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| picture_format = [[1080i]] ([[High-definition television|HDTV]])<br />(downscaled to [[16:9]] [[480i]]/[[576i]] for the [[SDTV]] feed)
| country = Russia
| language = News channel:<br /> English, French, German, Arabic & Spanish <br />
Documentary [[Television channel|channel]]:<br />English
| area = Worldwide
| headquarters = Borovaya Street, Building 3/1, [[Moscow, Russia]]
| former_names = Russia Today (2005–2009)
| sister_channels = {{plainlist|
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* [[Ruptly]]<ref name="Ruptly" /> (including Redfish and [[Maffick]])<ref name="Times Redfish" /><ref name="CNN Maffick"/>
}}
| founded = 6 April 2005; 19 years ago
| webcast = https://www.rt.com/on-air/
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
[[File:Russia-Today-Logo.svg|thumb|150px|RT's first logo from 2005 to 2009]]▼
'''RT''' (formerly '''Russia Today''' or '''Rossiya Segodnya'''; {{lang-ru|Россия Сегодня}})<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pisnia |first=Natalka |date=2017-11-15 |title=Why has RT registered as a foreign agent with the US? |language=en |work=[[BBC News]] |location=Washington |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41991683 |access-date=2022-03-02 |archive-date=2 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302002010/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41991683 |url-status=live }}</ref> is a Russian [[State media|state-controlled]]<!-- This part of the lead has been discussed many times. Reliable sources use "state-controlled". Please do not change it without prior discussion -->{{refn|name=state media|<ref name="Journalism Studies">{{cite journal |last1=Haigh |first1=Maria |last2=Haigh |first2=Thomas |last3=Kozak |first3=Nadine I. |title=Stopping Fake News |journal=[[Journalism Studies]] |date=26 October 2018 |volume=19 |issue=14 |pages=2062–2087 |doi=10.1080/1461670X.2017.1316681 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316465929 |access-date=1 March 2022 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |s2cid=152142122 |issn=1461-670X |via=[[Taylor & Francis]]}}</ref>{{rp|p=2070|q=The state-owned Russia Today channel, carried widely in Western countries (Cohen 2014) as a result of subsidies provided by Moscow to cable and satellite operators (Zavadski 2015), mimics the form but not the journalistic practices of conventional news channels such as CNN.}}<ref name="International Affairs 2021">{{cite journal |last1=Golovchenko |first1=Yevgeniy |last2=Hartmann |first2=Mareike |last3=Adler-Nissen |first3=Rebecca |author-link3=Rebecca Adler-Nissen |title=State, media and civil society in the information warfare over Ukraine: citizen curators of digital disinformation |journal=[[International Affairs (journal)|International Affairs]] |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |date=1 September 2018 |volume=94 |issue=5 |pages=975–994 |doi=10.1093/ia/iiy148 |doi-access=free |url=https://curis.ku.dk/ws/files/202808484/iiy148.pdf |access-date=20 March 2021 |issn=0020-5850 |quote=Particularly in the wake of the crisis in Ukraine that erupted in 2013–2014, the Kremlin has been accused of orchestrating disinformation campaigns against the Ukrainian government and western countries by using online trolls and state-controlled online outlets such as RT (formerly known as Russia Today), Sputnik and Life News. |archive-date=16 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240616063625/https://curis.ku.dk/ws/files/202808484/iiy148.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="European Security 2017">{{cite journal |last1=Hellman |first1=Maria |last2=Wagnsson |first2=Charlotte |title=How can European states respond to Russian information warfare? An analytical framework |journal=[[European Security]] |date=3 April 2017 |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=153–170 |doi=10.1080/09662839.2017.1294162 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423124457/https://dl1.cuni.cz/pluginfile.php/773054/mod_resource/content/0/hellman2017.pdf |archive-date=23 Apr 2021 |url=https://dl1.cuni.cz/pluginfile.php/773054/mod_resource/content/0/hellman2017.pdf |access-date=23 Sep 2022 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |s2cid=157635419 |via=[[Charles University]]}}</ref>{{rp|4|q=Use of state-controlled media such as RT (previously known as Russia Today) to spread the Russian narrative or contest the opponent's narrative is an important part of Russian information warfare.}}<ref name="Digital War 2021">{{cite journal |last1=Al-Rawi |first1=Ahmed |title=How did Russian and Iranian trolls' disinformation toward Canadian issues diverge and converge? |journal=Digital War |date=12 February 2021 |volume=2 |issue=1–3 |pages=21–34 |doi=10.1057/s42984-020-00029-4 |doi-access= |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |s2cid=258704949 |language=en |issn=2662-1983}}</ref>{{rp|2|q=One of the major tools highlighted by the author is Russia Today, the state-controlled international television network that is often cited by Russian trolls in their dissemination of Pro-Kremlin messages.}}<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Denton |first1=Allison |title=Fake News: The Legality of the Russian 2016 Facebook Influence Campaign |journal=[[Boston University International Law Journal]] |date=16 April 2019 |volume=37 |pages=209 |url=https://www.bu.edu/ilj/files/2020/04/Denton.pdf |publisher=[[Boston University School of Law]] |quote=Additionally, the U.S. is not the only country that has been targeted by Russian influence campaigns. Russia has been accused of conducting another influence campaign prior to the 2017 French election between Marine Le Pen (Russia's pick) and Emmanuel Macron. Before the election, Kremlin-controlled news sources Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik reported that Macron was secretly gay, and that he was backed by a “very rich gay lobby.” |access-date=26 February 2022 |archive-date=26 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226015903/https://www.bu.edu/ilj/files/2020/04/Denton.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="HKS 2020" />{{rp|at=Implications|q=However, when it comes to disinformation from state-controlled media sources platforms’ options are more limited. Most often channels like Russia's RT and Iran's PressTV do not technically violate a platform's terms of service and so cannot be removed. [...] State-media outlets often have no overt connection to their host state on their social media channels or their website. For instance, “In The Now” appears like any other short video news service and racks up millions of views but is a subsidiary of RT (O’Sullivan et al., 2019).}}}} international news television network funded by the [[Russian government]].<ref name="MaxFisher">{{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=13 June 2013|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=31 July 2016|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612145257/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/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Nimmo">{{cite news |last=Nimmo |first=Ben |date=8 January 2018 |title=Question That: RT's Military Mission |work=Atlantic Council-Digital Forensic Research Lab |publisher=[[medium.com]] |url=https://medium.com/dfrlab/question-that-rts-military-mission-4c4bd9f72c88 |access-date=13 March 2018 |archive-date=20 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920222956/https://medium.com/dfrlab/question-that-rts-military-mission-4c4bd9f72c88 |url-status=live }}</ref> It operates [[pay television]] and [[free-to-air]] [[television channel|channel]]s directed to audiences outside of Russia, as well as providing Internet content in Russian, English, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Portuguese and Serbian.
RT is a brand of TV-Novosti - self-named an "autonomous non-profit organization" (ANO) - founded by the Russian state-owned news agency [[RIA Novosti]] in April 2005.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Журнал Стандарт / №09(80) сентябрь 2009Вести с эфирного фронта {{!}} ComNews |url=https://www.comnews.ru/standart/article/52517 |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=www.comnews.ru |archive-date=16 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016123219/https://www.comnews.ru/standart/article/52517 |url-status=live }}</ref> During the economic crisis in December 2008, the Russian government, headed by Prime Minister [[Vladimir Putin]], included ANO "TV-Novosti" on its [[List of strategic organizations of Russia|list of core organizations of strategic importance to Russia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.premier.gov.ru/eng/events/messages/2883/|title=Archive of the official site of the 2008–2012 Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin|publisher=[[Government of the Russian Federation|Government of Russia]]|access-date=24 October 2014|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222034/http://archive.premier.gov.ru/eng/events/messages/2883/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|format=DOC|url=http://www.government.ru/content/governmentactivity/mainnews/33281de212bf49fdbf39d611cadbae95.doc|script-title=ru:Перечень системообразующих организаций, утвержденный Правительственной комиссией по повышению устойчивости развития российской экономики|language=ru|trans-title=List of systemically important institutions approved by the Government Commission on Sustainable Development of the Russian Economy|publisher=government.ru|access-date=18 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227071316/http://www.government.ru/content/governmentactivity/mainnews/33281de212bf49fdbf39d611cadbae95.doc|archive-date=27 December 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://top.rbc.ru/economics/25/12/2008/271243.shtml|script-title=ru:Правительство РФ приняло перечень системообразующих организаций|language=ru|trans-title=The Russian government has adopted a list of backbone organizations|work=[[RBK Group]]|access-date=24 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220071141/http://top.rbc.ru/economics/25/12/2008/271243.shtml|archive-date=20 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> RT operates as a multilingual service with channels in five languages: the original English-language channel was launched in 2005, the [[Rusiya Al-Yaum|Arabic-language channel]] in 2007, [[RT Spanish|Spanish]] in 2009, [[RT DE|German]] in 2014 and [[RT en français|French]] in 2017. [[RT America]] (2010–2022),<ref name="vonTwickel" /><ref name=" RT has regularly been described as a major [[Propaganda in the Russian Federation|propaganda]] outlet for the Russian government and [[Foreign relations of Russia|its foreign policy]].{{refn|name=propaganda|<ref>{{cite book |last1=Langdon |first1=Kate C. |last2=Tismaneanu |first2=Vladimir |title=Putin's Totalitarian Democracy: Ideology, Myth, and Violence in the Twenty-First Century |publisher=[[Springer International]] |isbn=978-3-030-20579-9 |pages=189–224 |date=9 July 2019 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FG-hDwAAQBAJ |url-access=limited |via=[[Google Books]] |access-date=21 March 2021 |language=en |chapter=Russian Foreign Policy: Freedom for Whom, to Do What? |quote=Soviet-born British journalist Peter Pomerantsev documented the typical newsroom antics in one of Russia's largest propaganda outlets, RT News (formerly known as Russia Today). When his acquaintance composed a piece that referenced the Soviet Union's occupation of Estonia in 1945, the writer was chewed out by his boss, who maintained the belief that Russians saved Estonia. Any other descriptions of the events of 1945 were unacceptable assaults on Russia's integrity, apparently, so the boss demanded that he amend his text. |archive-date=31 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131153320/https://books.google.com/books?id=FG-hDwAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Reire |first1=Gunda |title=Euro-Atlantic values and Russia's propaganda in the Euro-Atlantic space |journal=[[:pl:Rocznik Instytutu Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej W Lublinie|Rocznik Instytutu Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej]] |date=2015 |volume=13 |issue=4 |url=http://www.spcentrs.lv/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Reire-2015-Yearbook-IESW.pdf |access-date=21 March 2021 |via=Center for International Studies |quote=Nowadays, Russia attacks the Western value of rationality and uses the argument of "the second opinion" or plurality of opinions. The phrase "the second opinion" has even become the slogan of RT. For instance, this propaganda channel used the public opinion's contention as to the nature of the Iraq war, to sell itself as an impartial, objective media outlet in the USA. Overall, Russian propaganda involves a clash of political systems, which is more dangerous than the old-school Soviet propaganda. |archive-date=4 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104213449/http://www.spcentrs.lv/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Reire-2015-Yearbook-IESW.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Network Propaganda">{{Cite book|last1=Benkler|first1=Yochai|author-link1=Yochai Benkler|last2=Faris|first2=Rob|last3=Roberts|first3=Hal|chapter=Epistemic Crisis|chapter-url=https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/oso/9780190923624.001.0001/oso-9780190923624-chapter-1|title=Network Propaganda: Manipulation, Disinformation and Radicalization in American Politics|url=https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/oso/9780190923624.001.0001/oso-9780190923624|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|date=October 2018|access-date=21 March 2021|isbn=978-0-19-092362-4|doi=10.1093/oso/9780190923624.001.0001|doi-access=free|pages=358|oclc=1045162158|quote=The emphasis on disorientation appears in the literature on modern Russian propaganda, both in inward-focused applications and in its international propaganda outlets, Sputnik and RT (formerly, Russia Today). Here, the purpose is not to convince the audience of any particular truth but instead to make it impossible for people in the society subject to the propagandist's intervention to tell truth from non-truth.|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126010551/https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/oso/9780190923624.001.0001/oso-9780190923624|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Karlsen |first1=Geir Hågen |title=Ukraine and Beyond |editor1-last=Matláry |editor1-first=Janne Haaland |editor2-last=Heier |editor2-first=Tormod |editor1-link=Janne Haaland Matláry |date=5 August 2016 |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |isbn=978-3-319-32530-9 |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-32530-9_9 |page=199 |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-32530-9_9 |chapter-url-access=subscription |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BNHMDAAAQBAJ |url-access=limited |access-date=28 February 2022 |language=en |chapter=Tools of Russian Influence: Information and Propaganda |via=[[Google Books]] |quote=The propaganda apparatus proper consists of four means: media, social media, political communication and diplomacy, and covert active measures, all tied together in a coordinated manner. The main international media channel is the RT broadcaster and website, formerly known as ''Russia Today''. It is complemented by ''Sputnik'' radio and website, news and video agencies, and the ''Russia Beyond the Headlines'' news supplement, making up a news conglomerate operating in almost 40 languages. |archive-date=7 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407114835/https://books.google.com/books?id=BNHMDAAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ižak |first1=Štefan |title=(Ab)using the topic of migration by pro-Kremlin propaganda: Case study of Slovakia |journal=Journal of Comparative Politics |date=January 2019 |volume=12 |issue=1 |page=58 |url=http://www.jofcp.org/assets/jcp/JCP-January-2019.pdf |access-date=28 February 2022 |publisher=[[University of Economics in Bratislava]] / [[University of Ljubljana]] / [[Alma Mater Europaea]] |language=en |issn=1338-1385 |quote=Almost all important media in Russia are state controlled and used to feed Russian audience with Kremlin propaganda. For international propaganda Kremlin uses agencies like RT and Sputnik. Both are available in many language variations and in many countries (Hansen 2017). Aim of this propaganda is to exploit weak spots and controversial topics (in our case migration to the EU) and use them to harm integrity of the West (Pomerantsev and Weiss 2014). |archive-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301184238/http://www.jofcp.org/assets/jcp/JCP-January-2019.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Oates |first1=Sarah |last2=Steiner |first2=Sean |section=Projecting Power: Understanding Russian Strategic Narrative |title=Russia's Public Foreign Policy Narratives |journal=Russian Analytical Digest |date=17 December 2018 |volume=17 |series=229 |pages=2–5 |doi=10.3929/ethz-b-000311091 |doi-access=free |url=https://css.ethz.ch/content/dam/ethz/special-interest/gess/cis/center-for-securities-studies/pdfs/RAD229.pdf |access-date=21 March 2021 |publisher=[[Research Centre for East European Studies]] |location=[[University of Bremen]] |via=[[ETH Zurich]] |quote=The analysis of Russian strategic narrative allows us to understand more clearly the logic in Russian propaganda found on English-language outlets such as RT and more effectively deter Russian information aggression. |archive-date=1 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001161723/https://css.ethz.ch/content/dam/ethz/special-interest/gess/cis/center-for-securities-studies/pdfs/RAD229.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>{{r|Orttung|p=2|q=Russian propaganda, specifically RT, is carefully targeted to different audiences and has nuanced messaging designed to undermine the West on the basis of its own criteria, build credibility by covering less-heard voices in regional news, and using human interest program (click-bait) to draw in viewers.}}<ref>{{cite journal|first1=Media|last1=Ajir|first2=Bethany|last2=Vailliant|title=Russian Information Warfare: Implications for Deterrence Theory|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26481910|jstor=26481910|journal=[[Strategic Studies Quarterly]]|date=Fall 2018|issn=1936-1815|pages=70–89|volume=12|issue=3|jstor-access=free|access-date=21 March 2021|quote=The real-world repercussions of these objectives are identified through several forms of attack. The first is through disseminating official Russian state propaganda abroad via foreign language news channels as well as Western media. Most notable is the creation of the very successful government-financed international TV news channel, Russia Today (RT).|archive-date=9 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209193856/https://www.jstor.org/stable/26481910|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bicknell|first=Bob|date=11 December 2005|title=Russian News, English Accent|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russian-news-english-accent-11-12-2005/|access-date=11 March 2021|website=[[CBS News]]|language=en-US|archive-date=30 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530041616/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russian-news-english-accent-11-12-2005/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Ioffe"/><ref name="SpiegelBidder"/><ref name="Guardian_Harding_RT"/><ref name="Kramer">{{cite news|last=Kramer|first=Andrew E|title=Russian Cable Station Plays to U.S.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/23/business/media/23russiatoday.html?_r=3&pagewanted=all&|newspaper=The New York Times|date=22 August 2010|access-date=23 February 2017|archive-date=1 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301062934/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/23/business/media/23russiatoday.html?_r=3&pagewanted=all&|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Ukraineback">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26546083|title=Ukraine hits back at Russian TV onslaught|publisher=BBC|year=2014|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-date=29 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529201642/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26546083|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MacFarquhar">{{cite news|url=http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/08/29/world/europe/russia-sweden-disinformation.html|title=A Powerful Russian Weapon: The Spread of False Stories|last=MacFarquhar|first=Neil|date=28 August 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=29 August 2016|archive-date=18 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618150336/https://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/08/29/world/europe/russia-sweden-disinformation.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="
{{cite news|url=https://tol.org/client/article/26401-british-bank-closes-russian-broadcaster-rt-accounts.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020080937/http://www.tol.org/client/article/26401-rt-simonyan-natwest-galloway-zakharova.html|archive-date=20 October 2016|url-status=live|title=British Bank Closes Russian Broadcaster RT Accounts|date=18 October 2016|author=Alevtina Kuzmenkova|publisher=[[Transitions Online]]|quote=OFCOM, the British broadcast regulator, has repeatedly singled out RT for its lack of impartiality}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Waterson |first1=Jim |title=Alex Salmond's RT show breached Ofcom broadcasting rules |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jul/16/alex-salmond-rt-show-breached-ofcom-broadcasting-rules |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=21 March 2021 |language=en |date=16 July 2018 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116114646/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jul/16/alex-salmond-rt-show-breached-ofcom-broadcasting-rules |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Pomerantsev 2015">{{Cite web|last=Pomerantsev|first=Peter|author-link=Peter Pomerantsev|date=4 January 2015|title=Inside Putin's Information War|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/01/putin-russia-tv-113960_Page3.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105223740/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/01/putin-russia-tv-113960_Page3.html#.VKsSaZ37RPY|archive-date=5 January 2015|access-date=11 March 2021|website=[[Politico]]}}</ref>}}
In 2012, RT's [[editor-in-chief]] [[Margarita Simonyan]] compared the channel to the [[Ministry of Defence (Russia)|Russian Ministry of Defence]].<ref name="eu150118">{{Cite news|date=2018-01-15|title=Chief Editor: RT is Like "a Defence Ministry"|url=https://euvsdisinfo.eu/chief-editor-rt-is-like-a-defence-ministry/|access-date=2021-12-25|website=[[East StratCom Task Force]]|language=en|author1=Default|archive-date=31 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131153322/https://euvsdisinfo.eu/chief-editor-rt-is-like-a-defence-ministry/|url-status=live}}</ref> Referring to the [[Russo-Georgian War]], she stated that it was "waging an [[information war]], and with the entire Western world".<ref name="Nimmo" /><ref name="kommersant070412">{{cite web|date=7 April 2012|title="Нет никакой объективности"|trans-title=There is no objectivity|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1911336|access-date=21 March 2021|website=[[Kommersant]]|language=ru|quote=Сейчас ни с кем не воюем. А вот в 2008 году воевали. Министерство обороны воевало с Грузией, а информационную войну вели мы, причем со всем западным миром. Ну невозможно только начинать делать оружие, когда война уже началась! Поэтому Министерство обороны сейчас ни с кем не воюет, но готово к обороне. Так и мы.|trans-quote=Currently we are not at war with anyone. But in 2008 – we were. The Ministry of Defence was at war with Georgia, and we were waging an information war, and with the entire Western world. Well, it's impossible just to start making weapons when the war has already begun! Therefore, the Ministry of Defence is now not at war with anyone, but is ready for defense. So are we.|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171205164813/https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1911336|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2017, RT America was ordered to register as a [[foreign agent]] with the [[United States Department of Justice]] under the [[Foreign Agents Registration Act]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/11/14/564045159/rt-america-firm-registers-as-foreign-agent-in-u-s-russia-looks-to-retaliate|title=TV Company Linked To Russia's RT America Registers As Foreign Agent In U.S.|last=Chappell|first=Bill|date=14 November 2017|publisher=NPR|access-date=3 March 2018|archive-date=21 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621005530/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/11/14/564045159/rt-america-firm-registers-as-foreign-agent-in-u-s-russia-looks-to-retaliate|url-status=live}}</ref>
RT was banned in [[Ukraine]] in 2014 after [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Russia's annexation of Crimea]];<ref name="Ukraine ban" /> [[Latvia]] and [[Lithuania]] implemented similar bans in 2020.<ref name="Latvia ban" /><ref name="Lithuania ban" /> [[Germany]] banned [[RT DE]] in February 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Russia's RT channel blocked by German regulators |url=https://www.dw.com/en/russias-rt-channel-blocked-by-german-regulators/a-60635397 |website=[[Deutsche Welle]] |access-date=23 February 2022 |date=2 February 2022 |archive-date=10 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510193206/https://www.dw.com/en/russias-rt-channel-blocked-by-german-regulators/a-60635397 |url-status=live }}</ref> During the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the [[European Union]] and [[Canada]] formally banned RT and independent service providers in over 10 countries suspended broadcasts of RT.<ref name=CRTC>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/crtc-russia-today-broadcasting-decision-1.6386929 |title=CRTC bans Russian state-controlled TV channels RT, RT France from Canadian airwaves |last1=Zimonjic |first1=Peter |date=March 16, 2022 |website=CBC News |access-date=5 May 2022 |archive-date=1 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701061527/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/crtc-russia-today-broadcasting-decision-1.6386929 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Chmielewski 2022">{{cite web |last1=Chmielewski |first1=Dawn |title=Roku is removing RT from the Roku Channel Store in Europe – source |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/roku-is-removing-rt-roku-channel-store-europe-source-2022-03-01/ |website=[[Reuters]] |access-date=1 March 2022 |language=en |date=1 March 2022 |archive-date=2 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302001035/https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/roku-is-removing-rt-roku-channel-store-europe-source-2022-03-01/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-01 |title=Russian-backed RT channel to lose Sky TV slot in UK within 24 hours |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/mar/01/russian-backed-rt-channel-to-lose-sky-tv-slot-in-uk-within-24-hours |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=17 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220917215046/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/mar/01/russian-backed-rt-channel-to-lose-sky-tv-slot-in-uk-within-24-hours |url-status=live }}</ref> Social media websites followed by blocking external links to RT's website and restricting access to RT's content.<ref name="Reuters20220301" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dwoskin |first1=Elizabeth |last2=Zakrzewski |first2=Cat |last3=De Vynck |first3=Gerrit |title=Major social media platforms ban Russian state media in Europe |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/03/01/youtube-tiktok-facebook-state-media-ban/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=1 March 2022 |date=1 March 2022 |archive-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301092843/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/03/01/youtube-tiktok-facebook-state-media-ban/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Microsoft]] removed RT from [[Microsoft Store|their app store]] and de-ranked their search results on [[Microsoft Bing|Bing]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Jared |date=2022-03-01 |title=Here's which tech companies have—and haven't—banned Russia's state-sponsored RT media app |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90726527/tech-companies-banned-rt-news-app-russia-microsoft-google |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=Fast Company |language=en-US |archive-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301215636/https://www.fastcompany.com/90726527/tech-companies-banned-rt-news-app-russia-microsoft-google |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |agency=Reuters |date=2022-02-28 |title=Microsoft to remove RT apps, ban Russian state-owned media ads |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/microsoft-remove-rt-apps-ban-russian-state-owned-media-ads-2022-02-28/ |access-date=2022-03-01 |archive-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301215636/https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/microsoft-remove-rt-apps-ban-russian-state-owned-media-ads-2022-02-28/ |url-status=live }}</ref> while [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] removed the RT app from all countries except for Russia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Emerson |first=Sarah |title=Apple Halted Product Sales In Russia And Disabled Apple Maps Features In Ukraine |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/sarahemerson/apple-responds-ukraine-russia-rt-sputnik-maps |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=BuzzFeed News |language=en |archive-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301220420/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/sarahemerson/apple-responds-ukraine-russia-rt-sputnik-maps |url-status=live }}</ref> However, RT content continues to be [[Information laundering|laundered]] through third-party sites.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bond |first=Shannon |date=June 6, 2024 |title=This is what Russian propaganda looks like in 2024 |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/06/06/g-s1-2965/russia-propaganda-deepfakes-sham-websites-social-media-ukraine |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=[[NPR]] |archive-date=15 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615142511/https://www.npr.org/2024/06/06/g-s1-2965/russia-propaganda-deepfakes-sham-websites-social-media-ukraine |url-status=live }}</ref>
==History==
===Foundation===
▲[[File:Russia-Today-Logo.svg|thumb|150px|RT's first logo from 2005 to 2009]]
RT's formation was part of a [[public relations]] effort by the [[Russian Government]] in 2005 to improve Russia's image abroad.<ref name="ForeignPolicy" /> RT was conceived by former media minister [[Mikhail Lesin]]<ref name="Osborn">Andrew Osborn, [http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/russias-cnn-wants-to-tell-it-like-it-is/2005/08/15/1123958007022.html Russia's 'CNN' wants to tell it like it is] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141407/https://www.theage.com.au/news/world/russias-cnn-wants-to-tell-it-like-it-is/2005/08/15/1123958007022.html |date=12 June 2018 }}, ''[[The Age]]'', 16 August 2005. {{Limited access}}</ref> and [[Aleksei Gromov]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Parsons |first=Robert |date=9 December 2005 |title=Russia: New International Channel Ready To Begin Broadcasting |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1063693.html |publisher=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |access-date=18 April 2015 |archive-date=23 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623150345/http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1063693.html |url-status=live }}</ref> At the time of RT's founding, [[RIA Novosti]] director [[Svetlana Mironyuk]] stated: "Unfortunately, at the level of mass consciousness in the West, Russia is associated with three words: communism, snow and poverty", and added "we would like to present a more complete picture of life in our country".<ref name="Osborn" /> RT is funded by the [[Federal Agency for Press and Mass Media (Russia)|Federal Agency for Press and Mass Media]], part of the government of Russia.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Mettler|first=Katie|date=2017-06-08|title=Jesse Ventura's new Russian state TV show: 'I am working for the enemy of mainstream media now'|language=en|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/06/08/jesse-venturas-new-russian-state-tv-show-i-am-working-for-the-enemy-of-mainstream-media-now/|access-date=2022-02-04|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=22 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322094611/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/06/08/jesse-venturas-new-russian-state-tv-show-i-am-working-for-the-enemy-of-mainstream-media-now/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Ruddick|first=Graham|date=2017-11-17|title='Be ashamed, Alex': Salmond courts controversy with RT|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/nov/17/be-ashamed-alex-salmond-courts-controversy-rt-russia-today|access-date=2022-02-04|website=[[The Guardian]]|language=en|archive-date=31 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131153328/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/nov/17/be-ashamed-alex-salmond-courts-controversy-rt-russia-today|url-status=live}}</ref>
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[[File:Dmitry Medvedev took part in the launch of Russia Today Documentary.jpg|thumb|Dmitry Medvedev took part in the launch of RT Documentary]]
[[File:Vladimir Putin - Visit to Russia Today television channel 2.jpg|thumb|Vladimir Putin during a visit to the new RT broadcasting centre]]
RT launched several new channels in ensuing years: the Arabic language channel [[Rusiya Al-Yaum]] in 2007, the Spanish language channel [[RT en Español|Actualidad RT]] in 2009, RT America – which focuses on the United States – in 2010, and the RT Documentary channel in 2011.<ref name="vonTwickel">{{Cite web|last=von Twickel|first=Nikolaus|date=23 March 2010|title=Russia Today courts viewers with controversy|url=https://www.rbth.com/articles/2010/03/23/230310_rt.html|access-date=12 December 2020|website=[[Russia Beyond]]|publisher=[[Rossiyskaya Gazeta]]|archive-date=21 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421180512/https://www.rbth.com/articles/2010/03/23/230310_rt.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In August 2007, Russia Today became the first television channel to report live from the North Pole (with the report lasting five minutes and 41 seconds). An RT crew participated in the [[Arktika 2007]] Russian polar expedition, led by [[Artur Chilingarov]] on the ''[[Akademik Fyodorov]]'' [[icebreaker]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rt.com/news/russias-landmark-events-of-2007/|title=Russia's landmark events of 2007|work=RT International|access-date=14 April 2017|language=en-EN|archive-date=28 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428063304/https://www.rt.com/news/russias-landmark-events-of-2007/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Zagorodnov">{{cite news|last=Zagorodnov|first=Artem|date=25 September 2008|title=Today's woman who needs to be heard|newspaper=[[Russia Beyond]]|publisher=[[Rossiyskaya Gazeta]]|url=http://rbth.com/articles/2008/09/25/250908_rt.html|access-date=18 April 2015|archive-date=17 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117194109/https://www.rbth.com/articles/2008/09/25/250908_rt.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 31 December 2007, RT's broadcasts of New Year's Eve celebrations in [[Moscow]] and [[Saint Petersburg]] were broadcast in the hours prior to the New Year's Eve event at [[New York City|New York City's]] [[Times Square]].<ref name="Zagorodnov"/>
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On 17 April 2012, RT debuted ''[[World Tomorrow]]'', a news interview programme hosted by [[WikiLeaks]] founder [[Julian Assange]]. The first guest on the program was [[Hezbollah]] leader [[Hassan Nasrallah]].<ref name="Stanley">Alessandra Stanley, [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/18/arts/television/julian-assange-starts-talk-show-on-russian-tv.html The Prisoner as Talk Show Host; Julian Assange Starts Talk Show on Russian TV] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310214922/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/18/arts/television/julian-assange-starts-talk-show-on-russian-tv.html |date=10 March 2017 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'', 17 April 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The World Tomorrow |url=http://worldtomorrow.wikileaks.org/ |publisher=WikiLeaks |date=13 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415223431/http://worldtomorrow.wikileaks.org/ |archive-date=15 April 2012 |url-status=live |access-date=13 April 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Assange show premiere: Time to watch 'The World Tomorrow' |url=http://rt.com/news/assange-world-tomorrow-premier-date-time-934/ |publisher=RT|location=Russia |date=13 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413165005/http://rt.com/news/assange-world-tomorrow-premier-date-time-934/ |archive-date=13 April 2012 |url-status=live |access-date=13 April 2012 }}</ref> The interview made global headlines as Nasrallah rarely gives interviews to Western media.<ref name="Taylor">{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Jerome |title=Julian Assange launches talk show on Kremlin-backed broadcaster Russia |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/julian-assange-launches-talk-show-on-kremlinbacked-broadcaster-russia-today-7654690.html |access-date=14 April 2021 |work=The Independent |date=17 April 2012 |language=en |quote=Heading off criticism for his choice of partner he added: “There's Julian Assange, enemy combatant, a traitor, getting in to bed with the Kremlin and interviewing terrible radicals from around the world. I think that's a pretty trivial kind of attack. If they actually look at how the show is made: we make it, we have complete editorial control, we believe that all media organisations have an angle, all media organisations have an issue. |archive-date=14 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414143334/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/julian-assange-launches-talk-show-on-kremlinbacked-broadcaster-russia-today-7654690.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Commentators described this as a "coup".<ref>Raphael Satter, [https://news.yahoo.com/assange-interviews-hezbollah-leader-tv-premiere-115117514.html Assange interviews Hezbollah leader in TV premiere] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305030246/http://news.yahoo.com/assange-interviews-hezbollah-leader-tv-premiere-115117514.html |date=5 March 2016 }}, [[Associated Press]] via ''[[Denver Post]]'', 17 April 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.news.com.au/world/assange-debuts-chat-show/story-fn6sb9br-1226330924558 Assange chats with terrorist] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419163553/http://www.news.com.au/world/assange-debuts-chat-show/story-fn6sb9br-1226330924558 |date=19 April 2015 }}, [[Agence France-Presse]], 18 April 2012.</ref> WikiLeaks described the show as "a series of in-depth conversations with key political players, thinkers and revolutionaries from around the world".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wikileaks.org/New-Assange-TV-Series.html |title=New Assange TV Series |date=23 January 2012 |publisher=wikileaks.org |access-date=12 February 2012 |archive-date=11 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211041602/http://wikileaks.org/New-Assange-TV-Series.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It stated that the show is "independently produced and Assange has control"; WikiLeaks offers a "Broadcasters license, only".<ref name="Lucas">Douglas Lucas, [http://www.salon.com/2012/02/23/julian_assange_prepares_his_next_move/ Julian Assange prepares his next move] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929230435/http://www.salon.com/2012/02/23/julian_assange_prepares_his_next_move/ |date=29 September 2012 }}, ''[[Salon (website)|Salon]]'', 23 February 2012.</ref>
Assange said that RT allowed his guests to discuss things that they "could not say on a mainstream TV network".<ref>{{cite news|author=Raphael Satter |url=http://www.denverpost.com/nationalpolitics/ci_20414171/wikileaks-founders-show-air-kremlin-tv|title=Assange interviews Hezbollah leader in TV premiere|agency=[[Associated Press]]|work=[[The Denver Post]]|date=17 April 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130910131250/http://www.denverpost.com/nationalpolitics/ci_20414171/wikileaks-founders-show-air-kremlin-tv|archive-date=10 September 2013}}</ref> Assange's production company made the show and Assange had full editorial control. Assange said that, if WikiLeaks had published large amounts of compromising data on Russia, his relationship with RT might not have been so comfortable.<ref name="Taylor" /> In August of that year, RT suffered a [[denial of service]] attack. Some people linked the attack to RT's connection with Assange, and others to an impending court verdict related to [[Pussy Riot]].<ref>David Meyer, [
On 23 October 2012, RT, along with Al Jazeera and [[C-SPAN]], broadcast the [[Free and Equal Elections Foundation]] third-party debate among four third-party [[2012 United States presidential election|candidates for President]] of the United States.<ref>Michael Calderone, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/19/third-party-debate-al-jazeera-english_n_1988014.html Third-Party Debate To Be Broadcast By Al Jazeera English, RT America, But Not Major Cable News Networks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809092421/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/19/third-party-debate-al-jazeera-english_n_1988014.html |date=9 August 2016 }}, ''[[HuffPost]]'', Posted: 19 October 2012, Updated: 23 October 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2012</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/video/blog/2012/10/presidential_hopefuls_take_sta.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027162558/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/video/blog/2012/10/presidential_hopefuls_take_sta.html|archive-date=27 October 2012|title=Presidential Hopefuls Meet in Third Party Debate|work=[[PBS NewsHour]]|date=25 October 2012|access-date=26 October 2012}}</ref> On 5 November, RT broadcast the two candidates that were voted winners of that debate, [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]] candidate Governor [[Gary Johnson]] and [[Green Party of the United States|Green Party]] candidate [[Jill Stein]], from RT's [[Washington, D.C.]] studio.<ref>[https://www.rt.com/usa/rt-third-party-debate-stein-249/ RT to host final US presidential third-party debate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415011221/https://www.rt.com/usa/rt-third-party-debate-stein-249/ |date=15 April 2017 }}, Published: 27 October 2012; Edited: 3 November 2012; note that the debate was postponed from 30 October because of [[Hurricane Sandy]].</ref><ref>Paul Singer, [https://www.usatoday.com/story/onpolitics/2012/11/05/nader-stein-johnson-debate-third-party/1682643/ Nader's third-party debate raises alternate issues] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819060717/https://www.usatoday.com/story/onpolitics/2012/11/05/nader-stein-johnson-debate-third-party/1682643/ |date=19 August 2017 }}, ''[[USA Today]]'', 5 November 2012.</ref><ref>[https://www.rt.com/usa/us-stein-johnson-foreign-036/ RT hosts third party debate #2: Tackling the issues the mainstream ignores] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414163936/https://www.rt.com/usa/us-stein-johnson-foreign-036/ |date=14 April 2017 }}, RT.com story and video of debate, 6 November 2012.</ref>
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In October 2016, the [[NatWest]] bank stated that they will no longer provide banking services to RT in the UK without providing any reasons. This decision was criticised by Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of RT, and the Russia Government. Simonyan sarcastically tweeted that: "Long live freedom of speech!"<ref>{{Cite web|last=karl-mcdonald|date=17 October 2016|title=Russia Today's UK bank accounts shut by NatWest|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/russia-todays-uk-bank-accounts-shut-natwest-25993|access-date=30 November 2021|website=inews.co.uk|language=en|archive-date=30 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130092336/https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/russia-todays-uk-bank-accounts-shut-natwest-25993|url-status=live}}</ref> However, NatWest reversed its decision in January 2017, said it had reached a resolution with RT. Simonyan said the decision showed that "common sense has prevailed".<ref>{{Cite web|date=30 January 2017|title=NatWest reverses decision to close RT's bank accounts in UK|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jan/30/natwest-reverses-decision-close-rt-russia-today-bank-accounts-uk|access-date=30 November 2021|work=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=30 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130092339/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jan/30/natwest-reverses-decision-close-rt-russia-today-bank-accounts-uk|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2018, some of the RT staff started a new media project, Redfish.media, that positioned itself as "grassroots journalism".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/grassroots-media-startup-redfish-is-supported-by-the-kremlin|title=This 'Grassroots' Media Startup Is Supported by the Kremlin|last=Davis|first=Charles|date=1 February 2018|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=12 August 2018|language=en|archive-date=31 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131233925/https://www.thedailybeast.com/grassroots-media-startup-redfish-is-supported-by-the-kremlin|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Times Redfish" /> The website was criticized by activist Musa Okwonga for deceptively interviewing him and then distributing it across RT channels while hiding its real affiliation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.okwonga.com/my-new-post-on-redfish-and-russia-today/|title=My new post, on Redfish and Russia Today.|website=okwonga.com|language=en-US|access-date=12 August 2018|archive-date=13 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813005114/http://www.okwonga.com/my-new-post-on-redfish-and-russia-today/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Another similar RT project is ''In the NOW'', started in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/ishmaeldaro/quirky-viral-video-channel-is-funded-by-the-russian-govt|title=This Quirky New Viral Video Channel Is Funded By The Russian Government|work=BuzzFeed|access-date=19 October 2018|language=en|archive-date=26 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226140538/https://www.buzzfeed.com/ishmaeldaro/quirky-viral-video-channel-is-funded-by-the-russian-govt|url-status=live}}</ref> On 15 February 2019, Facebook temporarily blocked the ''In the NOW'' page, saying that even though it does not require pages to disclose who funds them, it had suspended the page so viewers would not "be misled about who's behind them". [[Anissa Naouai]], CEO of [[Maffick]], which published the page, described the blocking as "unprecedented discrimination", and said that Facebook did not ask other channels to declare their parent company and financial affiliations. As of February 2019, a majority of Maffick stock was controlled by [[Ruptly]], an RT subsidiary, with Naouai owning the remaining 49%. Facebook unblocked the page on 25 February 2019; Naouai said the company had agreed to do so once the page was updated to feature information on ''In the NOW''{{'}}s funding and management. She added that this requirement has been applied to no other Facebook page. ''In the NOW'' also has an active channel on [[YouTube]] and regularly posts videos from [[Maffick#Brands|Soapbox]], a Maffick-owned channel.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ma |first1=Alexandra |title=Russia's RT attacks Facebook for suspending 4 viral news channels that broadcast Kremlin talking points to millennials |url=https://www.businessinsider.com
In February 2021, Matt Field from the ''[[Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists]]'' reported that RT had created an account on [[Gab (social network)|Gab]], a [[social network]] known for its [[Far-right politics|far-right]] userbase, right before the start of former [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[Donald Trump]]'s [[Second impeachment trial of Donald Trump|second impeachment trial]].<ref name="
In December 2021 RT launched a TV channel in Germany, RT DE TV using a license for cable and satellite broadcasting issued in Serbia. A week after the launch, on 22 December the channel was removed from broadcasting via European satellites by the European satellite operator at the request of the German media regulator.<ref>{{cite web |title=Content producer for Russia's RT wraps up journalistic operations in Germany |date=4 February 2023 |url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-society/3665397-content-producer-for-russias-rt-wraps-up-journalistic-operations-in-germany.html |access-date=4 February 2023 |archive-date=4 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204134251/https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-society/3665397-content-producer-for-russias-rt-wraps-up-journalistic-operations-in-germany.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
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On 27 February 2022, the president of the European Commission [[Ursula von der Leyen]] announced the [[European Union]] would ban RT and Sputnik (plus their subsidiaries) from operating in its 27 member countries.<ref name="CBS2022">{{Cite news |date=27 February 2022 |title=EU closes airspace to Russian planes, bans Russian media outlets and pledges arms to Ukraine |work=CBS |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-russia-european-union-airspace-rt-sputnik/ |access-date=27 February 2022 |archive-date=5 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305215826/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-russia-european-union-airspace-rt-sputnik/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The ban resulted in RT being blocked on downstream television networks located outside EU, such as the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Singapore]] as they were dependent on EU companies for the signal feed to RT.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-03-03 |title=RT: Russian-backed TV news channel disappears from UK screens |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-60584092 |access-date=2022-03-06 |archive-date=3 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303112559/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-60584092 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Russian news channel RT unavailable on StarHub, Singtel due to transmission disruption 'at source' |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/russian-news-channel-rt-unavailable-starhub-singtel-transmission-disruption-2541731 |access-date=2022-03-06 |website=CNA |language=en |archive-date=12 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312070528/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/russian-news-channel-rt-unavailable-starhub-singtel-transmission-disruption-2541731 |url-status=live }}</ref> Canadian telecom companies [[Shaw Communications|Shaw]], [[Rogers Communications|Rogers]], [[Bell Canada|Bell]] and [[Telus Corporation|Telus]] announced they would no longer offer RT in their channel lineups (although Rogers replaced its RT broadcasts with a [[Flag of Ukraine|Ukrainian flag]]).<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Posadzki |first1=Alexandra |last2=Chase |first2=Steven |last3=Robertson |first3=Susan Krashinsky |date=2022-02-27 |title=Russia's RT to be removed from Canadian lineup by Bell, Rogers, Shaw |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-ottawa-looks-for-ways-to-block-russian-broadcaster-rt/ |access-date=2022-02-28 |archive-date=28 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228042526/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-ottawa-looks-for-ways-to-block-russian-broadcaster-rt/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This move was praised by Canada's Minister of Canadian Heritage [[Pablo Rodriguez (Canadian politician)|Pablo Rodriguez]] who called the network the "propaganda arm" of Vladimir Putin.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 February 2022 |title=Rogers, Bell to pull Russian state-controlled channel RT over invasion of Ukraine |work=[[CBC News]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/rogers-bell-russia-today-1.6366729 |access-date=28 February 2022 |archive-date=28 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228020121/https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/rogers-bell-russia-today-1.6366729 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 28 February, Ofcom announced they had opened 15 expedited investigations into RT.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-28 |title=Ofcom opens 15 investigations into Russia Today |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/ofcom-opens-15-investigations-into-russia-today/ |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=Politico |language=en-US |archive-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301052350/https://www.politico.eu/article/ofcom-opens-15-investigations-into-russia-today/ |url-status=live }}</ref> These investigations will be focused on the 15 news editions broadcast on 27 February between 05:00 and 19:00 and will check if the coverage broke impartiality requirements in the broadcast code.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-28 |title=Ofcom launches 15 investigations into RT |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/news-centre/2022/ofcom-launches-investigations-into-rt |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=Ofcom |language=en |archive-date=31 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131153440/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/news-centre/2022/ofcom-launches-investigations-into-rt |url-status=live }}</ref> On 2 March, the regulation was published which meant the ban was in force.<ref>{{cite news |title=European Union Publishes Regulation Banning Russia Today and Sputnik |url=https://techpolicy.press/european-union-publishes-regulation-banning-russia-today-and-sputnik |work=Tech Policy Press |access-date=2 March 2022 |archive-date=2 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302162859/https://techpolicy.press/european-union-publishes-regulation-banning-russia-today-and-sputnik |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[Facebook]], [[Instagram]], and [[TikTok]] made RT's and Sputnik's social media content unavailable to users in the European Union on 28 February.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Peters |first1=Jay |title=Facebook blocks RT and Sputnik pages in the EU |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/28/22955542/facebook-meta-blocks-rt-sputnik-eu-instagram |website=[[The Verge]] |access-date=1 March 2022 |language=en |date=28 February 2022 |archive-date=31 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731195054/https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/28/22955542/facebook-meta-blocks-rt-sputnik-eu-instagram |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dwoskin |first1=Elizabeth |last2=Zakrzewski |first2=Cat |title=Facebook and TikTok ban Russian state media in Europe |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/02/28/facebook-ukraine-russian-disinformation/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=1 March 2022 |date=28 February 2022 |archive-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220301/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/02/28/facebook-ukraine-russian-disinformation/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Microsoft]] removed RT and Sputnik from [[MSN]], the [[Microsoft Store]], and the [[Microsoft Advertising]] network on the same day.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fingas |first1=J. |title=Microsoft is the latest to ban Russian state media from its platforms |url=https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-bans-russia-state-media-193720376.html |website=[[Engadget]] |access-date=1 March 2022 |date=28 February 2022 |archive-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301000756/https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-bans-russia-state-media-193720376.html |url-status=live }}</ref> YouTube, on 1 March, banned access to all RT and Sputnik channels on its platform in Europe (including Britain).{{efn|Although videos and channels may appear in search results, the videos are unwatchable, with UK users given the message: "This channel is not available in your country".<ref name="Kanter" />}}<ref name="Reuters20220301">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/youtube-block-channels-linked-russias-rt-sputnik-across-europe-2022-03-01/|title=YouTube to block channels linked to Russia's RT and Sputnik across Europe|work=Reuters|date=1 March 2022|access-date=1 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="Kanter" /> [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] followed by removing RT and Sputnik from its [[
On 8 March 2022, [[RT France]] challenged the EU ban of its activities in the [[General Court (European Union)|General Court]] of the [[Court of Justice of the European Union]].<ref
Between 22 and 26 February 2022, a couple of days before and after the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine]], "posts on Facebook from RT and Sputnik got more than 5 million likes, shares and comments". On YouTube, videos of "false stories, claiming that Ukrainians had attacked Russians or describing a 'genocide' against Russian-speaking Ukrainians in the separatist Donbas region," were watched "73 million times."<ref name="wapo-muffle-2022">{{cite news |last1=Dwoskin |first1=Elizabeth |last2=Merrill |first2=Jeremy B. |last3=De Vynck |first3=Gerrit |title=Social platforms' bans muffle Russian state media propaganda |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/03/16/facebook-youtube-russian-bans/ |access-date= |archive-date=11 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011210620/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/03/16/facebook-youtube-russian-bans/ |url-status=live }}</ref> During the invasion, hacktivist collective [[Anonymous (hacker group)|Anonymous]] launched a [[distributed denial of service]] attack that temporarily disabled the websites of RT and other Russian government-controlled organizations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Anonymous targets RT portal in 'cyber war' against Russia |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2022/02/25/anonymous-targets-rt-portal-in-cyber-war-against-russia |website=[[Newslaundry]] |access-date=25 February 2022 |date=25 February 2022 |archive-date=25 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225073340/https://www.newslaundry.com/2022/02/25/anonymous-targets-rt-portal-in-cyber-war-against-russia |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Purtill |first1=James |title=Anonymous takes down Kremlin, Russian-controlled media site in cyber attacks |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2022-02-25/hacker-collective-anonymous-declares-cyber-war-against-russia/100861160 |website=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |access-date=25 February 2022 |language=en-AU |date=25 February 2022 |archive-date=26 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226130516/https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2022-02-25/hacker-collective-anonymous-declares-cyber-war-against-russia/100861160 |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2022, RT America closed and most of its staff ceased to work for the outlet.<ref name="
In March 2022, ''[[Vice News]]'' reported that RT had established a channel on [[Gab (social network)|Gab]]'s video sharing platform Gab TV, which describes itself as a "free speech broadcasting platform." ''Vice News'' observed that Gab CEO Andrew Torba had given his support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Torba publicly supported RT, claiming that they are being subject to the same censorship as American conservatives "by [[Big Tech]] and the [[Globalism|globalist]] regime". Torba also falsely claimed that Gab is "the one place on the internet where you can find RT News" when RT also has a presence on video sharing platform [[Rumble (company)|Rumble]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gilbert |first=David |date=2022-03-15 |title=Russian State TV Has Found a New Home on Gab |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/dypepw/rt-news-gab-social |access-date= |website=[[Vice News]] |language=en |archive-date=17 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317223107/https://www.vice.com/en/article/dypepw/rt-news-gab-social |url-status=live }}</ref> Not all branches of RT have suffered declines since the war started. Interactions with the Arabic-language Facebook page "RT Online" grew 161.2% from 28 February to mid-March, "RT Play in Español" went up a 22.5%.<ref name="wapo-muffle-2022" />
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In October 2022, RT presenter [[Anton Krasovsky]] said on air that Ukrainian children who had in the past criticised the Soviet Union as occupiers of Ukraine should have been drowned or burned; he additionally laughed at reporting that Russian soldiers raped elderly Ukrainian women during the 2022 invasion.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ukraine urges global ban of Russia's RT after presenter calls for drowning of Ukrainian children |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-urges-global-ban-russias-rt-after-presenter-calls-drowning-ukrainian-2022-10-23/ |access-date=24 October 2022 |work=[[Reuters]] |date=23 October 2022 |archive-date=24 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024005613/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-urges-global-ban-russias-rt-after-presenter-calls-drowning-ukrainian-2022-10-23/?utm_source=reddit.com |url-status=live }}</ref> He was subsequently suspended by Simonyan, and criminal case investigation was opened.<ref>{{cite news |title=RT Host Suspended for Calls to 'Drown, Burn' Ukrainian Children |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/10/24/rt-host-suspended-for-calls-to-drown-burn-ukrainian-children-a79172 |work=[[The Moscow Times]] |date=24 October 2022 |access-date=24 October 2022 |archive-date=24 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024203642/https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/10/24/rt-host-suspended-for-calls-to-drown-burn-ukrainian-children-a79172 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In September and October 2022, RT launched
=== 2023–Present ===
In September 2023, Russia Today launched its online platform in Portuguese, as "RT Brazil".
On Aug 9, 2024 the broadcast and other equipment from the RT studio in Washington DC would be auctioned off.<ref>https://rasmus.com/auctions/PDFH8RH4lUDFATQlWiEv {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>
==Organization==
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According to RT as of March 2022, the network's feed is carried by 22 satellites and over 230 operators, providing a distribution reach to about 700 million households in more than 100 countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rt.com/about-us/distribution/|title=Distribution|website=RT International|language=en-EN|access-date=13 March 2022|archive-date=7 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607134305/https://www.rt.com/about-us/distribution/|url-status=live}}</ref> RT also stated that RT America was available to 85 million households throughout the United States, as of 2012.<ref name="CSM2012">Fred Weir, [http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2012/0125/Russia-gives-WikiLeaks-Julian-Assange-a-TV-platform Russia gives WikiLeaks' Julian Assange a TV platform] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419221003/https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2012/0125/Russia-gives-WikiLeaks-Julian-Assange-a-TV-platform |date=19 April 2023 }}, ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]'', 25 January 2012.</ref>
In addition to its main English language channel RT International, RT UK and RT America, RT also runs Arabic-language channel Rusiya Al-Yaum, Spanish language channel Actualidad RT, as well as the RTDoc documentary channel. RT maintains 21 bureaus in 16 countries, including those in Washington, D.C., New York City; London, England; Paris, France; Delhi, India; [[Cairo, Egypt]] and [[Baghdad, Iraq]].<ref name="RTCorporate">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rt.com/about-us/|title=About RT (formerly corporate profile)|website=RT International|language=en-EN|access-date=14 April 2017|archive-date=24 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224095056/https://www.rt.com/about-us/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
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| [[RT Actualidad|RT Spanish]] || Based in Moscow with bureaus in Miami, Los Angeles, [[Havana]] and [[Buenos Aires]]. Covers headline news, politics, sports and broadcast specials.<ref name="About Actualidad RT">{{Cite web|url=https://actualidad.rt.com/acerca/quienes_somos|title=Quiénes somos|website=RT en Español|language=es|access-date=14 April 2017|archive-date=19 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119083817/https://actualidad.rt.com/acerca/quienes_somos|url-status=live}}</ref> || Spanish || 2009
|-
| [[RT America]] || RT America was based in RT's Washington, D.C. bureau, it included programs hosted by American journalists. The channel maintained a separate schedule of programs each weekday from 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern Time]], and simulcasted RT International at all other times. [[RT America]] was compelled to register as a foreign agent with the [[United States Department of Justice]] National Security Division under the [[Foreign Agents Registration Act]].<ref name="
|-
| [[RT UK]] ||RT UK was based at RT's London bureau at [[Millbank Tower]]. Includes programs hosted by British journalists. The channel offered five hours of programming per day, Monday to Thursday UK News at 6 pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm and 10 pm and simulcasted RT International at all other times. On Fridays there was no 10 pm UK News bulletin.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rt.com/uk/200411-rt-uk-channel-launch/|title=RT launches dedicated UK news channel – RT UK|work=RT International|access-date=14 April 2017|language=en-EN|archive-date=7 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507021820/https://www.rt.com/uk/200411-rt-uk-channel-launch/|url-status=live}}</ref> || English || 2014<br />''(closed 2 March 2022)''
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In 2015, RT's YouTube news channels were: RT (the main channel), RT America, RT Arabic, RT en Español, RT Deutsch, RT French, RT UK, RT на русском and the newly launched RT Chinese.<ref name=Orttung/>
The German service (RT DE) was removed from YouTube in September 2021 for breaking the websites rules on [[COVID misinformation]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/29/youtube-deletes-rts-german-channels-over-covid-misinformation|title=YouTube deletes RT's German channels over Covid misinformation|work=The Guardian|date=29 September 2021|access-date=29 September 2021|archive-date=28 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928234136/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/29/youtube-deletes-rts-german-channels-over-covid-misinformation|url-status=live}}</ref>
In September 2012, RT signed a contract with Israeli-based [[RRSat]] to distribute high-definition feeds of the channel in the United States, Latin America and Asia.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rrsat-signs-contract-with-russia-today-for-global-distribution-of-rt-hd-channels-168896986.html|title=RRsat Signs Contract With Russia Today For Global Distribution Of RT HD Channels|agency=PR Newswire|date=7 September 2012|access-date=25 September 2015|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925184920/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rrsat-signs-contract-with-russia-today-for-global-distribution-of-rt-hd-channels-168896986.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2012, RT's Rusiya Al-Yaum and RT joined the high-definition network [[Al Yah Satellite Communications]] ("YahLive").<ref name="AMEinfo">[https://web.archive.org/web/20121006005854/http://www.ameinfo.com/russia-rusiya-al-yaum-join-yahlives-definition-313995 Russia Today and Rusiya Al-yaum join Yahlive's high definition bouquet], [[Al Yah Satellite Communications]], [[AMEinfo.com]].</ref> On 12 July 2014, during his visit to [[Argentina]], Putin announced that Actualidad RT would broadcast [[free-to-air]] in the country, the first foreign television channel to do so there.<ref>{{cite news|title=Putin: RT en español emitirá su señal en abierto en Argentina 24 al día|url=http://actualidad.rt.com/actualidad/view/133759-rt-espanol-senal-argentina-abierto|access-date=12 July 2014|publisher=Actualidad RT|date=12 July 2014|language=es|archive-date=12 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712220340/http://actualidad.rt.com/actualidad/view/133759-rt-espanol-senal-argentina-abierto|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://omnifeed.com/article/www.nytimes.com/2014/10/22/opinion/russia-today-argentina-tomorrow.html|title=Russia Today, Argentina Tomorrow|last=Bosoer|first=Fabián|author2=Finchelstein, Federico|date=21 October 2014|work=The New York Times|access-date=23 October 2014|author2-link=Federico Finchelstein|archive-date=16 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216025604/http://omnifeed.com/article/www.nytimes.com/2014/10/22/opinion/russia-today-argentina-tomorrow.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to [[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]], Argentina's State Media Authorities decided to suspend RT on 11 June 2016, along with Venezuelan television channel [[TeleSur]], which had both been authorized by the previous left-leaning government of [[Cristina Kirchner]]. Officially, Argentina wanted to devote RT's frequency to domestic broadcasts.<ref>{{cite news|title=Argentina Announces Suspension Of Russia's RT TV Broadcasts|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/argentina-announces-suspension-russian-state-rt-news-broadcasts/27791747.html|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=11 June 2016|access-date=12 June 2016|archive-date=12 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612100401/http://www.rferl.org/content/argentina-announces-suspension-russian-state-rt-news-broadcasts/27791747.html|url-status=live}}</ref> RT was made available on the dominant Australian subscription television platform [[Foxtel]] on 17 February 2015.<ref>{{cite web|website=[[TV Tonight]]|first=David|last=Knox|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2015/02/foxtel-adds-russia-today-channel.html|title=Foxtel adds Russia Today channel|date=16 February 2015|access-date=16 February 2015|archive-date=16 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216051107/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2015/02/foxtel-adds-russia-today-channel.html/|url-status=live}}</ref>
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===Ratings/impact===
;Audience ratings
The RT website (as of March 2022), maintains that "since June 2012", RT has "consistently and significantly outperforms other foreign channels including Euronews and Fox News. RT's quarterly audience in the UK is 2.5 million viewers".<ref name="RT-ratings">{{cite web |title=RT. About Us. Distribution |url=https://www.rt.com/about-us/distribution/ |website=RT |access-date=14 March 2022 |archive-date=7 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607134305/https://www.rt.com/about-us/distribution/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, according to ''[[The Daily Beast]]'', citing leaked documents from "Vasily Gatov, a former RIA Novosti employee" (as of 2015) RT “hugely exaggerates its viewership,”;<ref name="Niemanlab-2022"/> and its most-watched segments were on apolitical subjects.<ref>{{cite news|title=Putin's Propaganda TV Lies About Its Popularity|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/17/putin-s-propaganda-tv-lies-about-ratings.html|website=The Daily Beast|date=17 September 2015|access-date=6 August 2016|last1=Zavadski|first1=Katie|archive-date=20 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920002756/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/17/putin-s-propaganda-tv-lies-about-ratings.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Between 2013 and 2015, over 80% of RT's viewership was for videos of accidents, crime, disasters, and natural phenomena, such as the 2013 [[Chelyabinsk meteor]] event, with less than 1% of viewership for political videos.<ref name=Zavaski17Sept/> In late 2015, all of the 20 most-watched videos on its main channel, totaling 300 million views, were described as "disaster/novelty". Of the top 100, only a small number could be categorized as political, with only one covering Ukraine.<ref name=BBC915/> The most popular video of Russian president Putin shows him singing "[[Blueberry Hill (song)|Blueberry Hill]]" at a 2010 St. Petersburg charity event.<ref name="Zavaski17Sept"/> In 2017, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' analysed RT's popularity and concluded that "it's not very good at its job" as "Moscow's propaganda arm" due to its relative unpopularity.<ref
A study by Professor Robert Orttung at George Washington University stated that RT uses human interest stories without ideological content to attract viewers to its channels. Between January and May 2015, the Russian-language channel had the most viewers, with approximately double the number of the main channel, despite only having around one-third the number of subscribers.<ref name="Orttung">{{cite book |last1=Orttung |first1=Robert |last2=Nelson |first2=Elizabeth |last3=Livshen |first3=Anthony |section=Measuring RT's impact on YouTube |title=Information Warfare |journal=Russian Analytical Digest |date=8 December 2015 |volume=177 |issue=8 |url=http://www.css.ethz.ch/content/dam/ethz/special-interest/gess/cis/center-for-securities-studies/pdfs/RussianAnalyticalDigest177.pdf |access-date=21 March 2021 |publisher=[[Research Centre for East European Studies]] |location=[[University of Bremen]] |via=[[ETH Zurich]] |archive-date=9 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409122210/https://css.ethz.ch/content/dam/ethz/special-interest/gess/cis/center-for-securities-studies/pdfs/RussianAnalyticalDigest177.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
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Latin America is the second most significant area of influence for internet RT (rt.com). In 2013, RT ascended to the ranks of the 100 most watched websites in seven Latin American countries.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cervantes.es/imagenes/el_espa%C3%B1ol_federaci%C3%B3n_rusa.pdf |title=Sagarra Ángel, Josep María de; Soler Herreros, Chimo "El español en la Federación de Rusia: factor determinante en las relaciones con los países hispanohablantes". En: Iberoamérica, trimestral desde Moscú, n. 2 (2014) |access-date=21 July 2014 |archive-date=21 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321182250/http://www.cervantes.es/imagenes/el_espa%C3%B1ol_federaci%C3%B3n_rusa.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
A [[Pew Research]] survey of the most popular news videos on YouTube in 2011–12 found RT to be the top source with 8.5 percent of posts, 68 percent of which consisted of first-person video accounts of dramatic worldwide events, likely acquired by the network rather than created by it.<ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube Video Creation–A Shared Process |url=http://www.journalism.org/2012/07/16/youtube-video-creationa-shared-process/ |website=journalism.org |publisher=Pew Research Center |date=16 July 2012 |access-date=23 January 2016 |archive-date=31 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231055631/http://www.journalism.org/2012/07/16/youtube-video-creationa-shared-process/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Jennifer Martinez, [
====Followers====
In 2013, RT became "the first news network to surpass 1 billion views on YouTube".<ref name="wapo-muffle-2022"/> As of shortly after the invasion of Ukraine and blocking of RT by tech companies, RT's "main Facebook channel has more than 7 million followers" (some of which are located in Europe where the channel is blocked). RT's YouTube account had "roughly 4.65 million followers in English and 5.94 million in Spanish".<ref name="wapo-muffle-2022"/>
====Impact====
RT has some effect on viewers' political opinions, according to a 2021 study in the journal ''[[Security Studies (journal)|Security Studies]]''. Viewers exposed to RT became more likely "to support the withdrawal of the United States "from its role as a cooperative global leader" than those who did not watch RT by 10–20%. "This effect is robust across measures, obtains across party lines, and persists even when we disclose that RT is financed by the Russian government." However, exposure to RT had no measurable "effect on Americans' views of domestic politics or the Russian government."<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Carter|first1=Erin Baggott|last2=Carter|first2=Brett L.|date=2021|title=Questioning More: RT, Outward-Facing Propaganda, and the Post-West World Order|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/09636412.2021.1885730|journal=[[Security Studies (journal)|Security Studies]]|volume=30|pages=49–78|doi=10.1080/09636412.2021.1885730|s2cid=232411445|issn=0963-6412|access-date=28 February 2021|archive-date=31 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131153951/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09636412.2021.1885730|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
According to author [[Peter Pomerantsev]], a large audience rating is not RT's principal goal. Their campaigns are "for financial, political and media influence.”<ref name="Erlanger-NYT-8-3-17"/> RT (and [[Sputnik (news agency)|Sputnik]]) "create the fodder" used by "thousands of fake news propagators" and provide an outlet for material hacked from targets it wishes to harm in the service of Russian (government) interests. RT also serves to make friends with people "useful" to the Russian state, such as [[Michael Flynn]] (retired [[United States Army]] [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]] and dismissed director of the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]] and [[U.S. National Security Advisor]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-national-security-advisers-of-the-United-States-1788874|title=List of national security advisors of the United States|last=Tikkanen|first=Amy|date=September 10, 2019|publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica|access-date=July 12, 2020|archive-date=14 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214123429/https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-national-security-advisers-of-the-United-States-1788874|url-status=live}}</ref> in the early days of the [[Trump administration]]) who was paid "a reported $40,000 to come to RT's anniversary celebration in Moscow and sit near Mr. Putin."<ref name="Erlanger-NYT-8-3-17"/>
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=== ''World Tomorrow'' ===
Reviewing the first episode of Julian Assange's show ''World Tomorrow'', ''[[The Independent]]'' noted that Assange, who was under [[house arrest]], was "largely deferential" in asking some questions of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who himself was in hiding. However, he also asked tough questions such as why Nasrallah had not supported Arab revolts against Syrian leaders, when he had supported them in Tunisia, Yemen, Egypt, and other countries.<ref name="Taylor" /> ''The New York Times'' journalist Allesandra Stanley wrote that "practically speaking, Mr. Assange is in bed with the Kremlin, but on Tuesday's show he didn't put out" and that he "behaved surprisingly like a standard network interviewer".<ref name="Stanley" /> Douglas Lucas in [[Salon (website)|Salon]] wrote that the RT deal "may just be a profitable way for him to get a gigantic retweet".<ref name="Lucas" /> [[Glenn Greenwald]]
[[File:Abby Martin RT correspondent.png|thumb|
=== Other shows ===
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In 2017, RT ran a mock [[Twitter|live tweeting]] program under the [[Twitter hashtag|hashtag]] "#1917LIVE" to mark the 100th anniversary of the [[Russian Revolution]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Crilley |first1=Rhys |last2=Gillespie |first2=Marie |last3=Willis |first3=Alistair |title=Tweeting the Russian revolution: RT's #1917LIVE and social media re-enactments as public diplomacy |journal=European Journal of Cultural Studies |date=5 October 2019 |volume=23 |issue=3 |pages=354–373 |doi=10.1177/1367549419871353 |s2cid=210586923 |language=en}}</ref>
The #1917Live project had multimedia social plug-ins, such as Periscope live streaming, as well as virtual reality panoramic videos.<ref
===Programs===
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==== Current ====
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
* ''Starbound'' (Egor Piskunov)
* ''Perspective with [[Scottie Nell Hughes]]''
* ''Let’s Talk Bharat with [[Anupam Kher]]''
* ''Moscow Mules'' ([[Chay Bowes]])
* ''Interview'' (various presenters)
* ''Going Underground'' ([[Afshin Rattansi]])
* ''[[CrossTalk]]''
* ''The 360 View with [[Scottie Nell Hughes]]''
{{anchor|WorldsApart}}
* ''On the Touchline with [[José Mourinho]]''
* ''Direct Impact with [[Rick Sanchez (journalist)|Rick Sanchez]]''
*
* ''Modus Operandi with
* ''The Cost of Everything'' (Christy Ai)
* ''The Whistleblowers'' (John Kiriakou)
* ''Inland Visions'' (Sean Thomas)
* ''Africa Now with Paula Slier''{{div col end}}
==== Former ====
RT's former on-air staff included 25 people from RT America.<ref name="
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
* ''On Contact'' ([[Chris Hedges]])
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===On-air staff===
RT's current on-air staff includes 25 people from RT News, and eight from RT UK.<ref name="
{{col-begin}}
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According to Steven Erlanger, RT provides "hard news and top-notch graphics" and a "mix with interviews from all sorts of people: well known and obscure, left and right. if there is any unifying character to RT, it is a deep skepticism of Western and American narratives of the world and a fundamental defensiveness about Russia and Mr. Putin."<ref name="Erlanger-NYT-8-3-17"/>
RT formerly hosted the leaders of populist European parties such as UKIP's leader Nigel Farage
=== Propaganda and related issues ===
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According to Adam Johnson in ''The Nation'' magazine, "while Russia Today toes the Kremlin's line on foreign policy, it also provides an outlet to marginalized issues and voices stateside. RT, for example, has covered the recent prison strikes—the largest in American history—twice. So far CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and Rutenberg's employer, ''The New York Times'', haven't covered them at all. RT aggressively covered Occupy Wall Street early on while the rest of corporate US media were marginalizing from afar (for this effort, RT was nominated for an [[Emmy Award]])."<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/whos-afraid-of-russia-today/|title=Who's Afraid of 'Russia Today'?|magazine=The Nation|last=Johnson|first=Adam H.|date=23 September 2016|access-date=15 January 2020|language=en-US|issn=0027-8378|archive-date=15 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115200302/https://www.thenation.com/article/whos-afraid-of-russia-today/|url-status=live}}</ref> John Feffer, co-director of Foreign Policy in Focus says he appears on RT as well as the U.S.-funded Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, commented "I've been given the opportunity to talk about military expenditures in a way I haven't been given in U.S. outlets". On the fairness issue, he said: "You're going to find blind spots in the coverage for any news organization".<ref name="Zwick"/>
Among the complaints of RT are the quality of its journalism and general production of "propaganda and disinformation". Graduate students at [[Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism|Columbia School of Journalism]] monitored RT's (US) output for much of 2015, and found "RT ignores the inherent traits of journalism—checking sources, relaying facts, attempting honest reportage" and "you'll find 'experts' lacking in expertise, conspiracy theories without backing, and, from time to time, outright fabrication for the sake of pushing a pro-Kremlin line", according to Casey Michel, who worked on the project.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/08/putin-rt-soviet-propaganda-121734|title=Putin's Magnificent Messaging Machine|last=Michel|first=Casey|date=25 August 2015|work=Politico|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151028024841/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/08/putin-rt-soviet-propaganda-121734|access-date=25 September 2020|archive-date=28 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/rt-propaganda-columbia-journalism-students-blog-coverage/26869048.html|title='Propaganda Bullhorn' Or 'Alternative Perspective'? U.S. Students Put Kremlin-Funded RT Under Microscope|last=Schreck|first=Carl|date=25 February 2015|access-date=23 January 2016|publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|archive-date=30 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151230060103/http://www.rferl.org/content/rt-propaganda-columbia-journalism-students-blog-coverage/26869048.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The results were compiled in a [[Tumblr]] blog.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rtwatchcuj.tumblr.com/|title=RT Watch Blog|year=2015|access-date=23 January 2016|archive-date=30 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130074904/http://rtwatchcuj.tumblr.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> Media analyst Vasily Gatov wrote in a 2014 ''[[The Moscow Times|Moscow Times]]'' article that sharp ethical and reporting skills are not required for Russian media employees, including RT.<ref
In a 2022 research paper comparing RT and [[China Global Television Network|CGTN]]
RT has been accused of different approaches to disinformation:
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* Only rarely taking a "single, anti-Western media line on any given story", which would be "too obvious". Instead, presenting "gaggles of competing and contradicting narratives which together create the impression that the truth is indecipherable". (Lithuania's STRATCOM Colonel).<ref>{{cite web|title=Meet the Colonel in Charge of Countering Russian Propaganda in Lithuania|url=https://news.vice.com/article/meet-the-colonel-in-charge-of-countering-russian-propaganda-in-lithuania|website=Vice News|date=24 May 2015|access-date=5 July 2016|archive-date=19 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919083116/https://news.vice.com/article/meet-the-colonel-in-charge-of-countering-russian-propaganda-in-lithuania|url-status=live}}</ref> RT's "main message is that you cannot trust the western media". It seems "dedicated to the proposition that after the notion of objectivity has evaporated, all stories are equally true." (Peter Pomerantsev, writing in ''The Guardian'' in 2015)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/apr/09/kremlin-hall-of-mirrors-military-information-psychology|title=Inside the Kremlin's hall of mirrors|last=Pomerantsev|first=Peter|date=9 April 2015|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=15 April 2015|archive-date=2 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102122506/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/apr/09/kremlin-hall-of-mirrors-military-information-psychology|url-status=live}}</ref> Using a strategy of distributing fake stories in "high-volume and multichannel, rapid, continuous, and repetitive" manner, with no regard to consistency. This "[[firehose of falsehood]]" makes propaganda difficult to counter. (Christopher Paul, Miriam Matthews of [[RAND Corporation]]).<ref>{{cite web|year=2016|others=Paul, Christopher, Matthews, Miriam|title=Russia's "Firehose of Falsehood" Propaganda Model|url=https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PE198.html|publisher=[[RAND Corporation]]|language=en|access-date=24 May 2018|archive-date=13 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813221858/https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PE198.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Though viewers may still oppose Russian policy and dislike Putin, RT's goal is for “a bit" of disinformation mud to "stick” to viewers and their doubts about Western institutions to grow. (Robert Pszczel, who ran NATO's information office in Moscow and watches Russia and the western Balkans for NATO.)<ref name="Erlanger-NYT-8-3-17"/>
* Pushing different themes in different countries, which are often contradictory but all serve the Russian government's interests:
** presenting itself as a liberal alternative in the United States, but as the flagship of resurgent [[Nationalism|nationalist]] parties in Europe. (Patrick Hilsman)<ref
** warning domestic Russian audiences of the dangers of COVID-19 and the need for preventive measures, while saturating English, German, French, Spanish, and Arabic-language platforms with [[COVID-19 misinformation]] and conspiracy theories.<ref name=@DFRLab/><ref name=meduza.io-two-faces/><ref name="RFE/RT-27-10-21"/>
** RT (and other Russian propaganda media) may broadcast different "themes or messages", different accounts of "contested events", and may change their account (their "falsehood or misrepresentation") if it is "exposed or ... not well received", moving "on to a new (though not necessarily more plausible) explanation".<ref name=RAND/> An example being Russian media explanations for killing of 283 passengers and 15 crew from the downing of [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 17]] on 17 July 2014 while the plane was flying over pro-Russian [[Novorossiya (confederation)|separatist-controlled territory]] in Ukraine. The [[Dutch Safety Board]] (DSB) and the Dutch-led [[#Criminal investigation|joint investigation team]] (JIT), concluded that the airliner was downed by a Russian [[Buk missile system|Buk]] [[surface-to-air missile]] launched from the separatist-controlled territory,<ref name="DSB_Final_Report">{{cite report |url=https://www.onderzoeksraad.nl/en/media/attachment/2018/7/10/debcd724fe7breport_mh17_crash.pdf |title=Crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Hrabove, Ukraine, 17 July 2014 |publisher=[[Dutch Safety Board]] |date=13 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013141325/http://cdn.onderzoeksraad.nl/documents/report-mh17-crash-en.pdf |archive-date=13 October 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref
=== Disinformation and conspiracy theories ===
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RT has broadcast stories about microchips being implanted into office workers in the EU to make them more "submissive"; about the "majority" of Europeans supporting [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Russian annexation of Crimea]]; the EU preparing "a form of genocide" against Russians; in Germany it [[Criminal case of Lisa F.|falsely reported about a kidnapping of a Russian girl]]; that "NATO planned to store nuclear weapons in Eastern Europe"; that Hillary Clinton fell ill; it has also on many occasions misrepresented or invented statements from European leaders.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://euvsdisinfo.eu/inside-rts-world-of-alternative-news/|title=Inside RT's world of alternative news|date=13 April 2017|work=EU vs Disinformation|access-date=23 May 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=10 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510193015/https://euvsdisinfo.eu/inside-rts-world-of-alternative-news/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://euvsdisinfo.eu/everyone-against-russia-conspiracy-theories-on-the-rise-in-russian-media/|title=Everyone Against Russia: Conspiracy Theories on the Rise In Russian Media|date=22 May 2018|work=EU vs Disinformation|access-date=23 May 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=15 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915141148/https://euvsdisinfo.eu/everyone-against-russia-conspiracy-theories-on-the-rise-in-russian-media/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/29/world/europe/russia-sweden-disinformation.html|title=A Powerful Russian Weapon: The Spread of False Stories|date=28 August 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=24 May 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=18 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618150336/https://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/08/29/world/europe/russia-sweden-disinformation.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Timberg|first=Craig|date=24 November 2016|title=Russian propaganda effort helped spread 'fake news' during election, experts say|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/russian-propaganda-effort-helped-spread-fake-news-during-election-experts-say/2016/11/24/793903b6-8a40-4ca9-b712-716af66098fe_story.html|access-date=24 May 2018|issn=0190-8286|quote=Some of these stories originated with RT and Sputnik, state-funded Russian information services that mimic the style and tone of independent news organizations yet sometimes include false and misleading stories in their reports, the researchers say. On other occasions, RT, Sputnik and other Russian sites used social-media accounts to amplify misleading stories already circulating online, causing news algorithms to identify them as “trending” topics that sometimes prompted coverage from mainstream American news organizations.|archive-date=16 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116162008/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/russian-propaganda-effort-helped-spread-fake-news-during-election-experts-say/2016/11/24/793903b6-8a40-4ca9-b712-716af66098fe_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2017, RT started its own [[fact-checking]] project, FakeCheck, in response to accusations of spreading fake news.<ref name="
From the time of the [[2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine|2014 pro-Russia unrest in Ukraine]] RT has repeatedly been exposed for producing [[fake news]].
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In 2022, the Centre for Democratic Integrity (CDI) published a comprehensive report "RT in Europe and beyond" which in detail describes disinformation and divisive activities of RT against European audience with focus on regional editions (French, Spanish, German, British), documenting specific disinformation campaigns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RT in Europe and beyond |url=https://democratic-integrity.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/RT_in_Europe_and_beyond-CDI_Report.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914115733/https://democratic-integrity.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/RT_in_Europe_and_beyond-CDI_Report.pdf |archive-date=2022-09-14 |access-date=2022-09-14}}</ref>
In 2022, Martin Moore and Thomas Colley of [[King's College London]] noted that RT's coverage of the [[2020 United States presidential election]] was anti-[[Joe Biden]] and pro-Trump, with RT promoting the [[Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign|Trump campaign]]'s unfounded claims that Biden was the head of a "crime family", as well as allegations that Biden's son [[Hunter Biden|Hunter]] [[Hunter Biden laptop controversy|made corrupt business deals in Ukraine and China]] and possessed pictures of underage girls. RT also questioned Joe Biden's fitness for office and promoted unfounded rumors that he could only debate effectively with the use of headpieces and/or performance-enhancing drugs. Following the election, RT uncritically promoted Trump's [[Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election|unfounded claims of electoral fraud]], and Moore and Colley noted that in its coverage of the electoral process, RT claimed that the process was "dysfunctional, fraudulent or futile".<ref name="
=== Treatment of Putin and Medvedev ===
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=== Anti-Americanism and anti-Westernism ===
[[File:George Floyd protests and memorial in Iran (8).jpg|thumb|RT reporter covering the [[George Floyd protests]] in Iran in June 2020]]
''[[The New Republic]]'' writer [[James Kirchick]] accused the network of "often virulent [[anti-Americanism]], worshipful portrayal of Russian leaders".<ref name="Kirchick">{{cite news|last=Kirchick|first=James|title=Pravda on the Potomac (page 2)|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/pravda-the-potomac|newspaper=The New Republic|date=18 February 2009|access-date=11 March 2017|archive-date=16 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016155148/http://www.newrepublic.com/article/pravda-the-potomac|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Edward Lucas (journalist)|Edward Lucas]] wrote in ''[[The Economist]]'' (quoted in [[Al Jazeera English]]) that the core of RT was "anti-Westernism".<ref name="Sousa">{{cite news|last=Sousa|first=Ann De|title=News channel or propaganda tool?|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/listeningpost/2011/03/201132714649315858.html|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=26 January 2012|access-date=31 October 2012|archive-date=2 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202121702/http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/listeningpost/2011/03/201132714649315858.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Julia Ioffe wrote: "Often, it seemed that Russia Today was just a way to stick it to the U.S. from behind the façade of legitimate newsgathering."<ref name="Ioffe"/> Shaun Walker wrote in ''[[The Independent]]'' that RT "has made a name for itself as a strident critic of US policy".<ref name="independent.co.uk">{{cite news|last=Walker|first=Shaun|title=Assange takes chat-show job with state-funded Russian TV|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/assange-takes-chatshow-job-with-statefunded-russian-tv-6294553.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=26 January 2012|access-date=10 September 2017|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925185629/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/assange-takes-chatshow-job-with-statefunded-russian-tv-6294553.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Russian studies professor [[Stephen F. Cohen]] stated in 2012 that RT does a lot of stories that "reflect badly" on the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and much of Western Europe and that they are "particularly aggrieved by American sermonizing abroad". Citing that RT compares stories about Russia allowing mass protests of the [[2011–2012 Russian protests|2011–2012 Russian election protests]] with those of U.S. authorities nationwide arresting members of the [[Occupy movement]]. Cohen states that despite the pro-Kremlin slant, "any intelligent viewer can sort this out. I doubt that many idiots find their way to RT".<ref name="Zwick">{{cite magazine|last=Zwick|first=Jesse|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/world/magazine/101703/russia-tv-rtv-cohen-alyona|title=Pravda Lite|magazine=[[The New Republic]]|date=14 March 2012|access-date=14 February 2017|archive-date=31 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131153831/https://newrepublic.com/article/101703/russia-tv-rtv-cohen-alyona|url-status=live}}.</ref>
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{{Flag|European Union}} – Sanctions against [[Dmitry Kiselyov]], the head of Russia's state-controlled [[Rossiya Segodnya]] and RT television presenter, have been in place since the [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|2014 invasion and annexation]] of Ukraine's Crimea. The [[Council of the European Union|EU Council]] cites Kiselyov to be a "central figure of the government propaganda supporting the deployment of Russian forces in Ukraine". Initially, Russian state-owned media outlets were not banned and continued to be available in the EU, with the exception of Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hille|first=Kathrin|date=21 March 2014|title=Dmitry Kiselyov: Russian TV presenter draws EU sanctions wrath|work=[[Financial Times]]|url=https://www.ft.com/content/3af01860-b111-11e3-9f6f-00144feab7de|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918083422/https://www.ft.com/content/3af01860-b111-11e3-9f6f-00144feab7de|archive-date=18 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|date=21 March 2014|title=Concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32014R0284&from=PL|journal=[[Official Journal of the European Union]]|volume=|pages=|via=EUR-Lex}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=EU restrictive measures in response to the crisis in Ukraine|url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/sanctions/ukraine-crisis/#|access-date=14 January 2020|website=[[Europa (web portal)]]}}</ref> The [[European Parliament]] Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (INGE) described RT as "actively engaging in disinformation activities" and highlighted that RT and [[Sputnik (news agency)|Sputnik]] are pushing local broadcasters in Europe off from the market thanks to massive funding from Russian Federation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=INGE Consolidated Draft Report {{!}} Highlights {{!}} Home {{!}} INGE {{!}} Committees {{!}} European Parliament|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/inge-consolidated-draft-report/product-details/20220210CAN64946|access-date=2022-02-14|website=www.europarl.europa.eu|language=en}}</ref> Editor-in-chief [[Margarita Simonyan]] was sanctioned by the European Union on 23 February 2022 when Russia recognized the [[Donetsk People's Republic|Donetsk]] and [[Luhansk People's Republic|Luhansk]] breakaway states.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stevis-Gridneff |first1=Matina |title=European Sanctions Target Putin's Inner Circle |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/23/world/europe/eu-sanctions-putin-russia-ukraine.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=25 February 2022 |date=23 February 2022}}</ref> On 27 February 2022, the EU banned RT and Sputnik from broadcasting in its member countries, following the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref name="CBS2022"/>
{{flag|Australia}} – [[Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts|Minister for Communications]] [[Paul Fletcher (politician)|Paul Fletcher]] requested the partially Australian government funded [[public service broadcaster]] [[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]] suspend broadcasts of RT and [[NTV (Russia)|NTV]] news programming on its [[World Watch]] platform. Fletcher stated, "Given the current actions of the Russian government {{bracket|[[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]]}}, and the lack of genuinely independent Russian media, this is a responsible decision." SBS suspended the aforementioned broadcasts on 25 February 2022.<ref>{{cite web|title=Statement from SBS regarding acquired Russian TV news programming|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/statement-from-sbs-regarding-acquired-russian-tv-news-programming|website=SBS Corporate|date=25 February 2022
{{flag|Canada}} – On 16 March 2022, the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] banned RT and RT France from broadcasting in Canada.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/crtc-russia-today-broadcasting-decision-1.6386929|title=CRTC bans Russian state-controlled TV channels RT, RT France from Canadian airwaves|last=Zimonjic|first=Peter|work=CBC News|date=2022-03-16|access-date=2022-03-21}}</ref>
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{{flag|Latvia}} – At the end of June 2020, after new amendments to the Law on Electronic Media were made, seven RT channels were banned in Latvia for being under the control of [[Dmitry Kiselyov]] who had been sanctioned by the European Union since 2014. Chairperson of the National Electronic Mass Media Council Ivars Āboliņš said they will be asking all EU state regulators to follow their example and restrict RT in their territory.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.neplpadome.lv/en/home/news/news1/neplp-restricts-most-influential-kremlins-propaganda-channel-in-latvia.html|title=NEPLP restricts most influential Kremlin's propaganda channel in Latvia|publisher=The National Electronic Mass Media Council|date=30 June 2020|access-date=30 June 2020|archive-date=1 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701155301/https://www.neplpadome.lv/en/home/news/news1/neplp-restricts-most-influential-kremlins-propaganda-channel-in-latvia.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Latvia ban">{{cite news |last=Anstrate |first=Vita |date=30 June 2020 |title=Kremlin propaganda channel "RT" banned in Latvia |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting of Latvia]] |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/politics/kremlin-propaganda-channel-rt-banned-in-latvia.a365523/ |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> Kiselyov called the decision "an indicator of the level of stupidity and ignorance of the Latvian authorities, blinded by Russophobia".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gelzis|first1=Gederts|last2=Marrow|first2=Alexander|last3=Devitt|first3=Polina|others=Alexandra Hudson (ed.)|date=30 June 2020|title=Latvia bans Russian broadcaster RT over ties to Kremlin media mogul|work=[[Reuters]]|editor-last=Fulton|editor-first=Colm|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-latvia-russia-rt/latvia-bans-russian-broadcaster-rt-over-ties-to-kremlin-media-mogul-idUSKBN24133K|access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref>
{{flag|Lithuania}} – [[Linas Antanas Linkevičius]], Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs, posted on Twitter on 9 March 2014 amid the [[
{{flag|Poland}} – The [[Krajowa Rada Radiofonii i Telewizji|National Broadcasting Council]] banned RT in Poland on 24 February 2022 in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.<ref name="Poland ban">{{cite web |title=Rosyjskie programy wykreślone z rejestru programów rozprowadzanych |url=https://www.gov.pl/web/krrit/rosyjskie-programy-wykreslone-z-rejestru-programow-rozprowadzanych |publisher=[[Krajowa Rada Radiofonii i Telewizji|National Broadcasting Council]] |language=pl-PL |trans-title=Russian programs removed from the distributed program registry }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kayali |first1=Laura |last2=Goujard |first2=Clothilde |title=Europe increases pressure on Kremlin-backed broadcaster RT |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/western-europe-increases-pressure-on-kremlin-backed-broadcaster-rt/ |website=[[Politico Europe]] |access-date=25 February 2022 |date=24 February 2022}}</ref>
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{{flag|United Kingdom}} – On 18 March 2022, ANO TV Novosti's broadcasting license was revoked by [[Ofcom]], effectively banning RT from being broadcast. This was taken in the wake of RT UK being funded by the Russian government, which, when combined with their promotion of Russian state narratives with regards to sanctions and its invasion of Ukraine, was deemed a violation of neutrality standards.<ref name="UK licence revoke">{{Cite news|date=18 March 2022|title=Ofcom revokes RT's broadcast licence|work=[[Ofcom]]|url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/news-centre/2022/ofcom-revokes-rt-broadcast-licence|access-date=16 April 2022}}</ref> This came after an investigation was launched on 2 March 2022 in these matters, also involving the invasion.<ref name="UK investigation">{{Cite news|date=2 March 2022|title=Ofcom launches further investigations into RT|work=[[Ofcom]]|url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/news-centre/2022/ofcom-revokes-rt-broadcast-licence|access-date=16 April 2022}}</ref>
{{flag|United States}} – In September 2017, the [[United States Department of Justice|US Department of Justice]] compelled RT to file paperwork under the [[Foreign Agents Registration Act]] in the United States.<ref
=== Political involvement ===
In April 2017, during his successful run for President of France, [[Emmanuel Macron]]'s [[2017 French presidential election|campaign team]] banned both RT and the [[Sputnik (news agency)|Sputnik news agency]] from campaign events. A Macron spokesperson said the two outlets showed a "systematic desire to issue fake news and false information".<ref name="Emmanuel Macron's campaign team bans Russian news outlets from events">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/27/russia-emmanuel-macron-banned-news-outlets-discrimination|title=Emmanuel Macron's campaign team bans Russian news outlets from events|date=27 April 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=9 May 2017|agency=Reuters}}</ref> Macron later said during a press conference that RT and Sputnik were "agencies of influence and propaganda, lying propaganda—no more, no less".<ref
In October 2017, Twitter banned both RT and Sputnik from advertising on their social networking service amid accusations of [[Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections]], sparking an angry response from the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia)|Russian foreign ministry]].<ref name="Twitter bans RT and Sputnik ads amid election interference fears">{{citation|title = Twitter bans RT and Sputnik ads amid election interference fears|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41766991|work = BBC News|date = 26 October 2017|access-date = 4 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Confessore|first=Nicholas|date=2017-10-26|title=Twitter Bans Two Kremlin-Backed News Outlets From Advertising|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/26/technology/twitter-russia-today-sputnik.html|access-date=2021-12-14|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Twitter in August 2020 began to identify RT, along with other Russian and Chinese media outlets, as "state-affiliated media" in a prominent place at the top of their accounts on the social media platform.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Culliford|first1=Elizabeth|last2=Nichols|first2=Michelle|others=Dan Grebler (ed.)|date=6 August 2020|title=Twitter labels state media, government officials' accounts|work=[[Reuters]]|editor-last=Zieminski|editor-first=Nick|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-twitter-labels-media-idUSKCN2522G9|access-date=12 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/08/06/technology/06reuters-twitter-labels-media.html|title=Twitter Labels State Media, Government Officials' Accounts|work=The New York Times|agency=Reuters|date=6 August 2020|access-date=7 August 2020}}</ref>
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[[File:RT covering protests in Moscow on 1012.JPG|left|thumb|RT team covering protests in [[Bolotnaya Square]] in Moscow on 10 December 2011]]
In 2012, Jesse Zwick of ''[[The New Republic]]'' criticized RT, stating it held that "civilian casualties in Syria are minimal, foreign intervention would be disastrous, and any humanitarian appeals from Western nations are a thin veil for a NATO-backed move to isolate Iran, China, and Russia". He wrote that RT wants to "make the United States look out of line for lecturing Russia".<ref name="Zwick" /> Zwick also wrote that RT provided a "disproportionate amount of time" to covering [[Libertarianism|libertarian]] Republican [[Ron Paul]] during [[Ron Paul presidential campaign, 2012|his 2012 presidential campaign]]. Writing after her 2014 on-air resignation, [[Liz Wahl]] suggested the reason for this "wasn't his message of freedom and liberty but his non-interventionist stance and consistent criticism of U.S. foreign policy. His message fit RT's narrative that the United States is a huge bully."<ref name="
In September 2012, UK broadcast regulator [[Ofcom]] found that two Libyan dispatches broadcast by RT's [[Lizzie Phelan]] in a year earlier were in breach of its code on accuracy and impartiality. The following November, RT was again found in breach of impartiality rules in relation to its coverage of the Syrian conflict.<ref>[http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/enforcement/broadcast-bulletins/obb217/obb217.pdf Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin – Syrian news coverage], 5 November 2012, pp 15–27.</ref> An August 2013 story concerning unverified reports of the killing of 450 [[Kurds|Kurdish]] civilians near the Turkey-Syria border was also found to have breached Ofcom's rules.<ref>[http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/enforcement/broadcast-bulletins/obb2402/obb241.pdf Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin – Graphic footage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617020536/http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/enforcement/broadcast-bulletins/obb2402/obb241.pdf |date=17 June 2016 }}, 4 November 2013, pp 14–17.</ref> That December, Ofcom found RT in breach of its standards in relation to the impartiality of a documentary entitled "Syrian Diary" broadcast the previous March.<ref>[http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/enforcement/broadcast-bulletins/2431/obb244.pdf Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin – Syrian Diary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617020526/http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/enforcement/broadcast-bulletins/2431/obb244.pdf |date=17 June 2016 }}, 16 December 2013, pp 6–25.</ref> Speaking in 2014 former RT reporter Sara Firth said that there had previously been examples of senior editorial interference, and that she had been pulled out of Syria after some "very heated discussions" about the channel's coverage.<ref name=sarafirth/>
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On 4 March 2014, ''Breaking The Set'' host [[Abby Martin (journalist)|Abby Martin]], speaking directly to her viewing audience during the show's closing statement, said that even though she works for RT, she is against Russia's intervention in Ukraine. She said that "what Russia did is wrong", as she is against intervention by any nation into other countries' affairs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/04/world/europe/russia-news-anchor-ukraine/|title=State-funded news anchor Abby Martin: 'What Russia did is wrong' |author=Greg Botelho|date=5 March 2014|publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> Later, Martin asserted that RT still supports her despite her differences of opinion with the Russian government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rt.com/shows/breaking-set-summary/ukraine-conflict-perspectives-usa-885/|title=Ukraine conflict perspectives and Washington's shadow lobbyists|website=RT International|language=en-EN|access-date=14 April 2017}}</ref> RTs press office suggested that Martin would be sent to [[Crimea]] and responded to accusations of propaganda, stating "the charges of propaganda tend to pop up every time a news outlet, particularly RT, dares to show the side of events that does not fit the mainstream narrative, regardless of the realities on the ground. This happened in [[Information war during the Russo-Georgian war|Georgia]], this is happening in [[2014 Crimean crisis|Ukraine]]".<ref>Graves, Lucia (4 March 2014) [http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/rt-defends-host-abby-martin-responds-to-accusations-of-pro-putin-propaganda-20140304 RT Defends Host Abby Martin, Responds to Accusations of Pro-Putin Propaganda], [[National Journal]] retrieved 11 April 2014</ref> [[Glenn Greenwald]] said that American media elites love to mock Russian media, especially RT, as being a source of shameless pro-Putin propaganda, where free expression is strictly barred. Agreeing the "network has a strong pro-Russian bias", he suggested that Martin's action "remarkably demonstrated what 'journalistic independence' means".<ref>Greenwald, Glenn (4 March 2014) [https://theintercept.com/2014/03/04/rt-host-abby-martin-condemns-russian-incursion-crimea-rt/ RT Host Abby Martin Condemns Russian Incursion Into Crimea – On RT] [[The Intercept]] retrieved 21 March 2014</ref>
On 5 March 2014, RT Washington, D.C. bureau anchor Liz Wahl resigned on air, blaming RT for propaganda. Wahl stated that what "broke" her was that RT censored a question from her interview with Ron Paul about "Russia's ''intervention'' in Ukraine". In response, RT released a statement: "When a journalist disagrees with the editorial position of his or her organization, the usual course of action is to address those grievances with the editor, and, if they cannot be resolved, to quit like a professional. But when someone makes a big public show of a personal decision, it is nothing more than a self-promotional stunt. We wish Liz the best of luck on her chosen path".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eversley |first1=Melanie |title=Russia-funded station decries on-air resignation |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/03/06/russia-today-liz-wahl-resignation/6108179/ |website=[[USA Today]] |access-date=21 March 2021 |date=6 March 2014}}</ref> In a March 2014 ''Politico'' article, Wahl stated: "For about two and a half years. I'd looked the other way as the network smeared America for the sake of making the Kremlin look better by comparison, while it sugarcoated atrocities by one brutal dictator after another."<ref name="
[[File:Liz Wahl on RT America.png|thumb|RT America broadcast with former anchor [[Liz Wahl]]]]
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Steve Bloomfield, the foreign editor of ''[[Monocle (lifestyle magazine)|Monocle]]'' wrote that RT's "coverage of Ukraine could not have been kinder to Moscow if Vladimir Putin had chosen the running order himself. While Putin kept up the pretence that there were no Russian troops in Crimea, so too did RT. The storming of government buildings across eastern Ukraine has been portrayed as the understandable actions of peace-loving protesters who fear "chaos" in Kiev".<ref>{{cite news|title=Ofcom should be looking again at Putin's TV news channel|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/24/ukraine-russia-putin-news-reporting|date=24 April 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|author=Bloomfield, Steve}}</ref>
After the July 2014 crash of [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 17]], RT rushed to blame others for the plane's shoot-down in Ukraine amid accusations by Ukrainian fighters of Russian involvement in the crash.<ref name="mh17-biau">{{citation|title=Here's The Ridiculous Way Russia's Propaganda Channel Is Covering The Downed Malaysia Airliner|url=
Sara Firth, a London-based correspondent with RT resigned in protest over the network's coverage of the MH17 disaster. Shortly before resigning, she [[tweeted]], "RT style guide Rule 1: It is ALWAYS * Ukraine's fault (* add name as applicable)". She told ''The Guardian'': "I walked into the newsroom and there was an eyewitness account making allegations [against Ukraine] and analysis, if you can call it, from our correspondent in the studio. It was just appalling, in a situation like that where there are families waiting to be informed and a devastating loss of life." She also noted that "There is bias against Russia but you don't counter wrong by doing even more wrong" and stated "I have always said it's better to have RT than to not have that perspective, but actually with a story like this and the way they misreport it, it's quite dangerous, I don't want to be party to it."<ref name="sarafirth">{{cite news|last=Plunkett|first=John|date=18 July 2014|title=Russia Today reporter resigns in protest at MH17 coverage|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/jul/18/mh17-russia-today-reporter-resigns-sara-firth-kremlin-malaysia|access-date=11 March 2021}}</ref> In follow-up interview she said: "In Ukraine, you're taking a very small part of a much wider story, totally omitted the context of the story, and so what you wind up with on air is outright misinformation." Calling RT "mass information manipulation", Firth said: "they have a very clear idea in their mind of what they're trying to prove". She also stated that "The worst-kept secret is that RT is blatant propaganda. I'm one in a very long line of people who have left for the same reason."<ref name=TIME2114/>
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====2015–2016====
In January 2015, Ofcom found RT (and the BBC) not in breach of rules on generally accepted standards following a complaint about the use of graphic imagery of bodies at the MH17 crash site.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jan/05/bbc-news-rt-cleared-coverage-mh17 |title=BBC News and RT cleared over coverage of shooting down of flight MH17 |date=5 January 2015 |work=The Guardian |last=Kemp|first=Stuart |access-date=14 February 2015}}</ref><ref>[http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/enforcement/broadcast-bulletins/obb2691/obb270.pdf Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin – MH17] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214202047/http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/enforcement/broadcast-bulletins/obb2691/obb270.pdf |date=14 February 2015 }}, 5 January 2015, p 48</ref>
[[File:Vladimir Putin, Russia Today television channel (2015-12-10) 01.jpg|thumb|left|President Putin with Margarita Simonyan in front of RT's "Question more" slogan (2015)]]
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|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2015/571339/EPRS_BRI(2015)571339_EN.pdf |publisher=Members' Research Service – European Parliamentary Research Service}}</ref> The counter-propaganda strategy subsequently developed by the EastStratCom Task Force, a small group of eight officials, included launching the ''EU vs Disinformation'' website with a headline of "don't be deceived, question even more".<ref name=Conversation/><ref>{{citation |last=Gotev |first=Georgi |date=28 August 2015 |title=Tiny EU task force set up to counter Russian propaganda |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/tiny-eu-task-force-set-up-to-counter-russian-propaganda/ |publisher=Fondation Euractiv |access-date=3 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=EU vs Disinformation website |url=https://euvsdisinfo.eu/ |access-date=3 March 2017 |archive-date=6 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206015254/https://euvsdisinfo.eu/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In September 2015, Ofcom found RT in breach of the impartiality rules in its coverage of the events in Ukraine and [[Syria]]. It also upheld the complaint by the [[BBC]] that allegations made in an episode of ''The Truthseeker'' that a BBC ''[[Panorama (TV series)|Panorama]]'' film, ''[[Saving Syria's Children]]'', had faked a parts of a report on a chemical weapon attack in Syria were "materially misleading".<ref name=BBC-21Sept>{{cite news |title=UK regulator Ofcom backs BBC in Russian TV case |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-34316047 |work=BBC News |date=21 September 2015 |access-date=23 January 2016}}</ref><ref name=Ofcom-21Sept>{{cite news |title=Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin |url=http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/enforcement/broadcast-bulletins/obb288/Issue_288.pdf |issue=288 |publisher=[[Ofcom]] |date=21 September 2015 |access-date=23 January 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053136/http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/enforcement/broadcast-bulletins/obb288/Issue_288.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Burrell 2015 RT misled">{{cite news| last=Burrell | first=Ian | title=Broadcaster RT misled viewers and breached broadcasting rules, says Ofcom | website=The Independent | date=21 September 2015 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/rt-breached-broadcasting-rules-over-claims-bbc-faked-pictures-of-syrian-chemical-attack-says-ofcom-10511515.html | access-date=27 November 2018}}</ref>
In an episode of ''The Truthseeker'', named ''Genocide of Eastern Ukraine'', they stated that the Ukrainian government was deliberately bombing civilians and had murdered and tortured journalists, as well as [[Crucified Boy|crucifying babies]]. Ukrainian army forces were accused of "ethnic cleansing" and were compared to the Nazis in World War Two. The only response to the allegations in the broadcast was in the form of a caption saying "Kiev claims it is not committing genocide, denies casualty reports", which appeared on screen for six seconds. According to Ofcom the broadcast had "little or no counterbalance or objectivity".<ref name=BBC-21Sept/>
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On 19 January 2017, RT stated that it had been temporarily restricted from posting media on its Facebook page until 21 January, after the service said that RT had infringed on the copyrights of [[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|Radio Liberty]]'s Current Now TV when broadcasting a live stream of [[Barack Obama]]'s final press conference as president of the United States. Current Time TV said that it had not sent any specific complaints to Facebook, and both RT and Current Now TV stated that they had obtained their feed from the [[Associated Press]]. The restriction was removed after about 20 hours, and Facebook did not say officially if this was because of a technical error or a policy issue.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wong|first=Julia Carrie|author-link=Julia Carrie Wong|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jan/19/facebook-russia-rt-censorship-temporary-ban|title=Russia threatens retaliation over Facebook 'censorship' of RT|work=The Guardian|date=20 January 2017|access-date=20 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="variety-rtblockfb">{{cite web|last=Spangler|first=Todd|title=Facebook Restores Kremlin-Funded RT Posting Privileges After Temporary Block|url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/facebook-blocks-rt-posting-trump-inauguration-1201963757/|work=Variety|date=19 January 2017|access-date=21 January 2017}}</ref>
In September 2017, the [[U.S. Department of Justice]] informed RT America that it must register as a [[Foreign Agents Registration Act|foreign agent]] of the Russian government. Margarita Simonyan, RT's editor-in-chief, condemned the action as an assault on [[freedom of speech]]. A spokesperson for the [[Russian foreign ministry]] threatened retaliatory measures against American journalists.<ref>{{cite web|title=Russia considering US media restrictions as retaliation|date=8 October 2017|url=
On 13 November 2017, RT America officially registered as a "foreign agent" in the United States with the [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] under the [[Foreign Agents Registration Act]]. Under the act, RT will be required to disclose financial information.<ref name="
In December 2018, the British media regulator [[Ofcom]] ruled that seven programmes broadcast by RT between 17 March and 26 April of that year, in the wake of the [[Poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal|Salisbury nerve agent attacks]], had breached the UK's impartiality rules; the BBC reported that RT was "extremely disappointed by Ofcom's conclusions".<ref name="BBC News 20 December 2018">{{cite web | title= Russian news channel RT broke TV impartiality rules, Ofcom says|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-46633082 | author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date= 20 December 2018| website= [[BBC News Online]] | access-date= 20 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ofcom Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/131159/Issue-369-Broadcast-and-On-Demand-Bulletin.pdf |issue=369 |publisher=[[Ofcom]] |date=20 December 2018 |access-date=8 June 2019}}</ref> RT was fined £200,000 but kept its licence to broadcast in the UK.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/jul/26/rt-fined-breaching-impartiality-rules-ofcom |title=RT fined £200,000 for breaching impartiality rules |first= Jim |last=Waterson |date=26 July 2019 |work=The Guardian }}</ref> RT described Ofcom's actions against it as "inappropriate and disproportionate per Ofcom's own track record".<ref>{{cite web |title=Ofcom fines Russian news service £200,000 over impartiality |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-49126466 |website=[[BBC News]] |access-date=21 March 2021 |date=26 July 2019}}</ref>
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