DISINFO: German media are Russophobic
SUMMARY
German media are Russophobic.
A frequent guest at top-level German-Russian events highlighted the difference between the rather Russophobic media in Germany and generally positive public opinion about Russia.
RESPONSE
No evidence given. This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russophobia.
German media, like that in other pluralist democracies, represent a wide range of political opinions and do not have a single editorial policy for any country or topic.
German public opinion vis-a-vis Russia is also more complicated than this claim suggests. An opinion poll by the German Bertelsmann Stiftung disproves a popular claim in pro-Kremlin narratives, namely that negative attitudes towards Russia – what pro-Kremlin media and officials label “Russophobia” – are the reason behind negative assessments of the Russian government’s policies. A growing number of Germans, now 64%, think that Russia’s government is not an internationally credible partner. At the same time, however, the German view of the Russian nation and the Russians themselves remains unaffected by the dissatisfaction with the Russian government.
Earlier, the spokesman of the Federal Government Steffen Seibert had spoken of a state campaign against Russian foreign media in Germany and commented on so called 'Russophobia' in Germany. "Anyone who makes such absurd allegations in the world has little knowledge of Germany and little idea of freedom of the press," said government spokesman Seibert.
More cases about alleged Western 'Russophobia' see here, here and here.