BBC given emergency funding to tackle Russian disinformation on Ukraine war
The BBC World Service will receive £4.1 million in emergency funding from the Government to help it counter disinformation about the war in Ukraine.
The broadcaster has been given the money to support its Ukrainian and Russian language services in the face of “increased propaganda from the Russian state”.
Following a BBC request, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will provide the extra funding to cover urgent and unexpected costs that have arisen due to the conflict.
The DCMS said the funding will help the BBC relocate staff and operations to safe locations so they can continue their reporting on the war.
It will also go towards developing new and more widely accessible content delivered through a range of channels – including TV, radio and digital.
The BBC will also use the money to “tackle disinformation” and to “help local audiences circumvent the Kremlin’s media restrictions and continue to access the BBC’s journalism”.
BBC director-general Tim Davie welcomed the cash, saying: “I am hugely proud of our coverage and the bravery and resilience of our colleagues reporting this difficult and complex story, day in, day out.
“This additional funding from the Government will enable us to continue expanding the ways we are reaching audiences in Russia and Ukraine.
“The BBC has seen a big demand for clear, fact-based, impartial journalism to counter disinformation and our teams are working around the clock to bring people the very best independent journalism.
“This funding will also help us with the immediate need to support staff who have been displaced, many of whom are continuing to work and provide vital expertise to the whole of the BBC, while life changes dramatically around them. We pay tribute to their incredible strength and professionalism.”
