What is Russia Today's target audience in the U.S.?

[Meursault]

I don't get it.

One one hand, RT is easily better than any of the American Big Four, insofar as it (A) reports actual news and (B) actually uses real academics for analysis. No American station compares in terms of quality of content.

On the other, it's so openly Putinist agitprop that it's almost funny. I mean, they are explicitly ideologically slanted and make no effort to obscure the fact, unlike MSNBC or Fox, who in the end fool only themselves. (That said, aside from Russian self-aggrandizement, I'm not sure they're hooked into the full Eurasianist paradigm, with the anti-modernism, infantile Christian fundamentalism, etc.).

And it's edited like a Saw film. Seriously, it's a horror movie.

So... What's the American consumer base for Russia Today? 'Sage' Leftists? Alternative Rightists? Russian nationals?

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I knew the American media was bad, but it's pretty amazing if a Putin propaganda outfit is actually better. 

[Storebought]

I disagree with

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Russian media, in English and in Russian, often peddles conspiracy theories as straight news, from plate tectonic abilities of HAARP, to the mind-altering effects of Chemtrails, to close encounters with bio-engineered alien changelings.

But beyond that, the purpose of RT in English is to use current events as a springboard to propagate the message of the Kremlin party, and to distract and alienate its opponents through innuendo and leading argument. It's the quintessential unreliable narrator.

A direct example:

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This entire (unsigned) article is written with the clear subtext of the RT fearlessly exposing the nefarious workings of the subversive federal government. Since access to the US and its media is by international standards wide open, RT has many opportunities available to recast public information this way -- it's tantamount to reading the New York Times with a Vincent Price accent.

By contrast, RT's English-language Russian News side board faithfully reprints every Kremlin press release as an "Official Word." No expose reportage of the nefarious activities of a depraved government are to be found there...

As far as the audience is concerned: RT's US audience consists of conspiracy theorists convinced of the depravity of the US government.

[bore]

[Lurker]

In addition to those already mentioned: Conservative Republicans / far-right Obama haters?

For whatever reason, a large part of that group seems to be in love with Putin (at least before the situation in Ukraine). He has a lot of fans on Free Republic and the like.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Russia Today was an outlet for the George Galloways of the world for a long time. Its main appeal in this country is to leftists far out of the American mainstream. You know the type, those screaming that Bill De Blasio is a traitor to the cause and only revolution will do.

[politicus]

In addition to those already mentioned: Conservative Republicans / far-right Obama haters?

For whatever reason, a large part of that group seems to be in love with Putin (at least before the situation in Ukraine). He has a lot of fans on Free Republic and the like.

Besides being a strongman, which those types like. Putin is anti-gay, anti-Liberal and anti-Muslim and has spoken out in favour of protecting Christians in the Middle East.

[Peter the Lefty]

Christian fundamentalists with a True Leftist slant on foreign policy. 

[Meursault]

I will grant you that RT airs more than its fair share of conspiratorial programming (which suggests to me an attempt to pull in the Alex Jones demographic). That said, its purely economic analysis is much preferable to that of the mainstream networks, insofar as it avoids sloganeering or talking points from the American Parties.

[Cubby]

.......... Its main appeal in this country is to leftists far out of the American mainstream. You know the type, those screaming that Bill De Blasio is a traitor to the cause and only revolution will do.

The type? I bet you there's not more than 10 people in this country like that. 

I have wondered why Russia Today is available on almost every cable system but I still don't even get Fox Business.

(Side note: I am SO happy I don't get that channel. The only time I have to see or hear "Stu" Varney is when Stewart or Colbert make fun of him.)

Hopefully now that more Americans are aware of what RT really is and how its funded cable providers will remove it from their lineups.

[NewYorkExpress]

Trying to raise a fifth column in the United States, overthrow the government and install a Putin puppet in Washington?

This really sounds like something Stalin/Khrushchev/Brezhnev would try.

[ag]

I will grant you that RT airs more than its fair share of conspiratorial programming (which suggests to me an attempt to pull in the Alex Jones demographic). That said, its purely economic analysis is much preferable to that of the mainstream networks, insofar as it avoids sloganeering or talking points from the American Parties.

Could you give us an example of such laudable achievement on the part of RT?

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I will grant you that RT airs more than its fair share of conspiratorial programming (which suggests to me an attempt to pull in the Alex Jones demographic). That said, its purely economic analysis is much preferable to that of the mainstream networks, insofar as it avoids sloganeering or talking points from the American Parties.

RT spent as much time covering the Ron Paul campaign in 2012 as the American media did ignoring him. Even some Paulites found RT's obsession with the Paul, Johnson, and Stein campaigns odd.