Excerpt: News on the Russo-Ukrainian War tends to focus on basic information with little in-depth analysis. Conversely, the war must to be reported accurately, in-depth, in context, and with expert opinions; it cannot be covered only at surface level.
Today’s media cycles move at an incredibly fast pace. In this day and age, to be successful in journalism, information needs to be coming in and getting released daily. This pace maintains both viewership and readership, keeping the newspaper, channel, journal, and more, relevant in the eyes of the public. While such high publication rates can help keep citizens up to date with current events, they can also fail to cover extremely important stories adequately. The Russo-Ukrainian War is a prime example of this. While media sources are constantly reporting on events of the conflict as they occur, the war seems to stay just outside of fostering substantive conversation. Because media plays a prominent role in the public’s understanding of this conflict, there is a strong need for it to take a closer look at this crucial event when reporting.
First, it is relevant to recall the build-up of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Russia and Ukraine had only become separate nations in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. In succeeding decades, Russian President Vladimir Putin made clear how he felt about Ukraine’s existence through military mobilization. In 2014, Russia took over a territory in southern Ukraine called Crimea; the first violent action taken against the country. Putin shocked the world with this move. Russia then furthered its efforts by moving more troops into eastern Ukraine over the years. The Russian government also heavily opposed and fought Ukraine’s NATO membership as their inclusion into NATO meant a strong alliance would be forged between Ukraine and numerous powerful countries. It was on February 24, 2022, that Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin reasoned that Ukrainians wanted to be tied to Russia; it was, and still is, his view that Ukrainians and Russians are one people and should, therefore, be under the same state, government, and flag.
Since Russia’s initial invasion, the struggle in Ukraine has been ongoing. Ukraine’s situation has worsened, especially in recent months. It continues to defend itself against Russian forces, calling for nothing but peace. As of today, Russia has a significant advantage in terms of numbers and personnel in comparison to Ukraine. The situation has become “extremely complex and stressful,” according to Ukrainian armed forces chief Oleksandr Syrskyii. Ukraine is in dire need of ammunition and funds and the politics surrounding these provisions are in a constantly precarious state. A bill for $61 billion in aid is currently being debated in the US Senate, backed by President Biden but opposed by former President Donald Trump and his supporters. However, a network of European allies have banded together to provide military supplies and F-16 jets to Ukraine, including the UK. The help of this country, in particular, will prove useful, as the UK is preparing to train Ukrainian pilots in NATO techniques, thereby bolstering their standing.
The conflict has come to involve numerous global actors, resulting in a wide array of international implications. As reported by AP News, the vast increase in weapons production worldwide is notable. Since the beginning of the war, the United States has expanded weapons production to replace the stockpiles sent to Ukraine. France also plans to boost its military budget by a third before the year 2030. Notably, Germany, a country that once placed bans on these developments, has provided tanks and missiles to Ukrainian forces. Generally speaking, the capacity to fight is increasing on a global scale. This degree of preparation has put war on the minds of numerous governments, and there is a growing concern around the world that more nations may fall into conflict with one another.
Further, Russia has been hit with sanctions by the European Union and the United States. This has negatively impacted global trade patterns that have yet to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic fully. Prices have soared for food, wheat, sunflower oil, petrol, and fertilizer, as Russia and Ukraine are major suppliers of these goods. The war has ushered in an overall era of uncertainty. Because so much is affected by this conflict, the global future has become increasingly difficult to predict.
The role of the media in all of this is critical, as it is through their reports, articles, and broadcasts that the general public is made aware of these issues. However, journalism these days has become somewhat of a race. Everyone has to be the first to release a story; pressure is always on to be the quickest. Posts must be made quickly and frequently for a news source to stay relevant. As a result, it is more likely now than ever to see journalists including false information, depending on unreliable sources, and glossing over important details. Concerning the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, for example, it has been reported that certain European Union members were going to join the conflict, which is not true. Therefore, despite the need for consistent and rigorous accuracy, it is too often being replaced by expediency.
News on the Russo-Ukrainian War tends to focus on basic information with little in-depth analysis. Conversely, the war must be reported with accuracy, depth, context, and expert opinions; it cannot be covered only at surface level. Importantly, its more significant effects must be made clear to the people who may soon experience the fallout. There are news stories that can be presented to the public at the surface level. For example, local news and general political updates may not always require a deep dive. However, when looking at an event that has affected so many lives and will likely continue to do so, full analyses and in-depth coverage are necessary if the public is to be and remain properly informed on the subject matter.
Indeed, the ultimate goal of journalism is to inform. The fast-paced nature of media today has completely altered the way citizens consume information, and it has affected how people view the war. It is common these days for people to avoid checking the news altogether because of how much content overload awaits. Seeking out current events has become a stressful process. Citizens must be made aware of this phenomenon so they can work to properly educate themselves on such important events as the Russo-Ukrainian War and its implications.
Edited by Lucy de Cartier
