Sources and Frames

This chapter presents how Sweden and the problems it faced were framed by the Russian-affiliated state media RT and Sputnik and what sources that were used. All news items about the themes gender, culture, anti-liberalism, climate change, and public health published between July 1, 2019, and January 31, 2021, were selected for the analysis. It was found that the most frequently used sources were Swedish public service media and the national daily broadsheets. The framing analysis emphasized threats posed to the cohesion and national identity of Sweden by different domestic groups such as feminists, migrants, and Muslims. The consequence was a decline of a once well-functioning nation with domestic unrest and an inability to defend against a gradual islamization. The news coverage about climate change was heavily centered on the environmental activist Greta Thunberg. She was only occasionally referred to as a representative of Sweden, but the analysis is included because it illustrates how Sputnik reported critically of freedom of speech and how climate change was framed during the time period.