The Signaling Gap: State-Owned Media and the Strategic Management of Sentiment During the Russian Invasion of Ukraine - Donald Moratz

Year
2026
Summary

This research introduces the “signaling gap,” showing how states use controlled media to communicate positions they cannot express formally. Analyzing 174,000 articles, it finds that Russia-aligned countries signalled disapproval of the Ukraine invasion through negative coverage. The study bridges political science and intelligence practice, highlighting informal communication under constraint.