Research: Foreign media attention to Belarus down but interest is still there

November 25, BPN. Attention to Belarus’ society, opposition and citizens in foreign media decreased in 2022 compared to last year, amid events in other countries.

But this should not be seen as a lack of interest in Belarus, said the Center for New Ideas, which published the study “Media Image of Belarus Abroad in 2021-2022.”

The study was based on a qualitative analysis of 17 media outlets in different countries and interviews with foreign reporters covering Belarus.

The think tank recalled that over the past two years, there were protests in Kazakhstan and Myanmar, new clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan and a full-scale war in Ukraine.

Nevertheless, the Belarusian agenda remained relevant for the media in focus.

International media often covered Belarus through the prism of the war in Ukraine, the Center for New Ideas said.

This, it said, differs from the way they dealt with Belarusian topics a year ago: “Just last year, journalists were focusing on human rights violations, the activities of Belarusian civil society, and [opposition leader Śviatłana] Cichanoŭskaja.”

“Unlike Łukašenka, Cichanoŭskaja was given much less space in the international media. Most of the times she was mentioned, the media covered her international visits (29 percent) and efforts aimed at democratizing Belarus (22 percent),” the study reads. “Compared to Łukašenka (1.5 percent), journalists were much more interested in Cichanoŭskaja’s personal story (16 percent).”

They explain these figures by Łukašenka’s image as the man in power: “As a result, his political actions and statements are at the center of attention.”