Ukraine & Russia War in Italian newspapers
As days go by and the war between Ukraine and Russia is still going on, we find it difficult to not inform ourselves by multiple sources. So, as we were searching for news about the war, two articles by the Italian newspaper “La Repubblica” caught our attention.
Both articles can be found on the website of “La Repubblica”, under the tabs “War Russia Ukraine” and “Ucraina la foto del giorno”.
Are the titles descriptive of the context?
The title of each article, “Primo soldato russo processato per crimini di guerra: è accusato d’aver ucciso a freddo un civile” and “Carnefice e vittima”, are completely true to describing the context of the text. The first one describes the events that led to the arrest and prosecution of the particular soldier, and the second one reflects the attributes the columnist gives to the accused person· abuser because he committed the crime but also victim of a war, in which he is a pawn.
Who signs the articles? Is their personal opinion expressed?
The first article has not been signed by an author and maintains a neutral style simply by recording the events and continually updating with tidings.
The second article has been signed by Paolo di Paolo, who invites readers to consider whether the accused is not only a war criminal but also a victim. He writes the article with a more literary style expressing his own questions that he considers necessary to be heard to the accused Vadim, to whom he is called only by his first name and there is no reference to his surname.
Do the writers use strong words to affect the public?
In “The First Russian soldier to be tried for war crimes: accused of the cold-blooded murder of a civilian”, the incident is detailed and descriptive without taking a position. It describes the accusations and testimonies against the military without using emotional language.
In “Executioner and Victim”, we see a more emotional attitude which continues in the article. The way in which the article has been formatted (versed paragraph in the middle with serif fonts, the questions that the columnist wants to ask are listed large and in bold) reveals the sentimentality of the author. The use of short and concise sentences gives the impression of an emotional monologue and ends up putting us in the dock because we ignore the violent environment that the soldier lived in and ask the wrong questions.
Is the war presented as the main topic in the articles?
The war in Ukraine is positioned as a matter of priority in both articles.
The article titled “First Russian soldier tried for war crimes: accused of cold-killing a civilian” recounts the events in a neutral tone, with the main topic of the article being the trial of 21-year-old Vadim Shyshimarin for the war crime he committed by killing a Ukrainian citizen. Moreover, below this article, there is a link that leads to live broadcast of news from the war front, which means that it is constantly updated with tidings.
Similarly, in the article “Executioner and victim”, war is a key issue, as the author suggests that, in the end, both involved were in fact victims, and the real “executioner” is war. He states that this commentary, and the characterization of Vadim Shyshimarin as a “Victim”, is not to justify his crime, but to emphasize that in reality he is a pawn, who, under other circumstances, like in a period of peace, probably wouldn’t have committed such a crime consciously and premeditatedly.
Article brought to you by Star Tuppers (John Reizis, evadinou, Alexandra S, Sophia A.)
