The aggravating aspect of the modern global conflicts is the use of soft power: propaganda, news, social networking, cyber-interference, sharing, information leaks and other means designed to influence the hearts and minds of the people and thus to gain an advantage over the enemy. With the beginning of the digital era, the value and scope of application of these techniques has increased significantly, and Russia has demonstrated his dark skill to use, especially after the invasion of the Ukraine three years ago. How to respond should the West, and, more broadly, as a free and open society should respond to the propaganda of authoritarian regimes? Should America stoop to such behavior? Or free societies it is hoped that their news outlets and social networks will be enough to defend against the avalanche of lies and deliberate attempts to confuse?
Last week, the United States took a rather intriguing and important attempt to answer this question. “Now,” a joint project of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and “voice of America”, is a Russian-language TV channel broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which works out of Prague and which is designed for residents of Russia and neighboring countries in the former Soviet Union. The information content of the “Present time” must provide a fair and accurate coverage, and a tool for a sober assessment of the misinformation that provokes conflicts in the region. In other words, it is an attempt to begin a Frank conversation with the citizens of those countries dominated by state propaganda.
The Russians know a large part of the news through television and the state plays a leading role in monitoring and management of most of the major cable channels. (Independent TV channel “Rain” is an exception.) But the Russians began to increasingly turn to social networks where they can watch the live video of “Real time”, also available on the official website. Outside Russia, the Baltic States and Central Asia, there are millions of potential viewers who have no alternatives to Russian Moscow TV channels. They must be, will welcome the opportunity to begin a direct dialogue.
The two organizations that created the “Present”, funded by the us government. In Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in the “Voice of America” by professional journalists. They do not want to be tools of American propaganda, they want to produce such a television that will be based on facts. The key to the success of “Real time” will be consider whether its key audience with reliable information that it will broadcast, and we are talking about the audience, which for many years heavily indoctrinated anti-American sentiment. The desire to reach the audience is a worthy goal, but it will not be easy.
The administration trump can help if it won’t interfere with “Real time” and if she will cope with the desire to turn this channel into a tool of American propaganda. And the idea is not to make a copy of the Russian propaganda channels such as RT and Sputnik. For its part, the Congress has for some time asked to adopt a more resolute response to the information war of Russia. “Now” is one of the attempts to answer, using real news and honest coverage of events, and it is a reflection of the highest ideals of our open society. Congress must do everything possible so that this channel received the necessary funding and has not experienced pressure from the authorities of the United States.
