Political journalism in the Russian media system: Journalistic professionalization in the context of digital media

Abstract

The contemporary Russian media is a particular type of a hybrid – statist commercial – media system. Rooted in the Soviet past and driven by social change and the digital revolution, Russian journalism survived the abolition of censorship, media privatization, commercialization, and re-construction of the political system. Still, after the three decades of change the lasting centrifugal role of the state in the media system strongly effects political communication, media regulation and business. In contrast, the rise of the digital media challenged the hierarchical structures and social effects of the traditional media resulting into decentralized modes of public communication, offering additional and alternative news agendas, broadening the diversity of ideological views, as well as contributing to political pluralism. The Russian political journalism is been characterized by a number of controversies rooted in the national historical path and global developments. These are the clashes of Slavophilism and Westernism, of established political parties and non-formalized political ideologies as well as diverse political value settings, of the legacy and social media.