‘Russia isn’t a country of Putins!’: How RT bridged the credibility gap in Russian public diplomacy during the 2018 FIFA World Cup

In the context of deteriorating relations with ‘Western’ states, Russia’s state-funded international broadcasters are often understood as malign propaganda rather than as agents of soft power. Subsequently, there is a major credibility gap between how Russian state media represents itself to the world and how it is actually perceived by overseas publics. However, based on the study of RT’s coverage of the Russian hosted FIFA 2018 World Cup and the audience reactions this prompted, we find that this credibility gap was partially bridged. By analysing over 700 articles published by RT, alongside social media and focus group research, we find that RT’s World Cup coverage created an unusually positive vision of Russia that appealed to international audiences. Our study demonstrates how state-funded international broadcaster coverage of sports mega-events can generate a soft power effect with audiences, even when the host state – such as Russia – has a poor international reputation.

Climate talks highlight shortcomings in global efforts

Significance Washington has re-joined the Paris agreement and announced new climate commitments, but still faces a credibility gap. It must demonstrate by November’s COP26 summit, how it can meet its new goals. Impacts Private sector companies will face increasing pressure to set net-zero targets. The use of natural gas as a transition fossil fuel will face greater scrutiny as pressure for drastic climate action increases. Fossil fuel subsidy reform is likely to return to G20 priorities after having been neglected during the US Trump administration.

At the Intersection of Mainstream & Alternative Media: Spygate & the Hannity Rant

The following paper explores the establishment of credibility by two forms of alternative media: (1) a traditional alternative media site, and (2) an alternative media program embedded within a mainstream channel. We engaged in a qualitative content analysis of the program Declassified produced by Epoch Times and circulated via YouTube, and the program Hannity broadcast by Fox News. In particular, we focused on the claims made by the hosts, and the sources that they provided in their reports. We found that the host of the former worked to overcome an alternative journalism credibility gap by engaging in mainstream news mimicry, while the host of the latter largely relied on the credibility that came from being embedded in a mainstream channel. Overall, these findings hold important implications for the construction of credibility through alternative media channels that are increasingly influencing mainstream political discourse.