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Disinfo: It is rather nice for a journalist to work in Russia, unlike in Europe

Summary

Even if everything is not perfect, the situation of press freedom in Russia is not as black as some people want to portray it. In general, it is rather nice for a journalist to work in Russia. Many information and public registers are accessible, which facilitates the work of investigative journalists.

Whilst Russia is often singled out in this area, take the recent example of Russian media being refused accreditation for a conference in Britain precisely on the topics of press freedom. These kinds of decisions only weaken international standards of freedom of information.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative on the Western media not being independent and biased while Russia protects freedom of speech and the press.

As for the non-admission of Russian disinformation outlets to the conference on freedom of speech in the UK, RT and Sputnik were the only Russian media banned from the conference for an "over active role in spreading disinformation''. Other Russian media were accredited and attended.

In July 2019, RT received a fine of 20,000 British pounds from the British regulator OFCOM "for serious failures to comply with our broadcasting rules".

According to Reporters without borders, Russia is in 149th place out of 180 countries. "What with draconian laws and website blocking, the pressure on independent media has grown steadily since the big anti-government protests in 2011 and 2012. Leading independent news outlets have either been brought under control or throttled out of existence. As TV channels continue to inundate viewers with propaganda, the climate has become very oppressive for those who question the new patriotic and neo-conservative discourse", explains the NGO.

See here for more disinformation cases on the violations of the rights of Russian journalists in Europe, and media freedom in general.

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publication/media

RT France - YouTube (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 173
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 06/11/2019
  • Language/target audience: French
  • Country: UK, Russia, France
  • Keywords: Russia Today (RT), Freedom of speech

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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