Propaganda in the U.S. Mainstream Media - The War in Ukraine

The war in Ukraine has been a major news story for months, and the mainstream media has been playing a key role in shaping public opinion about the conflict. However, some critics have accused the media of disseminating propaganda, or information that is intended to promote a particular point of view.

There are several types of propaganda that have been used by the mainstream media in their coverage of the war in Ukraine. One type is selective reporting, which involves only reporting on information that supports a particular narrative. For example, the media has often focused on stories about Ukrainian civilian casualties, while downplaying stories about Russian civilian casualties.

Another type of propaganda is framing, which involves using language and images to present a particular interpretation of events. For example, the media has often described the war as a "fight for democracy" or a "clash of civilizations," which frames the conflict in a way that is favorable to Ukraine and its allies.

The media has also used emotional appeals to try to persuade people to support Ukraine. For example, the media has often shown images of Ukrainian children who have been affected by the war, which is intended to evoke sympathy for Ukraine and its people.

Examples of Propaganda

Here are some examples of propaganda that have been used by the mainstream media in their coverage of the war in Ukraine:

• Selective reporting: The media has often focused on stories about Ukrainian civilian casualties, while downplaying stories about Russian civilian casualties. For example, a study by the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University found that the New York Times published 1,151 articles about Ukrainian civilian casualties between February 24 and March 8, 2022, but only 24 articles about Russian civilian casualties.
• Framing: The media has often described the war as a "fight for democracy" or a "clash of civilizations," which frames the conflict in a way that is favorable to Ukraine and its allies. For example, a study by the Media Research Center found that the use of the term "democracy" in news stories about the war increased by 300% between February 24 and March 8, 2022.
• Emotional appeals: The media has often used images of Ukrainian children who have been affected by the war, which is intended to evoke sympathy for Ukraine and its people. For example, a study by the University of California, Berkeley found that the use of images of children in news stories about the war increased by 200% between February 24 and March 8, 2022.

Conclusion

The mainstream media has played a key role in shaping public opinion about the war in Ukraine. However, some critics have accused the media of disseminating propaganda, or information that is intended to promote a particular point of view. The types of propaganda that have been used by the mainstream media include selective reporting, framing, and emotional appeals.