Research data analysis 02/22 – 11/22
Our team investigated whether Iltalehti and Ilta-Sanomat covers were biased.
We looked at how often and in what way IL and IS portrayed putin, russia and Ukraine since the start of full-scale invasion.
Background / In October 2022, our Ukrainian team member pointed out how triggering it was to continuously see a terrorist’s face on the covers of tabloid magazines. Iltalehti and Ilta-Sanomat “lööppi” covers are unavoidable in public spaces. The same cover is repeated in kiosks, stores and coffee shops.
Summary in Finnish here
We analysed �240 Iltalehti and �240 Ilta-Sanomat covers published between 01.02.2022�–14.11.2022
We counted
→ overall mentions and photos of putin
→ overall mentions and photos of russia
→ overall mentions and photos of Ukraine
1
2
3a
3c
3b
4
5a
5b
6
7d
7f
7e
7g
7a
7c
7b
Data
Iltalehti
240 covers 01.02.2022 – 14.11.2022�IL circulation 70’000
any number of text or image appearance on a single cover counts as 1� e.g. 1 word = 1 appearance, 3 words = 1 appearance, 4 photos = 1 appearance
Ilta-Sanomat
240 covers 01.02.2022 – 14.11.2022�IS circulation 100’000
any number of text or image appearance on a single cover counts as 1� e.g. 1 word = 1 appearance, 3 words = 1 appearance, 4 photos = 1 appearance
Observations
putin / count
Out of 240 IL covers, putin was mentioned on 190. That’s 79%.
putin
putin
putin
putin
putin
putin
Name mentioned 76%
Face photo 78%
Out of 240 IS covers, putin was mentioned on 122. That’s 51%.
putin
putin
putin
putin
Name mentioned 51%
Face photo 47%
IL showed putin on their covers more than 50% of the time during 8 out of 9 months – missing only February 2022
putin
putin
putin
putin
putin
putin
putin
putin
putin
putin / appearance
…number of times putin appeared in a suit, casual wear and otherwise clean, “diplomatic” attire
IL 178 (95%)
IS 111 (99%)
consider multiplying that by circulation
IL 70’000
IS 100’000
…number of times putin appeared in army-ish war-signaling attire
IL 6 (3%)
IS 0 (0%)
e.g. multi-terrain pattern, uniform, merit badges, protective gear, hunting gear
These are all 6 / 299 IL and IS covers featuring putin, where he is wearing any army-like, war-signaling attire.
Iltalehti
Ilta-Sanomat
none
…number of times putin appeared in a mugshot or otherwise in a clearly discrediting way
IL 0 (0%)
IS 1 (1%)
e.g. protest sign, poor room lighting, dirty appearance, poor hygiene
example reference for�search “terrorist iltalehti”
russia
…number of times word “russia” and/or photo of russian army / politician appeared on the covers
IL 110 (46%)
IS 111 (46%)
IL
Word “russia”, “russian” appeared on 88/240 covers (37%)
IS
Word “russia”, “russian” appeared on 93/240 covers (39%)
Mention types
88 (37%) word “russia(n)”
23 (10%) photos of army, militaria
11 (5%) photos of politicians, VIP
IL – 9/10
… months when russia appeared on covers as often or more often �than Ukraine
Mention types
93 (39%) word “russia(n)”
30 (13%) photos of army, militaria
21 (9%) photos of politicians, VIP
IS – 10/10
… months when russia appeared on covers as often or more often�than Ukraine
ukraine
All and all, combined, there hasn’t been a single month since the start of the full-scale invasion, when Ukraine appeared in any way more often than putin or russia
IS and IL overlap
…number of times word “ukraine” or “ukrainian”, or photo of ukrainian army, politician, civilians, locations, refugees, symbols or aid appeared on the covers
IL 58 (24%)
IS 63 (26%)
about 50% compared to russia mentions in
IL 110 (46%)
IL 111 (46)
Top ways how Ukraine appeared on the covers of IL
58/240
times IL mentions
Ukraine in any way
Top ways how Ukraine appeared on the covers of IS
63/240
times IS mentions
Ukraine in any way
The only time covers mentioned Ukraine more often than russia was in March 2022 (IL).
1/20
IS
IL
The first time IL featured Ukrainian president on the cover was 30.03.22 – 34 days since the start of the war
IL
34 days
Compared to putin who appeared �25 times before 30.03.22, with the first mention on 24.02.2022, 0 days since the start of the war.
putin was also shown next to Zelenskyi on the cover 30.03.22.
Example / 3 significant war events in Ukraine during the war vs. IL/IS covers
03.04.22
russia’s massacre (280✝) in Bucha, Ukraine, gets exposed
04.04.22�no mention
05.04.22�no mention
04.04.22�mention
05.04.22�no mention
Example / 3 significant war events in Ukraine during the war vs. IL/IS covers
08.04.22
russia bombs a train station in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, killing 60+
08.04.22�no mention
09-10.04.22�no mention
08.04.22�no mention
09-10.6.04.22�no mention
Example / 3 significant war events in Ukraine during the war vs. IL/IS covers
13.04.22
Ukraine successfully sinks russian cruise ship Moskva
08.04.22�no mention
09-10.6.04.22�no mention
08.04.22�no mention
09-10.6.04.22�no mention
Analysis
Based on the data, �IL and IS are biased.
IL and IS appear to benefit from russia’s (“putin’s”) war in Ukraine – using dictator as a cover character to drive sales.��This happens at the cost of altering public’s opinion, disregarding Ukrainian perspective and triggering fear and (P)TSD in Ukrainians in Finland.
Sales profits are not directed to Ukraine.
Why does this matter?
Covers are everywhere
Seeing the same face over and over again, portrayed in a certain light, in unavoidable public spaces, is bound to influence people’s views
In wartime, this kind of influence is strongly political
Tabloid covers are currently featuring, repeatedly, a warlord terrorist and their hostile state in a questionable manner
At the same time, IL and IS are neglecting the deaths, genocide and experiences of ukrainians, as well as missing to uplift Ukraine with success stories and symbolics.
The appearance difference between terrorist photos in IL
Impact
1.�
Showing the face of a terrorist dictator daily, in unavoidable public spaces, triggers (P)TSD in people from or closely connected to Ukraine
p* & russians did this
2.�
Using p* name and photo as an illustration to nearly all of war news reports is biased and bigoded – and provides russia constant, free PR
3.�
Including p* on almost all of covers is unethical; tabloids are using one-side stories of a terrorist dictator to collect revenue – without directing profits to Ukraine
4.�
Polluting public spaces with p*’s opinions and quotes humanizes a war criminal , providing unneeded visibility and opinion gravity
5.�
Showing a white terrorist with a “press room” appearance, occasionally smiling, while non-caucasian terrorist are potrayed almost always via mugshots, is ignorant and racists
Pictures of terrorists in IL
6.�
Showing russian dictator instead of Ukrainian politicians, civilians and places severely neglects Ukrainian perspective
cover
without UA
cover
without UA
cover
without UA
cover
without UA
cover
without UA
cover
without UA
cover
without UA
cover
without UA
cover
without UA
cover
without UA
cover
without UA
cover
without UA
cover
without UA
cover
without UA
cover
without UA
cover
without UA
cover
without UA
cover
without UA
cover
without UA
What next?
We challenge IL and IS to�
Contact research team
iltahuti@gmail.com