The first week of the war between Russia and Ukraine on the X platform. Comparative analysis of media coverage using the examples of the profiles: “Łukasz Bok” and TVN24.

Abstract

This article was prepared based on research conducted on the X platform. Using content analysis, the institutionalized (TVN24) and non-institutionalized (Łukasz Bok) profiles were comparatively examined. The paper details the similarities and differences observed through qualitative and quantitative analysis of all media messages posted by both profiles (1135 entries) in the first week of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war (24.02.2022-02.03.2022). After a thorough analysis of the collected material, the following conclusions were drawn. In times of war, the most media messages concerned the ongoing conflict. It became the most important topic in the media. Due to the dynamics of information in the period under review, broadcasters made mistakes, as they were probably more interested in quickly informing recipients than in linguistic correctness. Regardless of political views, the profiles studied in most entries conveyed news objectively. They focused most on the political, military, and social context. The media drew information from various sources, which made their messages more reliable. They also referred, in the case of institutionalized media, to other profiles and the website of their institution, while non-institutionalized media only provided information on the X platform. This was probably due to the fact that the former cares about positioning, i.e. marketing activities resulting from the specificity of the institution, and the latter about the importance of the information they want to convey. In order to illustrate the information they provided, the media posted photos, videos, infographics and the like. This could have made the reception of information by users easier and more digestible. The media also presented the war in the context of presidents. Both profiles created a media image, both of the leaders of Ukraine and Russia - the former was presented as a statesman, the latter as a ruthless tyrant.