A top editor at an online news site aimed at Americans who has worked extensively for Russia’s Sputnik has also taken money from Iranian government-owned media, according to recently unearthed documents. Hacked emails and other documents from the Iranian government-funded Press TV show payments of thousands of dollars to Wyatt Reed, a writer who is now a Washington-based editor for the online publication Grayzone. The overlap in funding underscores concern that the spread of falsehoods and propaganda online is entering a more complicated stage as the United States’ November election draws closer. Experts worry that the widening geopolitical alliances are making it harder to identify and trace foreign influence operations, posing a significant threat to U.S. democracy as foreign support for ostensibly independent publications gives other countries deniability for disinformation.
The documents show that Reed received payments from Press TV for occasional contributions to its programming in 2020 and 2021 while he was working as a correspondent for Sputnik. Grayzone, which posts content online and on YouTube, has been highly critical of Iran’s regional enemy Israel, showcasing a complex web of foreign influence operations. Reed’s work alongside other Grayzone authors who have worked for Russian outlets like Sputnik has raised concerns about the intertwining of foreign propaganda efforts, blurring the lines between narratives pushed by different countries like Iran and Russia. This dangerous convergence of funding sources and narratives has made it increasingly difficult to discern the true origin of misinformation and propaganda.
The payment revelations highlight legal concerns for U.S. journalists who receive funds from media entities like Press TV that are subject to sanctions. While Reed did not respond to requests for comment, the implications of accepting payments from sanctioned foreign entities may put journalists in legal jeopardy. Grayzone, known for publishing articles that mix falsehoods with truth, has amassed a significant following online, attracting attention from both the far left and far right. The intricate ties between journalists, foreign media outlets, and geopolitical agendas underscore the growing threat of disinformation and propaganda to the integrity of democratic processes worldwide.
