The Impact of Fake News on the Formation of a Negative Image of Russia in EU

This article examines the influence of fakes on the formation of the image of the Russian Federation.. To answer this question, the article explores a range of topics, including widespread digitalization, the post-truth era, and the rise of opinion journalism. Special attention is paid to digitalization and the changes it has brought about. The concepts of new and traditional media are also distinguished. The main differences in communication between content creators and consumers are outlined, as well as the concept of fake news. The purpose of this work is to study narratives about Russia in the European media space, identify them as fakes or opinions, and understand how a certain image of the country is formed in the eyes of the public. To conduct the study, the author chose a content analysis method. During the analysis, publications in Western media, as well as publications by bloggers with a large reach, were selected. It was revealed that various publications with a pronounced coloring of events, as well as bloggers’ posts in accounts with great involvement, lead to the formation of a certain narrative. This narrative is beginning to be perceived by the public as the real state of affairs.