Javier Gallardo starts his morning with a classical music TV programme, a routine that uplifts him before a day of truck driving. However, one June Monday, he was met with warzone images on an unfamiliar channel instead of music. Puzzled, he watched for 20 minutes before turning it off, unable to connect with the content, which had a green “RT” logo—a Russian channel, he learned online. It’s claimed that Chile’s Telecanal, a private TV channel, transferred its signal to the Russian broadcaster RT, once known as Russia Today. Chile’s broadcasting regulator has initiated sanction proceedings against Telecanal for potential broadcasting law violations, awaiting the channel’s response; Telecanal declined to comment while viewers remained in confusion. Javier felt upset due to the surprise and lack of explanation.
In recent years, RT and Sputnik, a Russian news agency and radio, have broadened their global reach across Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, aligned with Western bans. Following Russia’s 2022 Ukraine invasion, the US, UK, Canada, the EU, and major tech firms restricted RT’s broadcasting due to misinformation about the war. US sanctions in 2024 targeted RT executives like Margarita Simonyan for allegedly undermining “public trust” amidst Kremlin-linked election interference claims. RT’s reach has nevertheless grown, opening an Algeria bureau, launching a Serbian TV service, and offering free journalism training in Africa, Southeast Asia, India, and China since 2023. There’s a new office planned in India and Sputnik launched an Ethiopian newsroom. This contrasts with Western media’s regional withdrawal due to budget cuts and foreign policy shifts. BBC shifted its Arabic service to digital content and launched emergency radio for Gaza and Sudan, while Sputnik filled the BBC Arabic radio void in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Voice of America, a US government-funded service, has reduced its staff.
Dr. Kathryn Stoner of Stanford University likens Russia’s media infiltration to water seeping through cracks, questioning Russia’s motives and the implications for global media dynamics. Prof. Stephen Hutchings from the University of Manchester notes non-Western regions as fertile ground for Russian propaganda due to residual anti-Western sentiments, with propaganda tailored to regional audiences. Dr. Rhys Crilley of the University of Glasgow states RT addresses global injustices, appealing to those critical of Western involvement.
Dr. Precious Chatterje-Doody from The Open University, co-author of a book on RT, describes a carefully manipulated news portrayal. Analysis of RT’s global news from 2017 to 2019 revealed deliberate curation fitting particular narratives. For example, European social unrest was emphasized while Russian domestic coverage often highlighted military activities. RT’s false claims include portraying the 2014 Crimea annexation as peaceful and dismissing Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Despite many UK viewers perceiving RT as biased, their understanding of its specific biases is shaky, according to Dr. Chatterje-Doody’s research.
In Africa, Russia’s media presence is growing, with Sputnik expanding in Ethiopia and RT targeting French-speaking African nations. Last year RT claimed seven African bureaux. Friendly perceptions of Russia, due to historical anti-colonialist sentiment and Soviet support during the Cold War, facilitate Russia’s media endeavours in Africa. Dr. Crilley suggests this effort aims to weaken Western influence, garner support for Russia’s actions, and establish economic ties.
RT’s course for African reporters, attended by the BBC’s Global Disinformation Unit, claimed high standards of fact-checking and dismissed certain accepted events as false, like the chemical attacks in Douma. RT presents itself as a normal broadcaster comparable to CNN or Al Jazeera, leaving some participants seemingly undisturbed by misinformation concerns raised during the course.
RT is also expanding in Latin America, available freely in 10 countries, and on cable in another 10, offering Spanish international news. Despite a YouTube ban since March 2022, RT content reappears on platforms in regions like Argentina, where local carpenters share their interpretations. Overall, it’s challenging to measure the effect of Russian state-backed media globally, though RT claims vast viewership and online engagement. Concerns linger about Russia’s influence, particularly in Africa, where it bolsters military roles and propaganda persists despite debunked justifications for Ukraine’s invasion, accepted in some Global South narratives. Dr. Crilley warns of RT exploiting democratic vulnerabilities, portraying Russia favorably in geopolitics.
Asked to comment on these issues, RT confirmed global expansion while declining further response. Sputnik also remained silent. Prof. Hutchings emphasizes Western concern over Russian state activities, linking media funding reductions to Russia’s expanding influence, cautioning against complacency in global media competition, despite ongoing battles over influence.