Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube block RT and Sputnik in Europe PLUS Inflation hits print bottom lines as paper and ink costs rise

March 01, 2022

One thing that has become obvious, belatedly in my mind, is how Russia has used social media to sow discord and drive division across western democracies. It's obvious now because the messages from Russian information operation groups have become so detached from reality, even more so than before. Now the platforms are responding by blocking Russian state propaganda channels, Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik. But, of course, the disinformation isn't just through these official channels but also through a range of accounts that have seeded doubt and discord across Western societies. It's exactly what one would expect from a leader who is a former KGB agent turned national leader, but the response seems to have been muted, mostly in the US because the disinformation has become aligned with one of the two major political parties.

Apart from these developments, inflation is starting to hit publishers with Reach in the UK saying that the increased costs of paper and ink would hit revenues. And of course, the sanctions against Russia are driving up energy costs, which will feed into this. It might be one of the reasons that Archant is promoting a digital subscription as a green option. Digital also becomes a lower-cost option for publishers as well so it's good positioning for Archant.

PLUS More details on how Quartz is looking to Africa and other markets for growth. What's New in Publishing looks at the current state of affiliate marketing. Instagram is deemphasing IGTV. They are shutting down the standalone IGTV app as they pivot to reels.

Google has just announced that YouTube will geoblock the Kremlin-affiliated media outlets Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik in Europe, following pressure from regional lawmakers to choke off Russian war propaganda. In a tweet announcing the geoblocks, the company’s Europe policy team writes: “Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, we’re blocking YouTube channels connected to […]

Facebook said it had disrupted a minor disinformation operation targeting Ukraine. But it faces a bigger debate about whether to ban popular Russian state media pages.

Squeeze tightens on RT and Sputnik.

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Press Gazette has been reporting on British journalism without fear or favour since 1965. Our mission is to provide a news and information service which helps the UK journalism.

Global business news and insights publisher, Quartz, has launched a new membership program focusing solely on tech and innovation in Africa. Expanding on one of its successful flagship products, the Quartz Africa Weekly, the new membership will grant access to exclusive Quartz Africa content and the newly created Quartz Africa Member Brief, a members-only newsletter that provides …

This is an excerpt from our free-to-download report, eCommerce in Publishing: Trends & Strategies In this chapter, we examine the growing prominence of eCommerce in publishers revenue strategies and the role that COVID-19 has played in accelerating this trend. An established revenue formula For many publishers, affiliate relationships will be their first – and often primary …

In western Virginia, veterans of a once-great newspaper are starting Cardinal, a small news site with big ambitions for Appalachian readers.

Instagram is ending support for its standalone app for IGTV, the company announced on Monday. Meta, Instagram’s parent company, confirmed to TechCrunch that the app will be removed from app stores in mid-March. In a blog post, the company explained that the change is part of its efforts to make video as simple as possible […]