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Radio Poland counters Russian propaganda with multilingual podcast series

22.11.2024 22:00
Radio Poland, the foreign-language service of the Polish public broadcaster, has launched a new effort to counter Russian propaganda and expose false narratives about the war in Ukraine.
Radio Poland has launched a new podcast series to combat Russian propaganda and expose false narratives about the war in Ukraine.
Radio Poland has launched a new podcast series to combat Russian propaganda and expose false narratives about the war in Ukraine.Image: Polskie Radio

The station, also known as Polish Radio's External Service, has produced a series of podcasts focused on identifying and addressing disinformation, with a particular emphasis on the messages spread globally by Russia, Belarus and their allies.

Podcasts are available online in six languages—at podcasty.polskieradio.pl—in a project developed in partnership with the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, specifically its Department for Strategic Communication and Counteracting Disinformation.

"Russia tailors its false narratives to target specific countries, which is why our responses must be equally precise and regionally nuanced," said Radio Poland Director Natalia Bryżko-Zapór.

Наталья Брыжко-Запур на презентации своей книги «Я остаюсь здесь. Феномен Владимира Зеленского». Radio Poland Director Natalia Bryżko-Zapór. Photo: И. Завиша

One example of Moscow's false narrative in Poland is its effort to amplify anti-Ukrainian sentiments to weaken Finnish support for Ukraine.

"This is a matter of life and death for us," said Snizhana Cherniuk, head of the platform's Ukrainian content.

"Moscow's primary objective is to strip Ukraine of Western support, including Poland's political and military backing," she added.

In Germany, Russia exploits scepticism toward the United States, leveraging this sentiment to influence public opinion.

Joachim Ciecierski, head of Radio Poland's German desk, noted that while German attitudes toward Russia shifted after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian disinformation still finds traction in certain circles.

Joachim Ciecierski Joachim Ciecierski. Photo: Polskie Radio/Czwórka

In its communication with the West, Moscow seeks to blow Ukraine's corruption problem out of proportion, and persuade Ukrainians and Belarusians that Poland wants to take away its former borderlands from their countries.

The podcast series highlights Russia's various tactics, such as inflating Ukraine's corruption issues and spreading lies to Ukrainians and Belarusians about Poland's alleged territorial ambitions.

For years, Russia has employed sophisticated disinformation tactics in its information warfare against post-Soviet nations seeking to consolidate their independence and strengthen ties with the West.

It uses fake news, half-truths and bot farms to spread its influence not only in the former Soviet Union but across Europe, North America and selected regions in Asia and Africa.

By analysing disinformation and country-specific narratives, the podcasts aim to educate audiences on identifying fake news and understanding the Kremlin's strategies to manipulate public opinion worldwide.

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Source: IAR, podcasty.polskieradio.pl