World of Media-2018. Issue №1
World of Media-2018. Journal of Russian Media and Journalism Studies. Issue №1.
The issue was published in 2018 by the Faculty of Journalism, Lomonosov Moscow State University.
LEAD ARTICLE
Kolesnichenko, A., Vyrkovsky, A., Galkina, M., Obraztsova, A., Vartanov, S. (2018) Transformation of newsroom work in the digital era. World of Media. Journal of Russian Media and Journalism Studies, 1. 7-24.
The authors have conducted several in-depth interviews with Russian reporters. The results show that new technologies have substantially changed many aspects of journalistic work: particularly the search for information and newsmakers, communications among colleagues, genres of media texts have transformed. Changes have not significantly affected the size and structure of editorial boards. The practice of working from home has not gained ground either.
Key words: digitalization, newsroom, new technologies, work, communications, information search, journalists’ competencies
Received: 20.01.18
Accepted: 24.02.18
CONTEMPORARY DEBATE
This article focuses on the changing nature of media studies in Russia. The author explores the ‘ferment in the field’ concept, introduced in the communication research in the early 1980s and developed further in 1990s, 2000s and nowadays by different scholars. The author identifies four actual ‘ferments’ as driving forces of media theory change in Russia, becoming a part of a second wave of fermentation process in global media studies, reinforced by digital transformations. The first ferment is the central role of Moscow city based academic centers in Russian media studies; the second one is the high number and intellectual diversity of regional media studies. The pressures from an actively growing media business, the industry and the labor market, is the third ‘ferment’, and the fourth one is the experience, methodologies and conceptual framework of global media studies. The conclusion is that there is a need for the expanded discussion on the nature and principles of media as a research field not only within the academic community, but with public, media industry professionals, and regulators.
Key words: Russian media studies, ferments in the field, post-Soviet media transformation, digital mediа
Received: 01.02.18
Accepted: 06.03.18
ARTICLES
Polarization is a global issue with many different faces on regional levels. However, the process is the same everywhere. Research has extensively proved that media and journalism play an important role in the development of polarization. This paper presents an overview of the process of polarization and seeks to clarify the role of media and Journalism therein. On the basis of the model of Bart Brandsma, a Dutch polarization expert, the mechanism of polarization will be explained, identifying three ground rules that govern a situation of polarization, five roles or actors which can be identified in a polarization process, and four game changers that can help revert its destructive impact. The context of the paper is the journalistic practice and, specifically, the search for innovation of the profession towards a more constructive application. The aim is to further the development of a journalistic professionalism which seeks to depolarize, rather than add to polarization.
Key words: Polarization, conflict, identity, journalistic profession, constructive journalism.
Received: 16.01.18
Accepted: 18.02.18
This study assesses the impact of social media as an effective communication tool in mobilizing youth engagement in socio-political matters that affect them. This form of communication engagement has brought a paradigm change to the communication process in Namibia. Using a qualitative method in the form of a case study, the researchers focused on Namibia’s socio-political movement, the Affirmative Repositioning Movement (ARM) to predict the impact of its use of social media, particularly Facebook, in engaging its followers.
Key words: Affirmative Repositioning Movement, social media, netizens, social movement, mass mobilization
Received: 10.01.18
Accepted: 18.02.18
Dugin, E. (2018) Middle range theories in the research of information and communication media systems. World of Media. Journal of Russian Media and Journalism Studies, 1. 59-74.
The article analyzes the theory and methodology of media systems research. The author considers the possibilities of studying modern media through the application of middle range theories, which will result in changes to the traditional approaches grounded in philological and historical methodologies.
Key words: Theory, methodology, information and communication media systems, middle range theories
Received: 18.01.18
Accepted: 22.02.18
Zorin, K. (2018) Media futurology: “Journalism of sense”and robotization of media industry. World of Media. Journal of Russian Media and Journalism Studies, 1. 75-84.
The author focuses on the development of media futurology as a separate research field, and argues that it can be used for more detailed description of changes taking place in media production and journalism today. According to his forecast, there is going to be an unavoidable reduction of journalists engaged in the production of technologically simple news content due to robotization of mass media. At the same time, there still remains a demand for journalists specializing in more complex types of activities: interpretation of events and comprehension of the reality.
Key words: Media futurology, futurology, future, media production, robotization, media education, the mission of journalism, the end of journalism
Received: 02.02.18
Accepted: 01.03.18