Media Environment Transformations as an Object of Study of the Theory of Mass Communications

Abstract

Changes in the media environment always lead to changes in the media system, which reflects a different quality of communication. The nature of actors, channels, effects becomes an object of attention of researchers of mass communications. The article deals with the problem of the transformation of the mass communication system, which includes both cinematography and fiction, which can be freely broadcast through various channels, including digital channels. The article considers a new concept, i.e. "communication product". It is understood as a result of professional activity in the field of public and mass communications for the production of a media product, an event product, an advertising and PR product. The media environment is currently characterized by its own messages. They can be built both in traditional newsmaking models (both in journalism and public relations), and in storytelling, narrative (both in advertising and media communications). The article considers such trends in the media environment as the use of hype content, memes and various fakes. The reasons for the emergence of media communications are revealed. There are technological reasons, as modern communication technologies can open access to information to all comers. There are social ones, as new media allows Internet users to actively participate in communications and selectively treat messages they receive. The characteristics of the phenomenon of media communications are distinguished, separating it from journalism, advertising and public relations. The notion of media communications as a process of creation, processing and broadcasting, as well as information exchange in individual, group, mass format through various channels of mass communication (mainly online) is being introduced into scientific circulation through various communication tools - verbal / non-verbal; auditory, audiovisual, visual.