Monday, December 12, 2016

The List


We have used a combination of manual and automated analysis, including analysis of content, timing, technical indicators, and other reporting, in order to initially identify (“red-flag”) the following as Russian propaganda outlets. We then confirmed our initial assessment by applying whatever criteria we did not originally employ during the red-flag process, and we reevaluate our findings as needed.

We assess that this overall Russian effort is at least semi-centralized, with multiple Russian projects and influence operations working in parallel to manage the direct and outsourced production of propaganda across a wide range of outlets. It is data-driven, and rewards effective entrepreneurship and innovation with increased funding and other resources. There are varying degrees of involvement in it, and awareness of involvement. Some people involved seem genuinely unaware that their outlets are being used by Russia as conduits for propaganda.

When an outlet establishes a pattern of behavior, by consistently, uncritically, and one-sidedly echoing, repeating, being used by, and redirecting their audiences to Russian official and semi-official state media, it is in an important sense irrelevant whether they are a paid Russian proxy, an honest true believer, or commercially opportunistic. The outcomes of serving strategically deceptive narratives to the American public are the same. We usually cannot know the motivations of the people involved in spreading Russian disinformation. While some investigative reporting has given us a strong idea of these motivations, motivations are ultimately less important to us than behavior. Both because we focus on outlets (websites, YouTube channels, social media accounts, etc.) rather than individuals, and because we focus on behaviors, we do not accuse individuals of deliberate wrongdoing or lawbreaking.

We would also like to be clear: We strongly believe in the First Amendment rights to freedom of expression and freedom of the press. Diverse and independent media are vital to the health of free society. Non-profit and commercial, alternative and mainstream - all are critical to our democracy. Americans have the right to echo, repeat, be used by, and refer their audiences to Russian official and semi-official state media, including “fake news” propaganda - just as we have the right to analyze and highlight that, without fear or favor. This list was never intended to be “black”. This is NOT a list of  “paid” or “knowing” propaganda sources. It is NOT an attempt to censor, blacklist, or tar anyone.

We highlight them because we believe that the public should be able to know that very disparate kinds of online sources frequently display a consistent bias towards Russia in ways that echo, repeat, are used by, and redirect their audiences to Russian official and semi-official state media. We also highlight them to encourage readers to think critically about the media they encounter, especially when it might confirm their ideological preconceptions. We highlight. Unlike the Russian government, we do not censor.

An outlet must consistently and over time meet the full range of our criteria in order to qualify. We are happy to remove any that do not, and we welcome the opportunity to engage with anyone involved in order to constructively move forward.

If you have any questions, or run an outlet which you feel has been unfairly categorized, please contact us. We are happy to remove any outlet whose operators understand how Putin's Russia is a brutal authoritarian kleptocracy that uses "fake news" as online propaganda, and resolves to help do something about it. For example, any outlet that has used a lot of Russia Today and Sputnik News content, but resolves to stop doing so, is going to be removed from this list.

More detailed analysis is ongoing:


4thmedia.orgnewswithviews.com
4threvolutionarywar.wordpress.comnowtheendbegins.com
abeldanger.netnsnbc.me
activistpost.comoff-guardian.org
ahtribune.comoftwominds.com
allnewspipeline.comoilgeopolitics.net
americanlookout.comopednews.com
americasfreedomfighters.comorientalreview.org
amren.compatriotrising.com
amtvmedia.compaulcraigroberts.org
ancient-code.complatosguns.com
anonews.copravda.ru
anonhq.compravdareport.com
antiwar.comprepperwebsite.com
asia-pacificresearch.compresstv.com
assassinationscience.comprisonplanet.com
baltimoregazette.comrbth.com
barenakedislam.comreadynutrition.com
beforeitsnews.comredflagnews.com
bignuggetnews.comregated.com
bioprepper.comrense.com
blackagendareport.comrighton.com
blacklistednews.comrinf.com
christianfightback.comronpaulinstitute.org
collective-evolution.comrt.com
conservativedailypost.comrumormillnews.com
consortiumnews.comruptly.tv
corbettreport.comrussia-insider.com
cosmicscientist.comsana.sy
countercurrents.orgsentinelblog.com
counterinformation.wordpress.comsgtreport.com
dailyoccupation.comshiftfrequency.com
dailystormer.comshtfplan.com
darkmoon.mesilentmajoritypatriots.com
darkpolitricks.comsilverdoctors.com
davidstockmanscontracorner.comsott.net
dcclothesline.comsouthfront.org
dcleaks.comsputniknews.com
defenddemocracy.pressstormcloudsgathering.com
dennismichaellynch.comstrategic-culture.org
disclose.tvsuperstation95.com
disclosuremedia.netsurvivopedia.com
drudgereport.comthe-newspapers.com
educate-yourself.orgtheantimedia.org
educateinspirechange.orgthecommonsenseshow.com
endingthefed.comthedailybell.com
endoftheamericandream.comthedailysheeple.com
endtime.comtheduran.com
eutimes.nettheearthchild.co.za
eutopia.buzztheeconomiccollapseblog.com
ewao.comtheeventchronicle.com
eyeopening.infothefederalistpapers.org
fellowshipoftheminds.comthefreethoughtproject.com
filmsforaction.orgthemindunleashed.org
floridasunpost.comthenewsdoctors.com
foreignpolicyjournal.comtherebel.media
fourwinds10.nettherussophile.org
freedomoutpost.comthesaker.is
gaia.comthesleuthjournal.com
galacticconnection.comthetruenews.info
gangstergovernment.comthetruthseeker.co.uk
gatesofvienna.nettheunhivedmind.com
geopolmonitor.comthirdworldtraveler.com
globalresearch.catoprightnews.com
godlikeproductions.comtrueactivist.com
govtslaves.infotrunews.com
greanvillepost.comtruth-out.org
guccifer2.wordpress.comtruthandaction.org
hangthebankers.comtruthdig.com
healthnutnews.comtruthfeed.com
henrymakow.comtruthkings.com
heresyblog.netufoholic.com
humansarefree.comundergroundworldnews.com
ihavethetruth.comunz.com
in5d.comusanewshome.com
informationclearinghouse.infousapoliticsnow.com
infowars.comusasupreme.com
intellihub.comusdcrisis.com
intersectionproject.euusslibertyveterans.org
intrepidreport.comvdare.com
investmentresearchdynamics.comveteransnewsnow.com
investmentwatchblog.comveteranstoday.com
jackpineradicals.comvigilantcitizen.com
jamesrgrangerjr.comviralliberty.com
jewsnews.co.ilvoltairenet.org
journal-neo.orgwakeupthesheep.com
katehon.comwakingtimes.com
kingworldnews.comwashingtonsblog.com
lewrockwell.comwearechange.org
libertyblitzkrieg.comweshapelife.org
libertywritersnews.comwhatdoesitmean.com
makeamericagreattoday.comwhatreallyhappened.com
memoryholeblog.comwikileaks.com
mintpressnews.comwikileaks.org
moonofalabama.orgwikispooks.com
nakedcapitalism.comworldnewspolitics.com
naturalblaze.comworldpolitics.us
naturalnews.comwww.fort-russ.com
newcoldwar.orgyournewswire.com
newstarget.comzerohedge.com

List v0.0.6: Initial Release  November 302016

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