The Bunker – News without the nonsense Are Russia’s disinformation warriors weaker than you think?
Oct 2, 2025
Dr. Precious Chatterje-Doody, a Senior Lecturer in Politics and co-author of a pivotal book on Russian disinformation, sheds light on the surprising ineffectiveness of Russia’s information operations. She discusses how RT's early strategies shifted towards aggressive campaigns and the clever use of local voices to gain legitimacy. Delving into culture jamming, she explains how emotional resonance plays a pivotal role in misinformation. Ultimately, she emphasizes the need for media literacy and systemic reform to combat these tactics effectively.
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RT’s Strategic Rebrand After 2008
- RT shifted from soft cultural promotion to aggressive anti-Western posturing after 2008 and a 2009 rebrand.
- The network began focusing less on Russia and more on criticizing US, Europe and NATO to appeal abroad.
Culture Jamming As Influence Tactic
- RT uses cultural formats like comedy and satire to raise questions without offering answers.
- This 'geopolitical culture jamming' lets audiences fill the interpretive gaps themselves.
Russia Copies Effective Media Styles
- Russia adapts and copies successful media techniques rather than inventing them.
- RT learned from outlets like Fox News to adopt populist, question-raising styles.
