Media coverage of the Ukraine war has dramatically declined as the Israel-Hamas conflict dominates headlines
The ongoing war in Ukraine, which has been marked by Vladimir Putin’s brutal campaign against the country, has largely faded from the media spotlight in recent months. The Israel-Hamas conflict has taken center stage, resulting in a significant drop in coverage of the Ukraine crisis. This shift in attention has allowed Putin to continue his aggression with less scrutiny and has enabled him to wage an information war to manipulate public perception.
Decline in Coverage and Social Media Attention
The analysis of closed-captioning data from the Internet Television Archive, conducted by the GDELT Project, revealed a sharp decline in coverage of the Ukraine war on cable news networks. Prior to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the battle in Ukraine accounted for around eight percent of CNN’s television coverage. However, after the attacks, CNN’s coverage of Ukraine dropped to under one percent. Similarly, data from ComScore, an Internet analytics firm, indicated a significant decrease in social media discussions about the Ukraine war since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Shift in Focus to U.S. Funding
While mentions of Ukraine on cable news networks increased during the chaos surrounding the election of a new House speaker in Washington, the focus of the coverage primarily revolved around U.S. funding of the embattled nation rather than the actual state of play in the war. This shift in focus has diverted attention away from the atrocities committed by Putin’s forces and allowed him to continue his aggression with less scrutiny.
A Boon for Putin
The decline in attention paid to the Ukraine war has been a boon for Putin. With the Israel-Hamas conflict dominating headlines, Putin has been able to wage his war with far less scrutiny on his appalling actions. Paul Kolbe, a senior fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, stated that Putin must be “delighted” by the diversion of attention, as it allows Russia to continue striking Ukrainian cities and civilian targets.
Putin’s Information War
In addition to military action, Putin is also waging an information war to manipulate public perception. He uses various tactics, including distributing lies and disinformation, to paint Ukraine as divided, corrupt, and a puppet of the U.S. and NATO. With the decline in press coverage, Putin’s media campaign becomes even more effective, allowing him to shape the narrative and undermine Western support for Ukraine.
Conclusion: The overshadowing of the Ukraine war by the Israel-Hamas conflict has had significant implications. It has allowed Putin to continue his aggression with less scrutiny and has given him the opportunity to wage an information war to manipulate public perception. The decline in coverage highlights the challenges faced by the media in covering multiple global crises simultaneously. As the world’s attention shifts, it is crucial to remember the ongoing suffering in Ukraine and to hold Putin accountable for his actions.
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