This is not the time for journalism
Last week, German weekly Die Zeit extensively covered the links between the Kremlin and separatist structures in Donetsk and their media manipulation in the separatist areas.
Building on the leak of around 10,000 emails, the authors show how the “Information Ministry” of the pro-Russian separatists receives instructions from Kremlin advisers to manage the media coverage of events.
How to control media outlets
In the analysed material, the authors found convincing proof of media manipulation, including a manual on how separatists should control media outlets in the area.
The manual contains the narratives to be conveyed in the media: the West is to be portrayed as Ukraine’s enemy and the government in Kyiv should come across as the only part not upholding the Minsk agreement. The document also underlines the importance of closely monitoring social media, and instructs that a commentary group with young activists should be created, a local troll army if you will. At the end of the document feature the contact details of well-known Kremlin ideologists, including Alexander Dugin.
For the information war, we need information soldiers
The article describes how the strategy was implemented with the help of those connected to the Kremlin.
Advisers gave detailed instructions for the staging of a celebration to welcome an aid convoy from Russia to Donetsk, including the number of children, teachers and doctors to be present. Likewise, there were instructions for the media on how to report on the celebration as well as guidelines on how to display the population’s unwavering support for Russian President Putin.
Furthermore, the article shows that there was careful monitoring of independent journalists in the area. Those who reported objectively were placed on a so-called stop list, with both Reuters and AP declared ”enemies of Russia”. A journalist who quit his job with the Information Ministry over the strict instructions was told by his employers when trying to report independently:
”This is not the time for journalism. Journalism is something for peace. For the war, which is also an information war, we need information soldiers.”