entertainment programmes are no longer available. they re trying to say it s. because people are more interested in news right now clearly they re not telling - the truth about why these - companies and entertainment programmes are no longer available to russians. - and i think that will be. the key for more people to start questioning the information they re getting on state tv, and seeking out alternative information. - and the bbc making those | efforts to make it available will be crucial in that sense. and i wonder whether you, and peter, perhaps you could come in on this first, whether you see what the bbc and others are doing now via newer platforms like tiktok is really any different to what bbc world service, voice of america, radio free europe, and others have been doing for a long time? is this different? you re asking the wrong person. the only reason i sound like an english person is because my parents, who were, sort of, exiled after being arrested by the kgb in the 7
bring in 0lga irisova, who s editor in chief of riddle russia, an online journal covering russian news. you re based in berlin, 0lga i wonder if you and your russian friends and colleagues see the bbc as a helpful and a credible source of information at this perilous moment for your part of the world? hi, thanks for having me. so i can only praise the bbc for this brave decision. - but i would also say that i unfortunately, this solution does not address the problem of the fact that still, - most russians watch tv newsl and, according to the different polls, they use russian official information - as the main source of their. information about the world. but in a few months, - i do hope that many more and more people will be more interested in getting - non official information
a lot with reference to russian media. some listeners won t have encountered it. could you just explain what it is as a service, and why we need to consider it when we look at the construction of russia s narrative? so, telegram is a somewhat encrypted although that s debatable messaging service, something like whatsapp or signal, which are more widely used in western europe. it s extremely popular in russia, there s something like 37 38 million regular users. russians use it to message each other and make phone calls, but also as a source of news. and there are some really large independent channels, as well as state channels channels with millions of followers who are putting out any narratives they like. and so we re seeing a disinformation, misinformation war play out in that space that is really beyond the government s control. thank you very much indeed. olga, i could see you wanting to come in here how important do you believe telegram and other newer platforms are, in t
us on the media show today, vera, you ll be spending the whole edition with us. thank you very much. and as we re hearing from you, the information available to russians is clearly under severe pressure, we also know that russian state tv isn t giving an accurate account of the war in ukraine. and in that context, here s a further question for us all to consider how does the bbc fit into this equation? and the reason i ask the question is that, on monday, the bbc announced a raft of new services designed to reach russians. let s understand that decision jamie angus is controller of bbc news output and commissioning. jamie, thanks forjoining us on the media show. why has the bbc stepped into this space in this way? well, of course, the bbc has been providing news in russian for decades, initially on short wave radio services, latterly digital services and on a television bulletin which actually, of course ran on tv rain, on dozhd tv, as vera was talking about.
of riddle russia, an online journal covering russian news. you re based in berlin, olga, i wonder if you and your russian friends and colleagues see the bbc as a helpful and a credible source of information at this perilous moment for your part of the world? hi, thanks for having me. so i can only praise the bbc for this brave decision. - but i would also say that i unfortunately, this solution does not address the problem of the fact that still, most - russians watch tv news and, according to the different - polls, they use russian official information - as the main source of their. information about the world. but in a few months, - i do hope that many more and more people will be more interested in getting - non official information