Julia Davis[a] (born Kyiv, 16 May 1974[1]) is a Ukrainian-born[2] American journalist, columnist and media analyst who worked for the federal government of the United States and had a career in filmmaking.[3] She is best known for founding Russian Media Monitor, a project monitoring Russian state television,[4] including its international outlets such as RT (formerly Russia Today).
Julia Davis | |
|---|---|
Джулія Девіс | |
| Born | May 16, 1974 |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Alma mater | National Technical University of Ukraine |
| Occupation(s) | journalist, disinformation expert, filmmaker |
| Known for | filmmaking, exposing Russian disinformation |
| Television | Russian Media Monitor |
| Website | www |
Davis is a columnist for The Daily Beast and Center for European Policy Analysis. She has been described as the "foremost U.S. expert on Russian government-controlled television and propaganda"[5] and a "Russian TV whisperer for American ears".[6]
Davis is a native speaker of Ukrainian and Russian, fluent in English, Spanish[7] and studied basic Persian at California State University prior to her federal service.
Education
editDavis earned a Master’s Degree in Aviation and Spacecraft Engineering in the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute in Ukraine. Later she graduated with honors from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and received a certificate of outstanding achievement upon graduation.
Career
editFilm industry
editDavis began her career in the field of filming and production in 1995,[8] working in film and television production as a director and writer. She is a member of many professional organisations, including the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Women In Film, and was a member of the Screen Actors Guild. Davis was the first to produce the musical score featuring the National Ukrainian Orchestra for Paramount Pictures.[9]
Disinformation analysis
editUntil 2014 Davis was primarily focusing on filmmaking and investigative reporting. However, after Russia invaded Crimea, Davis was "dismayed to discover" the lack of reporting on that topic in the US, which led her to believe that the reason for that was the influence of English-speaking RT channel. RT claimed to be an alternative media outlet at the time, but it quickly turned to spread Russian disinformation regarding the Russo-Ukrainian war. In short, "the Kremlin's bullhorn was weaponized, spewing out blatant propaganda and outright fakes", Davis stated. Her coverage of Russian propaganda has exposed the Kremlin's cyber-warfare, fake news and disinformation efforts against the United States and other countries.
Davis served as a featured Russian expert with the Atlantic Council's disinformation portal.
On 21 May 2022 Davis was officially sanctioned by the Russian government. She expressed it as she's “in great company and honored to have been included.”[5]
In 2024 Davis released her own book, titled In Their Own Words: How Russian Propagandists Reveal Putin’s Intentions, published by the Columbia University Press,[10] with a foreword by historian Timothy Snyder.
Russian Media Monitor
editRegarding Davis's founding of the Russian Media Monitor, she has stated that "it felt like a very natural thing that, when the U.S. is under such an attack from that part of the world, that with the unique experiences and skills I have, and the language, that I jump in and try to do something about it."[11]
During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian Media Monitor has received attention for exposing some aggressive rhetoric on Russian television to international audiences, such as nuclear threats,[12][13][14] as well as showing Russian media's prominent embrace of certain American personalities like Tucker Carlson and Tulsi Gabbard.[15][16][17][18]
Works
edit- "In Their Own Words: How Russian Propagandists Reveal Putin’s Intentions", Columbia University Press 2024 ISBN 978-3838219097
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "Yandex". www.kinopoisk.ru. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ "Euan MacDonald: Ukraine's Friend and Foe of the Week". Kyivpost.
- ^ Ott, Haley (15 March 2022). ""You are being lied to": Employee bursts onto Russian state TV news to protest the war in Ukraine". CBS News. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ Smart, Jason Jay (21 May 2022). "Russia's Media Machine: Interview with U.S. Expert Julia Davis". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ a b Smart, Jason Jay (22 May 2022). "Russia Sanctions 963 Americans (Including several now deceased)". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ McCord, Michael (23 March 2018). ""Trump is Ours!" My interview with Russian state TV expert Julia Davis". Medium. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- ^ "Julia Davis (archived)". Archived from the original on 2020-08-04. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ "Julia Davis on Linkedin".
- ^ "Julia Davis News – Writer Julia Davis". 2017-11-28. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ^ Davis, Julia (June 18, 2024). In Their Own Words (1st ed.). Columbia University Press. pp. This collection of essays and articles, written between 2019 and 2024 for such outlets as The Daily Beast and The Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), illuminates recent Russian international affairs through the lens of Moscow’s propaganda tactics. ISBN 9783838219097.
- ^ "Film Producer and Founder of Russian Media Monitor Julia Davis | In the Green Room". Zócalo Public Square. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- ^ Lemon, Jason (21 April 2022). "Russian TV Panel Laughs While Discussing Nuclear Strikes Against the U.S." Newsweek. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ Prien, Linus (10 May 2022). "Atomwaffen-Drohung im TV – Russland testet überraschend Rakete". Frankfurter Rundschau. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ "Une télévision russe diffuse une carte sur le temps nécessaire pour atteindre Paris avec un missile nucléaire". La Nouvelle Republique. 1 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ "Where Russia Fits In With Trump-Ukraine Affair (transcript)". NPR. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ "Has Tucker Carlson gone too far even for the Kremlin?". CNN. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ Wade, Peter (13 March 2022). "Russian State TV Can't Get Enough of Putin Sycophant Tucker Carlson". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ Cole, Brendan (31 March 2022). "Russian State TV Panel Call Tulsi Gabbard 'Our Girlfriend'". Newsweek. Retrieved 27 May 2022.