propaganda

The cast of the sitcom "Friends," which is one of the Western shows being smuggled to North Koreans by human rights activists and defectors.

Seeking to overthrow North Korea, one American sitcom at a time

It turns out you don't need your own propaganda department to counter North Korea's indoctrination of its citizens and maybe start a revolution — just sitcoms like "Friends" and the will to make the dangerous attempt to smuggle it into the North, where citizens lap up Western media.

Seeking to overthrow North Korea, one American sitcom at a time
Julius Kacinskis outside of “Peacemaker,” the pop-up shop on East 20th Street in Manhattan where he sells Vladimir Putin t-shirts that he designed. “People portray Putin as a mean guy,” Kacinskis says, “so we gotta educate people."

Even if you don't like Vladimir Putin, you're welcome at the store where he's Superman

Even if you don't like Vladimir Putin, you're welcome at the store where he's Superman
A man looks at a computer screen showing logos of Russian social network VKontakte in an office in Moscow.

The ISIS Internet army has found a safe haven on Russian social networks — for now

The ISIS Internet army has found a safe haven on Russian social networks — for now
A man purported to be Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the miltant group ISIS, during what would have been his first public appearance at a mosque in Mosul, according to a video recording posted on the Internet.

ISIS has mastered high-end video production in its new propaganda wing

ISIS has mastered high-end video production in its new propaganda wing
White House press secretary Josh Earnest

An ISIS video appears to show the killing of American journalist Steven Sotloff

An ISIS video appears to show the killing of American journalist Steven Sotloff
CCTV Spring Gala image

China's 'Super Bowl' of TV — its New Year's spectacular — disappoints the masses

Known as Chunwan, the New Year's variety show typically draws hundreds of millions of viewers. But when it aired on January 30, 2014, it seemed long on propaganda and short on entertainment, disappointing nearly 60% of Chinese, according to a survey.

China's 'Super Bowl' of TV — its New Year's spectacular — disappoints the masses
The World

Fight on, Brave Soul

It’s official: Studio 360 has a cold.  But I'm inspired by an odd and intriguing ad campaign for HALLS cough drops.  It features snifflers proudly bearing their red noses and eyes,...

Fight on, Brave Soul

Painting in Pre-Glasnost Russia

Painting in Pre-Glasnost Russia

Pech Song

Pech Song