Did Putin anticipate coverage decline?

OPINION:

One of the things that has worried me in the past few months is the reduced coverage the news media have been giving to the war in Ukraine. These days, even when there is coverage, it seems to take a backseat to other stories, such as inflation, the Jan. 6 committee, increasing gun violence, growing divisions within the Democratic and Republican parties, and speculation about the outcome of the 2022 elections.

Russia experts initially thought Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine was a calculated gamble. They said Mr. Putin believed he could easily and quickly win the war because Americans would soon lose interest in Ukraine and NATO countries and others might not remain unified.

Add to this what we know from communication research. For years scholars have documented the “agenda setting” function of the media. This research demonstrates how the quantity and perspective of media stories affect what the public thinks is important.

We must wonder whether the media’s current coverage of Ukraine is actually helping to make Mr. Putin’s gamble less of a gamble — and more of a sure bet.

RICHARD CHERWITZ

Ernest A. Sharpe Centennial Professor Emeritus, Moody College of Communication

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, Texas