Prank Journalism as a New Genre in Russian Media Landscape

Abstract

The article aims at theorizing the phenomenon of prank journalism. The authors explain the need for new formats of searching for information in the context of information wars. The concept prank is defined in general, at the same time it is analyzed in the psychological, socio-cultural and legal aspects, a psychological and social image of a prankster is drawn. The article describes the process of a prank phone call evolving first into a youth subculture and then into a new genre of journalism. The aspects of the prank subculture are described from the viewpoint of anthropology and its media coverage is characterized. Some aspects of the beginnings of prank journalism in the Russian media space are considered, Examples of prank journalism in the Western media space are given. The article states reasons for the introduction of political prank in the Russian media space. The article offers basis for comparing a pranksters and journalists activities, and describes the ethical component of prank journalism. The article gives a brief characteristic of stages of creating a prank. The role of the personal factor in a prank journalists job is defined as exemplified by Alexey Stolyarov (Lexus) and Vladimir Kuznetsov (Vovan), the founders of the Russian intellectual prank. Examples of some well-known pranks from the recently published book by Vovan and Lexus For Whom the Phone Rings? are given. The article offers criteria for rating pranks as instruments for creating fake news as exemplified by the prank about the victims in the Kemerovo Winter Cherry mall, disseminated by a Ukrainian prankster. The prank is considered in a dichotomy: as information terrorism and as a kind of fact journalism. The article states how the prank is characterized by professional journalists and media people. The article makes a conclusion about the place of prank journalism in the modern media space.