Position of the Russian periodical press at the beginning of the 20th century estimated by «The Times»

Abstract

At the turn of the XIX–XX centuries periodical press is becoming more and more popular. Its influence on public opinion, the course of domestic political processes and even the development of international relations is increasing. The press becomes an instrument of state policy in the formation of positive, friendly or negative, hostile images of the allies and rivals. At the same time, the content of national newspapers and magazines is under close attention not only of the domestic audience, but also of the foreign ones. Thus, the leading British newspaper «The Times» regularly analyzes the publications of foreign periodicals, including Russian. In this regard, the general assessment given by «The Times» to the position of the Russian press, the impact of censorship restrictions on it, its representativeness as a mirror of public opinion and a translator of the government position becomes interesting. The article concludes that the Russian press was carefully read in Britain. «The Times» was quick to note the Anglophobia or the opposite friendly disposition of Russian newspapers. At the same time, the Russian press was considered biased, tendentious, not reflecting an objective picture of public opinion. The attitude of «The Times» is changing as the British image transforms in Russian periodicals. The change in rhetoric from hostile to allied occurs in the periodicals of both countries during the Anglo-Russian rapprochement and the formation of the Triple Entente.