Difference between revisions of "Russia Today"

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{{Group
 
{{Group
|URL=http://rt.com
+
|URL=https://rt.com
 
|start=10 December 2005
 
|start=10 December 2005
|description=A global TV channel backed by the Russian government
+
|description=A global TV channel backed by the Russian government. Allows Western dissidents on air and some deep politics to be discussed. Putting a positive spin on the government, but not too bad coverage of Russia either.
 
|slogan=Question more
 
|slogan=Question more
 +
|constitutes=state media,corporate media, independent media
 +
|ON_constitutes=Russian propaganda
 
|abbreviation=RT
 
|abbreviation=RT
 
|image=RT.png
 
|image=RT.png
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|wikipedia=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RT_(TV_network)
 
|wikipedia=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RT_(TV_network)
 
|twitter=https://twitter.com/RTUKnews
 
|twitter=https://twitter.com/RTUKnews
 +
|telegram=https://t.me/rtintl
 
|headquarters=Moscow, Russia
 
|headquarters=Moscow, Russia
|website=http://rt.com
+
|website=https://rt.com
|sourcewatch=http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Russia_Today
+
|sourcewatch=https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Russia_Today
 
}}
 
}}
'''RT''', originally '''Russia Today''', is a television network funded by the Government of [[Russia]]. It operates cable and satellite television channels directed to audiences outside of Russia as well as providing Internet content in various languages, including Russian.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/06/13/in-case-you-werent-clear-on-russia-todays-relationship-to-moscow-putin-clears-it-up/|title=In case you weren’t clear on Russia Today’s relationship to Moscow, Putin clears it up|last=Fisher|first=Max|date=June 13, 2013|work=Washington Post|accessdate=31 July 2016}}</ref>
+
'''RT''', originally '''Russia Today''', is a television network funded by the Government of [[Russia]]. It operates cable and satellite television channels directed to audiences outside of Russia as well as providing Internet content in various languages, including Russian.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/06/13/in-case-you-werent-clear-on-russia-todays-relationship-to-moscow-putin-clears-it-up/</ref>
  
[[RT|RT International]], based in [[Moscow]], presents around-the-clock news bulletins, documentaries, talk shows, debates, sports news, and cultural programmes about Russia. RT operates as a multilingual service with conventional channels in three languages: the original English language channel was launched in 2005, the Rusiya Al-Yaum Arabic language channel in 2007, and the Spanish language channel in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rt.com/usa/rt-government-broadcasting-radio/|title=Is RT state-run?|date=June 16, 2011|work=RT America|accessdate=31 July 2016}}</ref>  
+
[[RT|RT International]], based in [[Moscow]], presents around-the-clock news bulletins, documentaries, talk shows, debates, sports news, and cultural programmes about Russia. RT operates as a multilingual service with conventional channels in three languages: the original English language channel was launched in 2005, the Rusiya Al-Yaum Arabic language channel in 2007, and the Spanish language channel in 2009.<ref>https://www.rt.com/usa/rt-government-broadcasting-radio/</ref> RT America and RT UK offered some locally based content for those countries.<ref>https://www.rt.com/about-us/</ref>
  
RT America (since 2010) and RT UK (since 2014) offer some locally based content for those countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rt.com/about-us/|title=RT "About us" (formerly corporate profile) page at rt.com|accessdate=September 20, 2012}}</ref>
+
==Reporting==
 +
[[image:Liz Wahl.png|300px|left]]
 +
[[image:RT The Integrity Initiative scandal is getting worse — and British media keeps ignoring it.png|right|540px]]
 +
[[Liz Wahl]], a correspondent and anchor for the RT US from 2011 to 2014 resigned on air and denounced the station, alleging systematic anti-Western bias. She then joined the [[Institute for Statecraft]], in which capacity she wrote for [[Stopfake]] that “there was constant pressure from the top to deviate from accuracy to deliver an anti-American and anti-Western narrative.”
 +
 
 +
===Integrity Initiative Leak===
 +
{{FA|Integrity Initiative Leak}}
 +
RT showed considerable interest in the [[Integrity Initiative Leak]], and reported on the pronounced Western {{ccm}}'s ''dis''interest in the topic.<ref>https://www.rt.com/op-ed/450058-integrity-initiative-scandal-british-media/</ref>
  
==Reporting==
+
==Frozen funds==
[[image:RT The Integrity Initiative scandal is getting worse — and British media keeps ignoring it.png|left|500px]]
+
On 17 October 2016, Britain's [[National Westminster Bank]] (NatWest), which is part of RBS Group, informed RT UK that it was going to close all of RT's bank accounts, without explanation. Although the British government is the [[Royal Bank of Scotland Group]]’s majority shareholder, Prime Minister [[Theresa May]]’s office denied any involvement. But [[Russian Foreign Minister]] [[Sergei Lavrov]] insisted that the decision had not been taken by the bank independently:
RT show considerable interest in the [[Integrity Initiative Leak]], and reported on the pronounced Western corporate ''dis''interest in the topic.<ref>https://www.rt.com/op-ed/450058-integrity-initiative-scandal-british-media/</ref>
 
===Frozen funds===
 
On 17 October 2016, Britain's [[National Westminster Bank]] (NatWest), which is part of RBS Group, informed RT UK that it was going to close all of its bank accounts, without explanation. Although the British government is the Royal Bank of Scotland Group’s majority shareholder, Prime Minister [[Theresa May]]’s office denied any involvement. But Russian Foreign Minister [[Sergei Lavrov]] insisted that the decision had not been taken by the bank independently:
 
 
:“It’s as clear as day that this decision was not made by the bank. And not any other bank – banks don’t make such decisions on their own,” he said. “I believe an old saying is appropriate here: don’t treat others the way you don’t wish to be treated yourself.”<ref>''[https://www.rt.com/news/363176-lavrov-rt-accounts-britain/ "Bank didn’t decide to close RT accounts in Britain on its own – Lavrov"]''</ref>
 
:“It’s as clear as day that this decision was not made by the bank. And not any other bank – banks don’t make such decisions on their own,” he said. “I believe an old saying is appropriate here: don’t treat others the way you don’t wish to be treated yourself.”<ref>''[https://www.rt.com/news/363176-lavrov-rt-accounts-britain/ "Bank didn’t decide to close RT accounts in Britain on its own – Lavrov"]''</ref>
A petition to NatWest started by [[Oliver Tickell]], editor of ''[[The Ecologist]]'' magazine, which sought to have Russia Today's UK's bank accounts reinstated, soon exceeded one thousand signatures.<ref>''[http://www.thepetitionsite.com/en-gb/832/134/252/natwest-bank-reinstate-rt-uks-bank-accounts/ "NatWest Bank, reinstate Russia Today's UK's bank accounts!"]''</ref>
+
A petition to NatWest started by [[Oliver Tickell]], editor of ''[[The Ecologist]]'' magazine, which sought to have Russia Today's UK's bank accounts reinstated, soon exceeded one thousand signatures.<ref>''[https://www.thepetitionsite.com/en-gb/832/134/252/natwest-bank-reinstate-rt-uks-bank-accounts/ "NatWest Bank, reinstate Russia Today's UK's bank accounts!"]''</ref>
  
On 18 October 2016, the ''Daily Telegraph'' reported that NatWest was backtracking on freezing RT's bank account apparently because "Moscow responded to the threat by claiming it would freeze the [[BBC]]'s finances in Russia and report Britain to international watchdogs such as the [https://twitter.com/OSCE OSCE] for violating Russia's right to freedom of speech."<ref>''[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/18/natwest-backs-down-over-threat-to-freeze-russia-todays-bank-acco/ "NatWest backs down over threat to freeze Russia Today's bank account"]''</ref>
+
On 18 October 2016, the ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'' reported that NatWest was backtracking on freezing RT's bank account apparently because "Moscow responded to the threat by claiming it would freeze the [[BBC]]'s finances in [[Russia]] and report Britain to international watchdogs such as the [[OSCE]] for violating Russia's right to [[freedom of speech]]."<ref>''[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/18/natwest-backs-down-over-threat-to-freeze-russia-todays-bank-acco/ "NatWest backs down over threat to freeze Russia Today's bank account"]''</ref>
  
 
==Censorship ''by'' RT==
 
==Censorship ''by'' RT==
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===Tony Gosling===
 
===Tony Gosling===
UK independent [[journalist]] [[Tony Gosling]] used to be a regular guest on Russia Today, but was dropped after criticism of [[Russia]].
+
UK independent [[journalist]] [[Tony Gosling]] used to be a regular guest on Russia Today, but was dropped after criticism of [[Russia]].{{CN}}
 +
 
 +
==Covid==
 +
In December 2021, RT made the documentary "Enemies of the people", a hit piece against Russian [[Covid dissidents]], written by [[Anton Krasovsky]] and [[Margarita Simonyan]], RT's editor-in-chief.<ref>https://odysee.com/@rtrussia:a/%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B8-%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0.-%D1%84%D0%B8%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BC:f</ref> The documentary was only available on its Russian-language site. At the same time as depicting Russian dissidents as traitors, RT had a relatively soft spot for Western Covid-dissidents.<ref>https://edwardslavsquat.substack.com/p/enemies-of-the-people-rt-attacks</ref>
  
 
==Censorship ''of'' RT==
 
==Censorship ''of'' RT==
 +
[[File:RT Twitter.jpg|300px|thumb|left]]
 
In November 2017, the [[US Department of Justice]] demanded that RT register under [[FARA]] as a "foreign agent".<ref>https://sputniknews.com/us/201711091058955724-rt-america-fara/</ref><ref>https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2017/11/11/pers-n11.html</ref>
 
In November 2017, the [[US Department of Justice]] demanded that RT register under [[FARA]] as a "foreign agent".<ref>https://sputniknews.com/us/201711091058955724-rt-america-fara/</ref><ref>https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2017/11/11/pers-n11.html</ref>
 +
 +
After the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], RT was taken off air.
 +
 
{{SMWDocs}}
 
{{SMWDocs}}
 +
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
{{reflist}}
 
{{reflist}}

Latest revision as of 09:04, 17 September 2024

"Russian propaganda"
Group.png Russia Today  
(State media, Corporate media, Independent mediaSourcewatch Telegram Twitter WebsiteRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
RT.png
AbbreviationRT
Formation10 December 2005
HeadquartersMoscow, Russia
SloganQuestion more
Interest of"Philip Cross", Reframing Russia, Liz Wahl
OwnersRussia
A global TV channel backed by the Russian government. Allows Western dissidents on air and some deep politics to be discussed. Putting a positive spin on the government, but not too bad coverage of Russia either.

RT, originally Russia Today, is a television network funded by the Government of Russia. It operates cable and satellite television channels directed to audiences outside of Russia as well as providing Internet content in various languages, including Russian.[1]

RT International, based in Moscow, presents around-the-clock news bulletins, documentaries, talk shows, debates, sports news, and cultural programmes about Russia. RT operates as a multilingual service with conventional channels in three languages: the original English language channel was launched in 2005, the Rusiya Al-Yaum Arabic language channel in 2007, and the Spanish language channel in 2009.[2] RT America and RT UK offered some locally based content for those countries.[3]

Reporting

Liz Wahl.png
RT The Integrity Initiative scandal is getting worse — and British media keeps ignoring it.png

Liz Wahl, a correspondent and anchor for the RT US from 2011 to 2014 resigned on air and denounced the station, alleging systematic anti-Western bias. She then joined the Institute for Statecraft, in which capacity she wrote for Stopfake that “there was constant pressure from the top to deviate from accuracy to deliver an anti-American and anti-Western narrative.”

Integrity Initiative Leak

Full article: Integrity Initiative Leak

RT showed considerable interest in the Integrity Initiative Leak, and reported on the pronounced Western commercially-controlled media's disinterest in the topic.[4]

Frozen funds

On 17 October 2016, Britain's National Westminster Bank (NatWest), which is part of RBS Group, informed RT UK that it was going to close all of RT's bank accounts, without explanation. Although the British government is the Royal Bank of Scotland Group’s majority shareholder, Prime Minister Theresa May’s office denied any involvement. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted that the decision had not been taken by the bank independently:

“It’s as clear as day that this decision was not made by the bank. And not any other bank – banks don’t make such decisions on their own,” he said. “I believe an old saying is appropriate here: don’t treat others the way you don’t wish to be treated yourself.”[5]

A petition to NatWest started by Oliver Tickell, editor of The Ecologist magazine, which sought to have Russia Today's UK's bank accounts reinstated, soon exceeded one thousand signatures.[6]

On 18 October 2016, the Daily Telegraph reported that NatWest was backtracking on freezing RT's bank account apparently because "Moscow responded to the threat by claiming it would freeze the BBC's finances in Russia and report Britain to international watchdogs such as the OSCE for violating Russia's right to freedom of speech."[7]

Censorship by RT

It may be instructive to note that some material is removed from the Russia Today website.

9/11 Denial

A September 2011 report noted that Vladimir Putin had claimed that the suggestion that the US intelligence agencies were involved in the 9/11 attacks was "complete nonsense".[8] By March 1, 2015, this had been removed from their website.[9]

Truthseeker E30 & E21

The RT site produced a video series, "The Truthseeker", archives of which were available online.[10] Two episodes however, Episode 30, "Who Has Nukes in the Middle East?", and Episode 21 "Americas Next Colonies Part 2" though available on YouTube, were no longer available from RT.com as of 1 March 2015.[11]

Tony Gosling

UK independent journalist Tony Gosling used to be a regular guest on Russia Today, but was dropped after criticism of Russia. [Citation Needed]

Covid

In December 2021, RT made the documentary "Enemies of the people", a hit piece against Russian Covid dissidents, written by Anton Krasovsky and Margarita Simonyan, RT's editor-in-chief.[12] The documentary was only available on its Russian-language site. At the same time as depicting Russian dissidents as traitors, RT had a relatively soft spot for Western Covid-dissidents.[13]

Censorship of RT

RT Twitter.jpg

In November 2017, the US Department of Justice demanded that RT register under FARA as a "foreign agent".[14][15]

After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, RT was taken off air.


 

A Quote by Russia Today

PageQuoteDateSource
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine“I asked them – are you with us?” Zelensky said. “They answered that they are with us, but they don’t want to take us into the alliance. I’ve asked 27 leaders of Europe, if Ukraine will be in NATO, I’ve asked them directly — all are afraid and did not respond We were left by ourselves. Who is ready to go to war for us? Honestly, I don’t see anybody. Who is ready to give Ukraine guarantees of NATO membership? Honestly, everybody is afraid”24 February 2022Russia Today

 

Related Quotation

PageQuoteAuthorDate
Liz Wahl<nowiki>“while the few experienced journalists on the [[[RT]]] staff aimed to be fair and objective, there was constant pressure from the top to deviate from accuracy to deliver an anti-American and anti-Western narrative.”</nowiki>Liz Wahl8 March 2016

 

Employees on Wikispooks

EmployeeJobAppointedEndDescription
Maria FinoshinaJournalistNovember 2005
Peter LavelleShow Host2005
Ed SchultzHost of News with Ed Schultz14 January 20165 July 2018Died age 64

 

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References