Choosing Propaganda: Understanding News Selection in Russia

• In Event: Public Opinion Under Autocracy

Abstract

State news sources remain the predominant sources of information on politics and current events in Russia. While television news is almost entirely state-controlled, a variety of both independent and state news sources can be found online. Although Russians are increasingly turning to the internet to access the news, the audiences for most independent news outlets remain small. Given the extent of censorship and distortion in state media, why are so many consumers still gravitating toward state sources, and how do they process the information they receive? In this paper, I draw on evidence from two original surveys, one in person and one online, as well as an online experiment, to examine audience preferences over news content and news sources. The results provide insight into how people navigate the Russian media landscape, in which identifying the most reliable sources and information can be a complex task. I find that audiences are generally skeptical of both state and independent news outlets, but many also believe themselves to be capable of recognizing what is true and untrue in the news. While the consumption of independent news sources stems from the perception that these sources are less biased, consumption of state news sources is due to a perception that state sources have greater access to information and are more accountable to the public. Audience interest and trust in state and independent news sources also varies across news topics. I discuss how this variation depends on the relevance of the subject to people’s day-to-day lives and the existing views of the audience.

Author

• Ashley Blum, UCLA