---
title: A Failing Cult of Personality
date: 2022-03-03T05:30:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/a-failing-cult-of-personality"
section: Articles
---
# A Failing Cult of Personality

*March 3, 2022* — by [Sala Levin ’10](/author/sala-levin-10)


> Putin’s Propaganda Is Likely Not Persuading Most Russians, UMD Expert Says

*2 G5 W4 T1 1920x1080 — Russian President Vladimir Putin has long used state-controlled media to spread his messaging and agenda. In the current conflict with Ukraine, he may be losing the information war within his own country, says UMD journalism Professor Sarah Oates.*

What’s going on in Ukraine isn’t a war or an invasion. It’s merely an “operation.”

At least that’s the message that Russian media, either owned or heavily influenced by the state, is required to disseminate to the country’s citizens, according to Sarah Oates, a professor in the Philip Merrill College of Journalism who studies media and democracy. Though President Vladimir Putin and his government have long strong-armed journalists—up to and including jailing, beating and allegedly ordering the killing of investigative or dissident reporters—their fight to control the narrative of the conflict in Ukraine is faltering, said Oates, author of the forthcoming book “Nyetwork News.”


*Sarah Oates headshot*




**Topics:** [Research](https://today.umd.edu/tags/research)


**Tags:** [War in Ukraine](https://today.umd.edu/topic/war-in-ukraine)


**Units:** [Philip Merrill College of Journalism](https://today.umd.edu/topic/philip-merrill-college-journalism)