Genres, Themes and Expressive Means of Moscow FM Information Radio Stations

Abstract

The article presents the results of an intermediate stage of a comprehensive study of information radio broadcasting. Using a content analysis, the authors study the morning broadcast of all-news radio stations Business FM, Vesti FM and Kommersant FM in the period of May 14–20, 2018. The criteria for the analysis include genre and theme preferences, time-line, expressive means, the structure of information sessions, formats and forms of the news programs, the work of radio hosts and reporters, and others. According to the results of the research, Business FM and Kommersant FM broadcast informational programs rather than analytical ones, while Vesti FM includes long live analytical talk-programs in its running order, which dilutes the informational format of the radio station. The programs of the informational genre are mainly informational message, press review, and mail review. The state radio station Vesti FM still broadcasts radio reports, while the two independent radio stations have stopped using them in favor of the so-called «package». Vesti FM focuses mostly on issues of international politics and social problems, whereas the commercial stations Business FM and Kommersant FM prefer mainly internal and international politics and economic problems. All the three-radio stations do not fully use the expressive means of radio; the key ones are the voice and underscoring.