Integration of Telegram Content into the Mainstream Media News Flow

This article examines the role of the unmoderated platform Telegram in the dissemination of war-related information on the Lithuanian Public Broadcasting Service – LRT news portal during the first two months of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The aim of the research is to assess how frequently some content from Telegram – which is often considered an unsafe public space – was integrated into the mainstream media news flow, and to identify the journalistic and editorial decisions regarding the source and content selection as well as contextualization. A qualitative-quantitative content analysis shows that Telegram became an important source of authentic citizen media from the scene. However, LRT’s editorial choices in selecting information sources were cautious, primarily oriented toward official government representatives, mainstream media, or channels marked with the symbols of credibility, thereby partially transferring the responsibility for information objectivity onto the primary sources. The content analysis also revealed that, alongside sources from Ukraine, Russian channels were integrated as well, thus presenting a dual perspective on the war – which is a perspective that gained relevance as war crimes and losses were exposed. Additionally, the study found that emotionally charged citizen-journalist audiovisual content, often containing uncensored language and contributing epistemic value, was integrated into the news flow without restrictions, although its use consistently declined over time.