World of Media-2026. Journal of Russian Media and Journalism Studies. Issue №2.

The issue was published in 2026 by the Faculty of Journalism, Lomonosov Moscow State University.

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LEAD ARTICLE

Rahmanto, A. N., & Mayopu, R. G. (2026). Reception and expectations of Generation Z towards science information in government’s social media. World of Media. Journal of Russian Media and Journalism Studies, 2, pp. 5–26. DOI: 10.30547/worldofmedia.2.2026.1 

In an era of rapid digital transformation, government agencies struggle to engage Generation Z, Indonesia’s largest demographic with public science information. Drawing on Stuart Hall’s reception theory, this study uses in-depth interviews and focus group discussions to examine how 42 Generation Z social media users (aged 15–24) in Indonesia, Central Java province interpret and respond to official government content. Three decoding positions emerge: dominant readings, i.e. professionally produced, clear, and relevant posts fostering positive engagement and trust; negotiated readings, i.e. appreciation for substance alongside critiques of design, tone, and timeliness; and oppositional readings, i.e. static, unresponsive messaging leading to disengagement. We extend reception analysis into digital science communication by integrating “affective publics” and refine Hall’s model by showing how intrinsic values and extrinsic platform cues jointly shape interpretation. From these insights, we propose a six-pillar framework: concise narratives; high- impact visuals; local influencer partnerships; judicious humor; rapid feedback loops; and consistent branding. Implementing these strategies can boost Generation Z’s science literacy, content shareability, and trust in government initiatives. 

Key words: Reception analysis, digital science communication, Generation Z engagement, government communication, government social media.

Received: 07.08.25
Accepted: 10.04.26

ARTICLES

Smirnova, O., & Denisova, G. (2026). Media reading as a cultural phenomenon: The case of Russia. World of Media. Journal of Russian Media and Journalism Studies, 2, pp. 27–41. DOI: 10.30547/worldofmedia.2.2026.2 

In this paper, media reading is understood as a specific subculture within the system of reading culture. Media reading is regarded as the dominant and most regular type of reading over a long period, which has a significant impact on modern cultural and social processes. The authors argue that Russian society continues to be characterized by a high social culture of verbal information consumption, which is largely a consequence of the types of reading activities that have been developing and taking roots specifically in the domestic reading culture. Those types were based, on the one hand, on traditional book reading, and on the other, on the reading of newspapers and magazines, which, on the whole, ensured the unity of reading culture. The study shows that whereas news, professional and reference materials are consumped in the digital environment, in the print environment the absolute dominance belongs to fiction. This confirms the functional division of formats, i.e. digital for operational, working and reference information, print for in-depth leisure reading of literary texts. 

Key words: Reading, media reading, print and digital media, socially beneficial reading, reading strategies.

Received: 23.04.26
Accepted: 20.06.26

Sinyakova, E. (2026). Evaluating news content diversity at the core: A within-outlet framework and case study of TASS news agency. World of Media. Journal of Russian Media and Journalism Studies, 2. pp. 42–64. DOI: 10.30547/ worldofmedia.2.2026.3 

This article develops and tests a within-outlet framework for evaluating news content diversity in the regional output of a state news agency operating in a hybrid media system. Building on debates about media pluralism and news diversity, we propose a set of indicators for three content-level dimensions – spatial, source and topical diversity – and apply them to a ten-year corpus of regional news from TASS, Russia’s state-owned news agency. The analysis shows that while regional output has become more diverse in terms of thematic scope, spatial and source diversity remain strongly constrained by centre– periphery hierarchies, the predominance of state actors and a persistent reliance on negative, event-driven news. Conceptually, it advances a “diversity at the core” perspective, arguing that assessing within-outlet diversity in dominant news suppliers is a necessary complement to exposure-centred approaches and a prerequisite for understanding downstream diversity outcomes. 

Key words: News content diversity, within-outlet diversity, state news agency, regional news, media pluralism, Russia.

Received: 19.02.26
Accepted: 22.06.26

Okandeji, A. A., Ifeduba, E. C., & Talabi, F. O. (2026). Conflict- sensitive journalism and development implications: Evidence from Nigerian newspaper practices. World of Media. Journal of Russian Media and Journalism Studies, 2. pp. 65– 96. DOI: 10.30547/worldofmedia.2.2026.4 

This study evaluates conflict sensitivity in Nigerian newspaper reports and examines the perceptions of development communication and peacebuilding experts regarding its implications for development. Anchored in Framing Theory and the Social Responsibility Theory of the Press, the study identified the pattern of coverage of conflict-sensitive issues in Nigerian newspaper reports and examined experts’ perceptions of the development implications of the observed coverage patterns. Adopting a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, the research combined quantitative content analysis of 1,632 conflict-related stories from four national newspapers (The Punch, Daily Trust, The Sun, and Nigerian Tribune) between 2020 and 2025 with survey data from 113 experts, including development communication professionals, peace actors, and scholars. Findings revealed that while newspapers actively cover conflict, coverage is often shallow, episodic, and skewed towards communal and political conflicts, with limited attention to ethnic and economic dimensions. Expert perceptions from the survey indicate that conflict-insensitive reporting exacerbates societal tensions, whereas ethically framed, contextually rich reporting promotes social cohesion, peacebuilding, and inclusive development. The study concludes that Nigerian newspapers possess significant potential as agents of development but require institutional, professional, and ethical reforms to maximise their impact. The study recommended capacity building, thematic diversification, the establishment of conflict desks, and regulatory support to align journalistic practice with normative conflict-sensitive standards. 

Key words: Conflict-sensitive journalism, Nigerian newspapers, social responsibility, development, perception.

Received: 08.02.26
Accepted: 28.06.26