Media overview – November 2018

November 2018 may be considered as the fake news month due to the large amount of media coverage, with several articles that deal with influence activities focused on this topic.

Fear survey
In November, Postimees published a survey on the fears of Estonian residents. The results of the survey was commented both in the annex to the Postimees article as well as in the release of the ERR show Uudis+ by communication expert Ilmar Raag.

Postimees – Survey: the population fears populists rather than immigrant hordes
https://www.postimees.ee/6456679/uuring-rahvas-ei-karda-pagulashorde-vaid-populiste

ERR Uudis+
https://vikerraadio.err.ee/875102/uudis-mirko-ojakivi/901213

Renee DiResta, an USA expert on false information, visited Estonia
The expert spoke about the spread of misinformation in Estonia and its use in various fields. In interviews conducted with DiResta, she gave examples of manipulation using false information in medicine, politics and economics.

Postimees – Rene DiResta: politicians are increasingly exploiting hidden hatred in society
https://arvamus.postimees.ee/6449814/renee-diresta-poliitikud-kasutavad-uha-osavamalt-ara-uhiskonnas-peituvat-viha

Postimees – USA expert on false information: the people’s call against vaccinations is artificially amplified
https://tervis.postimees.ee/6442469/usa-vaarinfo-ekspert-vaktsineerimisvastaste-haal-on-tehislikult-voimendatud

False information manipulator
Marju Himma wrote in great detail in ERR’s media commentary section about the spread and recognition of false information.

ERR – Media comment: journalists may not understand the risk of infection associated with false information
https://www.err.ee/880032/meediakommentaar-ajakirjanikud-ei-pruugi-moista-valeinformatsiooniga-nakatumise-ohtu

Facts honoured
ERR launched the action „How do you know?“, which seeks to bring facts back into political debates.

ERR- „How do you know?“ initiative requires politicians to use facts correctly
https://novaator.err.ee/878701/kust-sa-tead-algatus-nouab-poliitikutelt-et-fakte-kasutataks-oigesti

The United Kingdom’s fight with Facebook
Kristjan Port writes in an ERR technology commentary about the United Kingdom’s concern the power of Facebook over national elections. The background is based on the ongoing events around Brexit and the uncertainty of Facebook’s roll in it.

ERR – United Kingdom parliament versus Facebook, 1:1
https://novaator.err.ee/880277/uhendkuningriigi-parlament-versus-facebook-seis-1-1

The renewal of Maša and the Bear
The numerous suspicions that have emerged from Lithuanian analysis and Propastop’s article have reappeared and given rise to many questions about the relationship between Russian animation and propaganda.

Postimees – Are Maša and the Bear truly agents of Putin?
https://www.postimees.ee/6456449/kas-masa-ja-karu-on-toesti-putini-kasilased

CURIOSITY OF THE MONTH

The term „Fascist“ is now also used in the Estonian press

Russia’s main theme in anti- Estonian rhetoric is now being used in the Estonian press. In the past Russian propaganda media attacked Estonia with the statement that Fascists live here, now the use of this term has begun to spread in local community press.

It is noteworthy that the source of the story, Karoli Hindriks does not use this term herself, but the story’s author in its headline uses it.

Postimees – A storm of outrage in Facebook: businessperson, Karoli Hindriks blames Fascists attacking the American.
https://elu24.postimees.ee/6464872/pahameeletorm-facebookis-arinaine-karoli-hindriks-suudistab-ameeriklanna-rundamises-fasiste

Photos: snapshots from the publisher’s website