QUESTIONABLE SOURCE
A questionable source exhibits one or more of the following: extreme bias, consistent promotion of propaganda/conspiracies, poor or no sourcing to credible information, a complete lack of transparency, and/or is fake news. Fake News is the deliberate attempt to publish hoaxes and/or disinformation for profit or influence (Learn More). Sources listed in the Questionable Category may be very untrustworthy and should be fact-checked on a per-article basis. Please note sources on this list are not considered fake news unless specifically written in the reasoning section for that source. See all Questionable sources.
- Overall, we rate Gazeta.ru as Right-Center biased and questionable based on its promotion of state propaganda, its use of poor sources, censorship, and several failed fact checks.
Detailed Report
Reasoning: Propaganda, Poor Sources, Censorship, Failed Fact Checks
Bias Rating: RIGHT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: Russia
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: TOTAL OPPRESSION
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY
History
Gazeta.ru is one of Russia’s leading online newspapers, providing a wide range of news, including politics, business, entertainment, science, and lifestyle. Launched in 1999, Gazeta.ru quickly established itself as an independent and credible source of news and analysis. Over the years, Gazeta.ru has undergone various changes in ownership and editorial direction, which have influenced its content and stance on critical issues.
Read our profile on Russian media and government.
Funded by / Ownership
Gazeta.ru is owned by Rambler Media Group, a prominent Russian media conglomerate and a subsidiary of Sberbank, one of Russia’s largest state-owned banks. The ownership structure of media companies in Russia is often complex, with ties to business interests and, in some cases, the state. Revenue for Gazeta.ru primarily comes from advertising.
Analysis / Bias
In analyzing Gazeta.ru’s content and editorial stance, it’s important to consider the Russian media environment, characterized by state control over media narratives, especially on national issues.
Gazeta.ru has produced a mix of reporting, including investigative pieces and coverage that could be considered critical of the government, similar to Lenta.ru’s approach up until 2013. However, as of 2024, like many Russian media outlets, Gazeta.ru operates within constraints that can affect its coverage. For instance, in a recent article titled “Expel from Russia.” Medvedev reacted to the refusal of EU ambassadors to meet with Lavrov” sets a confrontational tone by emphasizing Dmitry Medvedev’s strong response to the EU ambassadors’ refusal to meet with Sergei Lavrov. Focusing on Medvedev’s call for expulsion and lowered diplomatic ties, the article frames Russia as assertively defending its interests against perceived EU non-cooperation, negatively casting the EU’s actions and suggesting a bias towards positively portraying Russian diplomatic efforts.
Furthermore, the article touches upon Lavrov’s intentions to discuss election interference, framing the West and its institutions as actively seeking to destabilize Russia through the support of non-systemic opposition and the manipulation of information. This narrative aligns with a common theme in state-aligned media that portrays Western actions as inherently antagonistic towards Russia, often without providing balanced viewpoints or acknowledging legitimate international concerns about Russia’s internal and external policies.
The second article, titled “Russian Paratroopers Destroyed a Group of Ukrainian Armed Forces Infantry in the Artemovsk Direction,” discusses the military actions of Russian paratroopers in Ukraine. The focus on tactical military successes and the use of terms like “vacuum bomb” without critique or context can serve to normalize and justify military aggression, aligning with a pro-government stance that downplays the complexities and consequences of warfare.
Regarding sourcing, the articles present specific events and statements from Russian officials without apparent falsehoods but lack critical examination or counterpoints that would provide a fuller picture. Gazeta often relies on circular sourcing or references to other Russian outlets like RIA Novosti or Lenta.ru.
Like many other Russian media outlets, Gazeta.ru aligns with the government’s narratives on sensitive issues. They demonstrate a right-leaning bias and a mixed level of factual reporting, which is consistent with the challenges faced by media outlets in an environment with significant state influence over the media landscape.
Failed Fact Checks
- “Ukrainian cities may be left without centralized heating this winter. Urban dwellers, including in Kyiv, are thinking about stockpiling firewood.” – False
- “Thanks to President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin’s initiative, 80 civilians, including women and children, held by the Ukrainian nationalists have been rescued from the territory of the Azovstal factory in Mariupol.” – False
- If the [Nord Stream 2] gas pipeline is built by the end of 2019 and put into operation in 2020, European families gain access to a lower cost gas source and save €8 billion per year. – False
Overall, we rate Gazeta.ru as Right-Center biased and questionable based on its promotion of state propaganda, its use of poor sources, censorship, and several failed fact checks. (M. Huiting 03/05/2024)
Source: https://www.gazeta.ru/
Last Updated on March 5, 2024 by Media Bias Fact Check
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