Our study focuses on the coverage of coronavirus-related conspiracies/conspiracy theories published in spring 2020 (n = 146) in Anglophone media outlets RT and Sputnik that are financed by the Russian government. In our analysis we rely on a semiotic approach to strategic (conspiracy) narratives. Our study demonstrates a significant shift in the representation of conspiracies: instead of the depiction of malicious acts of secret grouping, RT and Sputnik narrate about alarming effects of conspiracy theories. Coronavirus-related conspiracy theories are represented as a means that the US is using in blame games against China and Russia, as well as a propaganda-tool for scaring the Western audience.
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Birchall, Clare. 2006. Knowledge Goes Pop. Oxford and New York: Berg.
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Madisson, Mari-Liis. 2014. “The Semiotic Logic of Signification of Conspiracy Theories.” Semiotica 202: 273–300.
Madisson, Mari-Liis. 2016. “NWO Conspiracy Theory: A Key Frame in Online Communication of Estonian Extreme Right.” Lexia 23/24: 189–208.
Madisson, Mari-Liis, and Andreas Ventsel. 2016. “Autocommunicative Meaning-making in Online Communication of Estonian Extreme Right.” Sign Systems Studies 44 (3): 326–354.
Madisson, Mari-Liis, and Andreas Ventsel. 2018. “Groupuscular Identity creation in Online Communication of Estonian Extreme Right.” Semiotica: Journal of the International Association for Semiotic Studies 222: 25–46.
Madisson, Mari-Liis, and Andreas Ventsel. 2020. Strategic Conspiracy Narrative: A Semiotic Approach. London: Routledge.
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Analysed materials
Birchall, Guy. 2020a. “‘Bill Gates is the most interesting man in the world’! He gives millions to MSM to laud his aims, while the NYT does it for FREE.” RT 27.05. Retrieved from: [URL]
Birchall, Guy. 2020b. “From lions to lambs: Covid-19 reveals supposedly freedom-loving British to be anything but, as we happily clap away our liberty.” RT 27.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
Blinova, Ekaterina. 2020. “Ex-UN Expert: ‘Were China Held Liable for COVID-19, Would US Not Be Accountable for H1N1 Outbreak?’” Sputnik 23.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
Cureton, Demond. 2020a. “Never Mind The B****cks: Google To Censor COVID-19 5G Conspiracies Amid String Of UK Mast Attacks.” Sputnik 08.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
Cureton, Demond. 2020b. “Pompeo, Trump to Probe China for COVID-19 ‘Leak’ at Wuhan Lab Despite Scientists Debunking Theory.” Sputnik 16.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
Dergacheva, Lilia. 2020a. “About 90 5G Conspiracy-Linked Attacks on Phone Masts Reported During UK Lockdown.” Sputnik 26.05. Retrieved from: [URL]
Dergacheva, Lilia. 2020b. “Chinese Ambassador Says Coronavirus Conspiracy ‘Was First Initiated in US’.” Sputnik 23.03. Retrieved from: [URL]
Dockery, Graham. 2020. “Obama squares up against Trump’s ‘PROPAGANDA NETWORK’ – but who’s got the bigger guns?” RT 14.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
Korso, Tim. 2020a. “Absolutely Unrelated: Scientists Bust Myths That 5G Equipment Helps to Spread Coronavirus.” Sputnik 05.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
Korso, Tim. 2020c. “5G Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories in UK Just Fake News, NHS Director Says.” Sputnik 20.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
Korso, Tim. 2020d. “Authorities Could Utilise Power of AI to Boost Physical Distancing, Patients Care, Tech Analyst Says.” Sputnik 29.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
Luqman, Jacqueline, and Sean Blacmon. 2020. “US Headed For Record Unemployment as Trump Continues China Blame Game.” Sputnik 11.05. Retrieved from: [URL]
MacDonald, Bryan. 2020. “Moscow has secret Covid-19 CURE for chosen elite: Western media’s favorite Russian pundit voices new conspiracy theory.” RT 27.05. Retrieved from:. [URL]
Malic, Nebjosa. 2020a. “Weaponizing the coronavirus: Why US politicians & media suddenly care (hint: it’s about getting Trump).” RT 26.02. Retrieved from: [URL]
Malic, Nebjosa. 2020b. “Russiagate all over again: Secret EU report blames Russia for coronavirus ‘confusion, panic and fear’.” RT 17.03. Retrieved from: [URL]
RT. 2020b. “Italian lawmaker demands Bill Gates be investigated for ‘crimes against humanity’… But WHY?” RT 18.05. Retrieved from: [URL]
RT. 2020c. “’It’s man-made to test 5G’: Boxer Khan spreads coronavirus conspiracy claims, suggests pandemic could be ‘population control’ plot.” RT 04.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
RT. 2020d. “Anti-5G fever spreads to the Netherlands as towers suffer ‘arson and sabotage’.” RT 11.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
RT. 2020e. “Canadian Officials Concerned by Attacks on Cell Towers Amid 5G Conspiracy Theories.” RT 06.06. Retrieved from: [URL]
RT. 2020f. “Huawei urges UK to stick with 5G collaboration as Chinese firm becomes target of Covid-19 conspiracies.” RT 13.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
RT. 2020g. “UK ministers ‘no longer discounting’ theory that Covid-19 leaked from Wuhan lab – report.” RT 05.04. Retrieved from. [URL]
RT. 2020i. “Hey MSM, you got coronavirus as another opportunity to roast Trump… but do the polls agree?” RT 27.03. Retrieved from: [URL]
RT. 2020j. “‘This is NUTS!’ Russiagaters see red over Putin’s planeload of corona-aid for Trump, queue to look gift-horse in mouth.” RT 31.03. Retrieved from: [URL]
RT. 2020k. “‘Questioning EU’s ability’: Eurocrat accuses Russian media of spreading Covid-19 ‘CONSPIRACIES,’ offers no examples.” RT 17.05. Retrieved from: [URL]
RT. 2020l. “Washington fails to provide proof for alleged Moscow-backed Covid-19 disinformation campaign – Russian Foreign Ministry.” RT 09.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
RT. 2020m. “Russia isn’t only behind election hacking! They’re also trying to smear US over coronavirus … according to State Department.” RT 22.02. Retrieved from: [URL]
RT. 2020n. “‘We’ve seen no evidence’: Social media networks blow up US officials’ claim of ‘Russian coronavirus disinformation campaign’.” RT 29.02. Retrieved from: [URL]
Serebriakova, Aleksandra. 2020. “Coronavirus Pandemic Reportedly Hardens Stance Towards Huawei Among UK Tories.” Sputnik 17.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
Sputnik. 2020a. “5G Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories in UK Just Fake News, NHS Director Says.” Sputnik 04.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
Sputnik. 2020b. “UK Media Regulator Warns ITV Over Eamonn Holmes ‘Ill-Judged’ Comments About 5G Coronavirus Links.” Sputnik 20.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
Sputnik. 2020c. “UK Trade Group Reports Further Attacks on 5G Masts.” Sputnik 14.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
Sputnik. 2020d. “There is ‘an Element of Scaremongering’ Over Chinese Tech Firms in UK – Academic.” Sputnik 14.04. Retrieved from. [URL]
Sputnik. 2020e. “A Wuhan Lab is at the Centre of the Coronavirus Origin Conspiracy. Here is What is Known About It.” Sputnik 06.05. Retrieved from: [URL]
Sputnik. 2020f. “Grayzone Founder: Unpacking Lies That Aim to Deceive US Into War With China.” Sputnik 30.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
Sputnik. 2020g. “Missouri Case ‘Doesn’t Carry a Lot of Legal Weight’ – Academic.” Sputnik 22.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
Sputnik. 2020h. “How US Media Psychological Ops are Exploiting People’s Fears of COVID-19 Pandemic.” Sputnik 23.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
Sputnik. 2020i. “Failing to Curb Coronavirus? Ask EU How to Spin a Good Novichok-Style ‘Russia Threat’ Yarn.” Sputnik 18.03. Retrieved from: [URL]
Tickle, Jonny. 2020b. “Lies, half-truths & propaganda: Even during Covid-19 crisis, Britain’s leading news source can’t resist Russia-bashing.” RT 29.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
Van de Beek, Eric. 2020a. “Coronacrisis: America First.” Sputnik 06.04. Retrieved from: [URL]
Van de Beek, Eric. 2020b. “Abusing Corona to Blow up the EU.” Sputnik 18.05. Retrieved from: [URL]
Wilson, Damien. 2020. “German establishment blames protests on mystery ‘far-right’ forces, when the real problem is a lame duck leader & lockdown fatigue.” RT 12.05. Retrieved from: [URL]
2024. Building Resilience Against Hostile Information Influence Activities: How a New Media Literacy Learning Platform Was Developed for the Estonian Defense Forces. Armed Forces & Society 50:4 ► pp. 1021 ff.
Musolff, Andreas
2023. Permacrisis, Conspiracy Stories and Metaphors. Półrocznik Językoznawczy Tertium 8:1 ► pp. 5 ff.
2021. Russia’s Strategic Blame Narratives: Comparative Analysis of Domestic and International Media Coverage About 5G. In The Russian Federation in Global Knowledge Warfare [Contributions to International Relations, ], ► pp. 267 ff.
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 3 january 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers.
Any errors therein should be reported to them.