story. I think journalists should too.
Right now, to get the other side of the story about Syria, Ukraine, the USA's wars, immigration and economics, it's necessary to turn to non-Western media.

And even if there is no such thing as the absolute truth or completely objective media, it's still the case that some reports are closer to the truth than others.

China's propaganda film "5 year plan is cool"


Imagine if Russia had made the same video to say "Putin's strategy is cool". Although China is much worse than Russia on everything the West claims to care about, there is still no info war against China!

In my opinion: The country that will take down the USA will not be Russia, but China. Using America's love for money and consumption against itself. That's who the Americans should worry about - not Russia.