Latest news with #propaganda
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The sinister Russian novels fuelling a rise in young people fighting for Putin: How 'Z literature' is enticing young men to enlist
A chilling new wave of ultra-nationalist fiction is sweeping through Russia, and it is aimed straight at the country's teenagers and young men. Dubbed 'Z literature', the action-packed novels are being branded the Kremlin's latest weapon in a growing propaganda war as they lure vulnerable young readers into enlistment and glorify death on the battlefield. From mainstream bookshops to school libraries, these novels are saturating Russian youth culture with one central message - fight, die, and serve. Named after the 'Z' symbol splashed across tanks and billboards to promote the invasion of Ukraine, these books present a dystopian world where Russia stands alone - noble, embattled, and surrounded by Nazi enemies. Heroes are not just brave soldiers, but martyrs, laying down their lives for glory, brotherhood, and Vladimir Putin 's vision of resurgent Russia. 'What the state is trying to do to create a culture in which everyday life is militarised,' Dr Colin Alexander, senior lecturer in political communications at Nottingham Trent University, told The Telegraph. 'It is normalising the idea that to be a good citizen, a good patriot, a good man, you go and fight in the war, because Russia is surrounded by enemies.' With dramatic cover art depicting storming soldiers, tanks ablaze, and Russian flags flying high, these novels would seem straight from a Soviet propaganda playbook, but they are packaged for a modern and digital generation. White Z on the Front Armour by Mikhail Mikheev (left), Crimean Cauldron by Nikolai Marchuk (right) One such novel, Colonel Nobody by Alexei Sukonkin, follows a down-and-out young man who finds purpose and redemption by joining the Wagner mercenary group after prison. He discovers camaraderie in battle and ultimately sacrifices his life for 'the cause'. The message appears clear - if you're lost or disenfranchised, war will make you whole. 'There is often a sense of brotherhood, that you can turn into a good citizen, a good patriot, a strong man, a man who can provide for his family, a man who defends the country and the community,' said Dr Garner, an expert on totalitarian media. And the reach is vast. These books are discussed on state TV, handed out in schools, and even shared online by the late Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin before his death in 2023. Another standout title, White Z on the Front Armour by Mikhail Mikheev, reads like a spy thriller where a brutal Russian agent posing a liberal journalist cuts a bloody path through Ukraine. He travels across the country, killing evil characters and delivering one-liners including: 'You wanted Crimea, pigface?' In Crimean Cauldron by Nikolai Marchuk, the action reaches surreal heights as a lone Russian commando defeats an army of Nazis in Crimea before capturing the Capitol Building in Washington DC. And in PMC Chersonesus, a bizarre blend of mythology and military fiction by Andrei Belyanin, a trio of Russian heroes styled on Greek gods travel back in time to retrieve artefacts stolen from Crimea - including Scythian gold, a direct reference to real-life cultural treasures awarded to Ukraine by Dutch courts. The villains are zombie Nazis. 'The underlying narrative is always that Russia as a state, as a country, has been wrong in the past, and through these heroes, we can rectify Russia's greatness and its destiny,' said Jaroslava Barbieri, a doctoral researcher into Russian foreign policy and post-Soviet affairs at the University of Birmingham. This sinister genre is just one cog in a much larger system - patriotic education programmes, youth military clubs, and pro-war content flooding social media. Experts warn this ecosystem is shaping a generation primed for conflict, not peace. 'Five years from now, these readers will be soldiers. The Kremlin isn't trying to appease aggression – it's cultivating it,' Barbieri said. And the consequences could be far-reaching. According to Dr Garner, this militarised mindset could make any future efforts to liberalise Russia all but impossible.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Fifth case of NYC teachers getting anti-Israel propaganda in DOE schools is ‘clearly an attack'
Hateful anti-Israel propaganda has slipped into city Department of Education literature and schools at least five times in the past two months, The Post has learned. In the latest instance, faculty members at a large Brooklyn elementary/middle school received an email Monday with the subject line: 'How Much Jewish Wealth From The Black Slave Trade Was Used To Help Create Israel?' Among a dozen links to inflammatory texts, the email includes several articles branding Jews as former slave owners; a piece by Nation of Islam minister Louis Farrakahn claiming 'Jewish behavior has ill-affected Black people and others;' and a Palestinian children's workbook decrying 'bullies called Zionists.' 'It's clearly an attack,' a Jewish teacher who received the diatribe in her DOE email told The Post. The incident is evidence of rising antisemitism in NYC schools and other educational institutions since the Israeli-Hamas war began on Oct. 7, 2023, experts say. The emails came from think.285@ an encrypted account hiding the sender's identity. The teacher asked that she and her 'amazing' school, which she described as close-knit and harmonious, not be named. 'There was never an issue with antisemitism — not once,' she told The Post, adding she wears a Star of David at work. 'It wouldn't be fair to drop such a stain on the school. I would put my last penny on the fact that I don't think it's a person from the school' who sent the offensive missive. Like many other NYC schools, the Brooklyn school posts its teachers' DOE email addresses on a public website. Two assistant principals were 'horrified' by the cyber stealth, but the teacher has not discussed the emails with the principal — who did not address them with staff. It's the latest in a series of anti-Israel attacks popping up in DOE communications. In early April, schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos apologized after a 17-page 'Stop Gaza Genocide Toolkit' was linked in a newsletter sent to teachers and parents. Weeks later, a 'Teacher Career Pathways' newsletter for master teachers in the city's 1,800 schools called for student voices to be heard on the 'genocide in Gaza.' In a DOE crackdown on 'politically one-sided materials that are deeply offensive to the Jewish community' being disseminated, Aviles-Ramos halted the release of mass communications sent to educators, students and parents without her approval. At the same time, an anti-Israel group, the Labor for Palestine Network, sent an email blast to city teachers on their DOE accounts calling for a May Day strike and other 'civil disobedience' to protest the Gaza war. The DOE said it would investigate. Last month, a flyer distributed in several Manhattan schools urged teachers voting in their union elections to back a campaign to divest pension funds from Israel. The flyers came after the cold-blooded murder of two young Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, D.C. by a gunman who yelled, 'Free Palestine.' The United Federation of Teachers disavowed the flyers. The DOE said it removed them from schools. Karen Feldman, a middle-school teacher and Holocaust educator studying the rise of antisemitism in NYC public schools, said the mounting incidents 'point to a systemic issue.' 'We must all demand stronger oversight and safeguards to ensure public institutions do not become platforms for hate,' she said. Asked whether the Brooklyn school had reported the emails, a DOE spokeswoman said, 'We are investigating this matter and will address it as appropriate with disciplinary action, community engagement, and educational intervention.' Officials said the DOE has identified who sent previous anti-Israel emails, but would not elaborate on 'personnel matters.'
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
What is propaganda and how can you spot it?
Propaganda is a tool that's used to change the way you think, act and feel. Politicians, companies and other organizations often use it to manipulate the public in a way that benefits a certain person, group or cause. So, where might you see propaganda? And what are some tips to spot it? CBC Kids News contributor Aubrie Chan breaks it down with her drawings.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
GB News is starting to challenge the BBC for ratings – we should be worried
Listen to Laurence 'Lozza' Fox's dog whistle: 'You cannot hate them enough,' he posted on Elon Musk's X, in reaction to a carefully neutral breaking Sky News story about a car ploughing into Liverpool fans. And then: 'You cannot loathe or despise the state propaganda arm @ I understood Lozza to be signalling to his 600,000 followers that an establishment cover-up was happening in front of their eyes. 'They' were about to lie about the perpetrator. 'What is coming next is inevitable,' he posted moments later. I think he was anticipating riots on the streets. The man eventually charged with driving into the crowd is 53, white, and a former royal marine. Neighbours have been quoted calling him a 'nice family man'. There have been no riots. Park any thoughts of Lozza for the moment, and let us consider a major speech delivered at Oxford recently by Sir Paul Marshall. It was titled 'Reflections of a Reluctant Media Owner' and it sought to explain why an ultra-wealthy hedge fund manager ended up creating GB News, along with Unherd, a commentary platform, before acquiring the Spectator. His views command attention, if only because of his prediction that by 2028, the UK will have only two dominant news channels: the BBC and his own GB News, in which he has a 40 per cent stake, and which has lost more than £100m to date. Sir Paul's speech was a conventional-enough analysis of the British media landscape. He has noticed that most national newspapers tilt to the right. He shares the belief of those on the right that the BBC tilts to the left. It's all a bit tribal for him. He believes The Times, alone among newspapers, presents opinion pieces each day 'from all sides of the political spectrum.' This may surprise some its readers. His favourite word is 'heterodox'; his least favourite adjective is 'metropolitan.' When it comes to the BBC he believes that BBC Verify, a fact-checking unit, 'is frankly an abuse of taxpayer money and should be shut down.' In an ideal world the entire BBC – which he describes (just like Lozza!) as 'the propaganda arm of the state' – should be sold off. Failing that, it should be broken up. For Marshall, the BBC began to lose its way when – under Blair! – it stopped playing the national anthem on a daily basis: 'This is the point at which patriotism was quietly erased from its mission.' There are frustrating lacunae in the speech. Sir Paul does not, for instance, reflect on whether an ultra-wealthy hedge fund manager is well-placed to make fine judgements about impartiality or bias. If it is not to be hedge-fund managers, then who? But the most striking thing missing from Sir Paul's lecture is the gap between his analysis of what's wrong with the media and his answer: the creation of GB News. Here is a man who hates tribalism; says he likes his own biases to be challenged; and admires the 'open-minded centrist ground' represented by the Times. And who then thinks the answer is to create a monocultural TV channel representing every political view on a spectrum from Jacob Rees-Mogg to Lee Anderson via Nigel Farage and the Reclaim Party's 'leader', Laurence Fox? If you think the BBC is a bit lefty and iffy with the facts then why would you reach out for a cast which included the whacky cleric, Rev Calvin Robinson, Dan Wootton, Darren Grimes, former Reclaim candidates Leo Kearse and Martin Daubney, Brexit's Michelle Dewbury and climate change rubbisher Neil Oliver? What is the societal problem you're trying to fix with your investment in British television of tens of millions of pounds? Sir Paul is pleased with the ratings, which – as a rolling news channel with an energetic social media wing – sometimes nudge the BBC. I wonder if he's ever looked at surveys of trust, which regularly show the hated BBC outperforming all others – and trouncing GB News? YouGov in 2023 scored the BBC at net plus 23 compared with GB News on minus 15. Another YouGov poll the following year found 41 per cent trusting the BBC 'a great deal or a fair amount' against 24 per cent for GB News. The Reuters Institute Digital News Report finds that the BBC, at 62 per cent, is easily the most trusted news brand in the UK. GB News scores 29 per cent. Are all these people who trust the BBC's approach to journalism deluded? Is Sir Paul the only one who can see clearly? If he truly wished for better-informed citizens did he consider other uses for his riches? Has he, for instance, noticed the local newspaper industry gasping for breath as towns and neighbourhoods across the UK threaten to turn into news deserts? Did he really think hiring Laurence Fox (later sacked for misogyny) was the best response to the age of information chaos? As it happens, I get a name check in Sir Paul's speech. I am, apparently, one of the 'biggest advocates of censorship and control narrative' - up there with Hillary Clinton, Plato and the EU's Ursula von der Leyen. I take it this is because I'm a member of Meta's Oversight Board, which aims to protect free expression online while balancing it with possible harms. In most of our decisions, we actually vote to restore content to Meta's platforms that, in our view, has been mistakenly removed, but no matter. There are people who call themselves free speech absolutists, for whom any restraints amount to censorship. Elon Musk sails under that flag, as does Lozza. Sir Paul doesn't quite pinpoint where he himself sits. At one point he muses on the dangers of truth being sacrificed in favour of conspiracy theories and tribalism. And yet it feels that the point of GB News is precisely its tribal nature. One of the recent decisions by the Oversight Board related to the aftermath of the Southport killings when social media was widely used to spread disinformation about the ethnicity, religion and asylum status of the killer. More than that, it was used to whip up mob violence and hatred against Muslims. Real violence, real hatred. One of the posts which Meta left up called for mosques to be smashed and buildings where 'migrants,' 'terrorists' and 'scum' live to be set on fire. Lucy Connolly, the wife of a Northampton councillor, was controversially jailed for 31 months for posting something similar. Is it actually 'censorship' to want Meta to remove such posts? Is that an example of biased metropolitan elitism? The 'we-know-best' brigade? Or is it a responsible instinct for there to be limits on extremists who, in crowded theatres, shout 'Fire!' And Sky News and the BBC, with their restrained let's-stick-to-the-facts approach. Is that really (per Lozza) loathsome and despicable? Do you (per Sir Paul and Lozza) really think the BBC is the 'propaganda arm of the state' and should be sold off; or that BBC Verify is an 'abuse' and should be closed down? Who should make judgments about impartiality – ultra-wealth hedgies, or Ofcom? Who is in touch with the 'common sense centre ground' here, and who isn't? I do not wish to be mean about Sir Paul. I'm glad he founded Unherd. The Spectator remains a great magazine. He is a generous philanthropist. But, by his own account, he is on course to be a mini-Murdoch in the not-too-distant future. His views matter. But some of those views range from unformed to unsettling. Keep an eye on him.
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
Hide Search Search CBC Kids News SEARCH CBC Kids News Hot Topics Topics Settings MODE Hot Topics Light mode Wildfires Polls Sports Celebrities Canada-U.S. news Kids React Social Media Animals Space KID POVS Gaming KN Explains Extreme Nature Search Light mode WATCH — Heard the word propaganda? Let's break it down Published 2025-05-30 06:00 Aubrie Chan CBC Kids News Contributor Marielle Torrefranca Creative Producer Messages play on people's emotions Every once in a while, there's a word in the news that feels like it needs more explaining. CBC Kids News contributor Aubrie Chan uses her drawings to break it down for you. Have you seen the word 'propaganda' in news stories or posts online? Propaganda is a communications tool people use to change the way you think, act and feel. People often use it to manipulate others in a way that benefits a certain person, group or cause. So, how can you tell if you're looking at propaganda? CBC Kids News contributor Aubrie Chan breaks it down with her drawings. Watch the video to learn some tips to help you spot propaganda.⬇️⬇️⬇️ Want more media literacy-related content? Check out the stories below to learn more digital literacy skills: WATCH — Should you accept or reject website cookies? Here's what they are WATCH — Think you can spot a deepfake? WATCH — How to spot what's not real on TikTok WATCH — You spend how much time online? Kids and experts weigh in WATCH — A sneak peek into how we make explainer videos Have more questions? Want to tell us how we're doing? Use the 'send us feedback' link below. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ TOP IMAGE CREDIT: Aubrie Chan/CBC, graphic design by Philip Street/CBC Send us feedback Report a typo or inaccuracy Print Story Share to Google Classroom About the Contributor Aubrie Chan CBC Kids News Contributor Aubrie Chan is in Grade 12 and from Oakville, Ontario. She has an ever-changing set of hobbies, which currently include debate, animation and digital art, among other things. More Stories You Might Like 2023-11-08 06:00 WATCH — Heard of the word misinformation? Let's break it down 2023-11-08 06:00 WATCH — Heard of the word misinformation? Let's break it down 2023-11-08 06:00 WATCH — Heard of the word misinformation? Let's break it down 2023-12-20 06:00 WATCH — What are greenhouse gases? Let's break it down 2023-12-20 06:00 WATCH — What are greenhouse gases? Let's break it down 2023-12-20 06:00 WATCH — What are greenhouse gases? Let's break it down CBC Kids News Real kids, real news Privacy Terms of Use Copyright Policy Other Policies Contact Us Accessibility About Us About Cookies Feedback Form © 2025 CBC Kids News BACK TO TOP close this modal You are now leaving the CBC Kids News Website. Cancel Submit Cancel Submit close this modal
WATCH — Heard the word propaganda? Let's break it down Published 2025-05-30 06:00 Aubrie Chan CBC Kids News Contributor Marielle Torrefranca Creative Producer Messages play on people's emotions Every once in a while, there's a word in the news that feels like it needs more explaining. CBC Kids News contributor Aubrie Chan uses her drawings to break it down for you. Have you seen the word 'propaganda' in news stories or posts online? Propaganda is a communications tool people use to change the way you think, act and feel. People often use it to manipulate others in a way that benefits a certain person, group or cause. So, how can you tell if you're looking at propaganda? CBC Kids News contributor Aubrie Chan breaks it down with her drawings. Watch the video to learn some tips to help you spot propaganda.⬇️⬇️⬇️ Want more media literacy-related content? Check out the stories below to learn more digital literacy skills: WATCH — Should you accept or reject website cookies? Here's what they are WATCH — Think you can spot a deepfake? WATCH — How to spot what's not real on TikTok WATCH — You spend how much time online? Kids and experts weigh in WATCH — A sneak peek into how we make explainer videos Have more questions? Want to tell us how we're doing? Use the 'send us feedback' link below. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ TOP IMAGE CREDIT: Aubrie Chan/CBC, graphic design by Philip Street/CBC Send us feedback Report a typo or inaccuracy Print Story Share to Google Classroom About the Contributor Aubrie Chan CBC Kids News Contributor Aubrie Chan is in Grade 12 and from Oakville, Ontario. She has an ever-changing set of hobbies, which currently include debate, animation and digital art, among other things. More Stories You Might Like 2023-11-08 06:00 WATCH — Heard of the word misinformation? Let's break it down 2023-11-08 06:00 WATCH — Heard of the word misinformation? Let's break it down 2023-11-08 06:00 WATCH — Heard of the word misinformation? Let's break it down 2023-12-20 06:00 WATCH — What are greenhouse gases? Let's break it down 2023-12-20 06:00 WATCH — What are greenhouse gases? Let's break it down 2023-12-20 06:00 WATCH — What are greenhouse gases? Let's break it down Real kids, real news Privacy Terms of Use Copyright Policy Other Policies Contact Us Accessibility About Us About Cookies Feedback Form © 2025 CBC Kids News BACK TO TOP close this modal You are now leaving the CBC Kids News Website. Cancel Submit
