Thunder from the East in Polish media and internet: lessons to be learned
Andrzej Krajewski, freedom of speech expert, National Broadcasting Council of Poland Vilnius, 29 October 2014
Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine: common history
Before the first partition of Poland (1772) large part of today’s Ukraine belonged to the Polish-Lithuanian Kingdom.
Open borders instead of breaking them After 1989 Polish politicians have not claimed any change of borders as set up in 1945.
In Feb. 2008 in Moscow Vladimir Putin, supposedly started talk with Polish PM Donald Tusk on such a note: Ukraine is an artificial country, Lwow is a Polish city, why don’t we just sort it out together? He repeated that notion about Ukraine publicly in Bucharest, during NATO summit in the summer of 2008.
March 2014: Duma’s offer
Russian Duma offered Poland partition of Ukraine. Author of the official letter: Vladimir Zyrinowski. Duma’s Deputy Speaker. The offer supposedly went also to Hungary and Romania. Polish Foreign Ministry thanked for the letter.
Ukrainian Orange Revolution of 2004 „It is hard to falsify elections when over 13 000 international observers are watching them. It is even harder to condemn demanding democracy by your own citizens, when the world is watching you through cameras of BBC, CNN and other broadcasters”. (Mykola Riabczuk in „Ukraina 2004: Reports of Polish observers of presidential elections” Ajaks 2005)
Ukrainian Maidan of 2013/2014
Public and private Polish media have been reporting from Kiev’s Maidan almost every day. Evening news were often hosted from there and other places of fighting. For weeks Ukraine has been on the very top of news agenda. Polish public was given constant feed of news and pictures. Sometimes they were so brutal that NBC fined TVP, the public broadcaster for showing a dying man on Kiev’s street.
Trap of „neutral” language The language used by media envoys in Ukraine and their editors in Poland was western-style: neutral. „Russian invasion of Ukraine”? No, there was no decisive proof of it. Better say “the Ukrainian crisis”.
„Russian soldiers” in Crimea and south provinces of Ukraine? No, better say “separatists” or “rebels.” Why not „ foreign soldiers” ? Why not „terrorists” as Ukrainians prefere to call them? Those fighting against the Ukrainian armed forces are „pro-Russians”. Why not simply „Russians”? It became publicly known in March 2014, when Russian president Vladimir Putin acknowledged it in his triumphant Crimea speech.
Trap of resentments Recently Polish portal Kresy24.pl informed that president Petro Poroshenko established new Defender of Motherland Day on October 14th. Kresy24.pl called it „the end of chances for Polish-Ukrainian reconcliation” because Oct.14 is the anniversary of formation of Ukrainian Insurgent Army (Polish acronym UPA), responsible for murders of thousands of Poles in Kresy. October 14,1942 as UPA day of origin was introduced in the 90s.of XX century. This day Feast of Intercession of the Holy Virgin is celebrated in the East Ortodox Church. Ukrainian portal http://www.ukrinform.ua mentioned it in the title of Poroshenko’s decision information. Connection between Defender of Motherland Day and origin day of UPA was set up by Russian trolls working through Bielorussian internet site Chartia 97 (http://www.charter97.org/).
Trap of internet trolls Over 80 percent of „under the line” comments about Russian agression in Ukraine is anti-Polish, anti-Ukrainian and pro-Russian. •
Mr Prime Minister Tusk, please explain why we are getting f**ked by Ukrainians? Since when they have been our friends?
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Even if you don’t like Russians, you have to admit that Crimea action was a stabilizing operation. There is nothing to cry about or getting angry of. And flexing the muscles is against Polish raison d’etat.
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The only aim of Americans is now to get material goods. And those tyrans dare to dictate the conditions to Russia?
Russia has third biggest army of hackers in the world in Petersburg, Kazan, Chelabinsk. Up to 100 comments a day for less then 600 euros a month. „Defend Russia” net group and similiar up to 2 000 Poles joined.
Internet: monitor the comments •
„The Guardian” : 40 000 comments checked daily
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Elimination of hundreds of them, especially dealing with articles of correspondent in Moscow, Luke Harding
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„Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”: you are able to comment only if you are previously registered and provide your name and login.
The same should be done in all Polish sites where you can comment.
Media language: analyse and explain •
Point out to the problem, using existing analysis, such as: „Russian disinformation and Western misconceptions” by John Besemeres, Inside Story, Canberra.
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Have language analysis done by media scholars in Poland
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Raise the problem with editorial teams on a conference organized by NBC of Poland
Resentments: change perspective Try to root out ideology from history: • discuss „national shame” themes • fill in black holes • exchange perspectives with historical enemies and neighbours
Expolore „what if ?” history books, such as: • Ribbentrop – Beck Pact • Madness 44 • German Option
Thank you
Andrzej Krajewski freedom of speech expert National Broadcasting Council of Poland e-mail:
[email protected]
