Julia Davis (born Kyiv, 16 May 1974)[1] is a Ukrainian-born American journalist and media analyst writing for The Daily Beast.[2] She is best known for founding Russian Media Monitor, a project monitoring Russian state television,[3] including its international outlets such as RT (formerly Russia Today). She has been described as the "foremost U.S. expert on Russian government-controlled television and propaganda".[4] She has also been described as a "Russian TV whisperer for American ears".[5] Regarding her 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."[6] She stated that:
Until 2014, my primary focus was on filmmaking, investigative reporting about crimes, government, corruption and civil rights. However, when Putin invaded Ukraine, I was dismayed to discover the lack of reporting on that topic in the U.S., which meant that a lot of news coverage was coming through the Russian English-speaking channel, RT, right here in the United States. RT previously claimed to be an alternative media outlet that reported about fringe politics, global issues and government corruption, but everything changed after Russia annexed the Crimea. In one of her interviews, [RT's editor-in-chief Margarita] Simonyan admitted that RT was created as an instrument to be used by the Kremlin for its info-wars against the West.... She explained that it would be too late to start making weapons once the war has already started. Thus, RT was apparently crafted in advance and was masquerading as a legitimate media outlet, to be used as needed.... This became very apparent in 2014. In short order, the Kremlin's bullhorn was weaponized, spewing out blatant propaganda and outright fakes.[5]
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,[7][8][9] as well as showing Russian media's prominent embrace of certain American personalities like Tucker Carlson and Tulsi Gabbard.[10][11][12]
In 2022, she was sanctioned by the Russian government.[4]
In 2024, Columbia University Press published her book, "In Their Own Words: How Russian Propagandists Reveal Putin’s Intentions,"[13] with a foreword by world-renowned historian Timothy Snyder.
^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. ISBN9783838219097.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
