Chapter published in:
Conspiracy Theory DiscoursesEdited by Massimiliano Demata, Virginia Zorzi and Angela Zottola
[Discourse Approaches to Politics, Society and Culture 98] 2022
► pp. 443–464
Chapter 19From strategic depiction of conspiracies to conspiracy theories
RT’s and Sputnik’s representations of coronavirus infodemic
Our study focuses on the coverage of coronavirus-related conspiracies/conspiracy theories published in spring 2020 (n = 146) in Anglophone media outlets RT and Sputnik that are financed by the Russian government. In our analysis we rely on a semiotic approach to strategic (conspiracy) narratives. Our study demonstrates a significant shift in the representation of conspiracies: instead of the depiction of malicious acts of secret grouping, RT and Sputnik narrate about alarming effects of conspiracy theories. Coronavirus-related conspiracy theories are represented as a means that the US is using in blame games against China and Russia, as well as a propaganda-tool for scaring the Western audience.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.The model of textual strategies of strategic (conspiracy) narratives
- 3.Empirical material and analysis procedure
- 4.Analysis of representations of conspiracies and conspiracy theories
- 4.1Viral spread of 5G and anti-vaccination COVID-19 conspiracy theories
- 4.2States/high officials accuse one another of a conspiracy concerning the coronavirus as a biological weapon
- 4.3Corona infodemic and coronavirus anxiety are being used maliciously
- 4.4False accusations of disseminating conspiracy theories as part of hostile information influence activities
- 5.Discussion
-
Notes -
References -
Analysed materials
Published online: 01 December 2022
https://doi.org/10.1075/dapsac.98.19mad
https://doi.org/10.1075/dapsac.98.19mad
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Analysed materials
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2020b “From lions to lambs: Covid-19 reveals supposedly freedom-loving British to be anything but, as we happily clap away our liberty.” RT 27.04. Retrieved from: https://www.rt.com/op-ed/481764-coronavirus-trump-democrats-concern/
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2020a “Never Mind The B****cks: Google To Censor COVID-19 5G Conspiracies Amid String Of UK Mast Attacks.” Sputnik 08.04. Retrieved from: https://sputniknews.com/science/202004081078880884-never-mind-the-bcks-google-to-censor-covid-19-5g-conspiracies-amid-string-of-uk-mast-attacks/
2020b “Pompeo, Trump to Probe China for COVID-19 ‘Leak’ at Wuhan Lab Despite Scientists Debunking Theory.” Sputnik 16.04. Retrieved from: https://sputniknews.com/world/202004161078978004-pompeo-trump-to-probe-china-for-covid-19-leak-at-wuhan-lab-despite-scientists-debunking-theory/
Dergacheva, Lilia
2020a “About 90 5G Conspiracy-Linked Attacks on Phone Masts Reported During UK Lockdown.” Sputnik 26.05. Retrieved from: https://sputniknews.com/science/202005261079421130-about-90-5g-conspiracy-linked-attacks-on-phone-masts-reported-during-uk-lockdown/
2020b “Chinese Ambassador Says Coronavirus Conspiracy ‘Was First Initiated in US’.” Sputnik 23.03. Retrieved from: https://sputniknews.com/asia/202003231078679052-chinese-ambassador-says-coronavirus-conspiracy-was-first-initiated-in-us/
Dockery, Graham
2020 “Obama squares up against Trump’s ‘PROPAGANDA NETWORK’ – but who’s got the bigger guns?” RT 14.04. Retrieved from: https://www.rt.com/op-ed/485828-obama-trump-propaganda-biden/
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2020b “’Vaccines With Microchips’: Russian Tennis Legend Marat Safin Spreads Coronavirus Conspiracy Theory.” Sputnik 15.04. Retrieved from: https://sputniknews.com/world/202004151078962891-vaccines-with-microchips-russian-tennis-legend-marat-safin-spreads-coronavirus-conspiracy-theory/
2020c “5G Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories in UK Just Fake News, NHS Director Says.” Sputnik 20.04. Retrieved from: https://sputniknews.com/uk/202004041078834561-5g-coronavirus-conspiracy-theories-in-uk-just-fake-news-nhs-director-says/
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RT
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2020f “Huawei urges UK to stick with 5G collaboration as Chinese firm becomes target of Covid-19 conspiracies.” RT 13.04. Retrieved from: https://www.rt.com/uk/485695-huawei-china-5g-review-coronavirus/
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2020i “Hey MSM, you got coronavirus as another opportunity to roast Trump… but do the polls agree?” RT 27.03. Retrieved from: https://www.rt.com/usa/484300-coronavirus-trump-polls-media/
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2020k “ ‘Questioning EU’s ability’: Eurocrat accuses Russian media of spreading Covid-19 ‘CONSPIRACIES,’ offers no examples.” RT 17.05. Retrieved from: https://www.rt.com/news/488901-eu-russia-covid19-conspiracies/
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2020n “ ‘We’ve seen no evidence’: Social media networks blow up US officials’ claim of ‘Russian coronavirus disinformation campaign’.” RT 29.02. Retrieved from: https://www.rt.com/news/481983-twitter-facebook-russia-coronavirus/
Serebriakova, Aleksandra
2020 “Coronavirus Pandemic Reportedly Hardens Stance Towards Huawei Among UK Tories.” Sputnik 17.04. Retrieved from: https://sputniknews.com/uk/202004171078992906-coronavirus-pandemic-reportedly-hardens-stance-towards-huawei-among-uk-tories/
Sputnik
2020a “5G Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories in UK Just Fake News, NHS Director Says.” Sputnik 04.04. Retrieved from: https://sputniknews.com/uk/202004041078834561-5g-coronavirus-conspiracy-theories-in-uk-just-fake-news-nhs-director-says/
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2020j “Twitter, Facebook: There’s No Evidence Russian Fake Accounts Spread Coronavirus Conspiracy.” Sputnik 29.02. Retrieved from: https://sputniknews.com/world/202002291078436494-twitter-facebook-theres-no-evidence-russian-fake-accounts-spread-coronavirus-conspiracy/
Tickle, Jonny
2020a “Western journalists & politicians MOCK Russian doctors driven to suicide by Covid-19 pressures.” RT 08.05. Retrieved from: https://www.rt.com/op-ed/488207-western-journalists-mock-russian-doctors-covid/
2020b “Lies, half-truths & propaganda: Even during Covid-19 crisis, Britain’s leading news source can’t resist Russia-bashing.” RT 29.04. Retrieved from: https://www.rt.com/russia/487266-british-media-russia-covid-news/
Van de Beek, Eric
2020a “Coronacrisis: America First.” Sputnik 06.04. Retrieved from: https://sputniknews.com/columnists/202004061078857385-coronacrisis-america-first/
2020b “Abusing Corona to Blow up the EU.” Sputnik 18.05. Retrieved from: https://sputniknews.com/columnists/202005171079333879-abusing-corona-to-blow-up-the-eu/
Wilson, Damien
2020 “German establishment blames protests on mystery ‘far-right’ forces, when the real problem is a lame duck leader & lockdown fatigue.” RT 12.05. Retrieved from: https://www.rt.com/op-ed/488384-german-merkel-protests-covid/