The term «media-space»: theoretical approach

Abstract

Determining that the science of information law requires research of theoretical content, aimed in particular at forming a proper terminological apparatus, the author in the article using the method of structural-system analysis attempts to formulate an approach to understanding and interpreting the definition of media space.
 Analyzing certain scientific positions on the internal nature of the media space, the author notes that this term is explained without reference to other theoretical constructions, may have differences in interpretation of the content with emphasis on various manifestations of media space, and some narrowing of the content in in some cases, or generalizations – in others. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the term «media space» is widely used not only in the science of information law, but also in other social sciences – philosophy, political science, journalism, sociology and more. Not surprisingly, each of the sciences may have its own (different from the others) interpretation of the same term (in this case – «media space»).
 This state of affairs deprives the term «media space» of systemic logic, causes its use where another is needed, distorts the notion of internal meaning.
 That is why when defining the term «media space» and clarifying its place in the terminological apparatus, the author proposes to proceed first from the metacategory of the information society, and only then – from such constructions as «information sphere» and «information space». It turns out that the media space is a segment (part) of the information space, and therefore it has features that are characteristic of the information space (the concept of «single – general»). At the same time, the specific distinctive features that determine the separation of this space from the information (subject composition, intangible component, etc.) have been clarified. Accordingly, the signs of territoriality and resourcefulness, the intangible part, the functioning of the media as special subjects of the media space, independence from the inner world of man, direct or indirect influence on human consciousness (people) are revealed.