RT
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RT (formerly Russia Today) is a Russian 24/7 English-language news channel that launched in December 2005. The network aims to present the world with a Russian point of view to "to become Russia's version of the BBC."[1]
Contents |
Objectives
RT's self-described objective is to "show you how any story can be another story altogether".[2] Margarita Simonyan, RT's editor-in-chief, has specified that the station was born out of the desire to present an "unbiased portrait of Russia".[1] Ironically (though not unsurprisingly for anyone who knows about what "unbiased" usually means), most critics share the opinion that the channel's main objective is to present a very biased portrait of other countries.[3][4]
Criticism
Russian sociologist and political commentator Boris Kagarlitsky described RT as a "continuation of the old Soviet propaganda services".[3] The channel is also accused of having close ties with the Russian state authorities[5][6] and of helping the Kremlin to project an overly positive image of Russia by refraining from criticizing the government, particularly Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.[6]
Other criticism includes claims that RT is deliberately and incessantly engaging in US/NATO/EU-bashing through "interviews" in which only Russian ultra-nationalists or highly critical, anti-western "experts" are interviewed--without any probing questions or challenges by the RT reporters, and without even bothering to hear opposing points of view.[3] The following RT's "news" titles may provide some examples of this:
Russia Today also features conspiracy-nut Alex Jones as an expert on various subjects. Anyone objecting to this, is, of course, a NATO spy.
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Russia Today to be 24-hour, English TV station
- ↑ RT: About us
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Journalism mixes with spin on Russia Today: critics
- ↑ Russia: New International Channel Ready To Begin Broadcasting
- ↑ Russia Today Built on Kremlin Ties
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Russia Pumps Tens of Millions Into Burnishing Image Abroad