Independent Media Form Syndicate to Ensure Broad and Simultaneous Coverage of Russia’s Problems

Paul Goble

            Staunton, March 4 – Twenty-five independent Russian publications have joined together in an organization they call “Syndicate-100” to share content so that Russians will have a greater chance to read about the problems of their country and thus demand changes from the powers that be (novayagazeta.ru/news/2020/02/29/159437-nezavisimye-rossiyskie-smi-ob-edinilis-v-sindikat).

            The group is open to new members and has already attracted some, including the embattled Chernovik paper in Daghestan (chernovik.net/content/lenta-novostey/chernovik-voshyol-v-obedinenie-nezavisimyh-rossiyskih-smi-sindikat-100).  Not surprisingly, the authorities see this as a Western-led conspiracy against them.

            Dmitry Malyshev of the government-backed Federal News Agency presents the view of the authorities on the new group, a view that suggests the Kremlin will quickly move against this threat to its dominance of the information scene in Russia (riafan.ru/1256103-sindikat-100-stal-instrumentom-zapada-dlya-dezinformacii-rossiiskogo-obshestva).

            “Last Saturday, February 29,” he begins, “at the initiative of Dmitry Muratov, the editor in chief of Novaya gazeta, more than 20 liberal publications declared their coming together in ‘a Syndicate 100.’ All the participants of ‘the syndicate’ in the future will simultaneously issue scandalous articles in order to have a stronger effect on readers.”

            “The leading role will be given t such major publications as Novaya gazeta, Ekho Moskvy, Dozhd, Meduza and Znak.com. Regional media will fulfill the role of disseminators of their articles,” Malyshev says.  What this represents is an attempt by this small group to “monopolize the opposition news agenda.”

            Most of these central outlets have received funding from abroad. This arrangement allows them and their funders to extend their influence into Russia’s regions and republics.  That makes Syndicate-100 “a really dangerous” institution, capable of disseminating “fakes” and “sowing panic in society.”

            When incorrect information is provided by only one outlet, it can be challenged by another. But when all outlets give the same information, readers can’t know what the truth is, Malyshev says, seemingly oblivious to the fact that such an arrangement is what the Russian government itself seeks for itself.

            “By definition,” he says, “the Syndicate is a new and dangerous instrument in the information war.” It is thus something that the Russian government must development “effective means of opposing attempts to spread so massively unreliable information in the interests of Western sponsors” across the Russian Federation.