Training of media specialists in the field of social communication

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problems of training of media specialists in the context of improving the system of higher education in Russia. Based on the analysis of theoretical and empirical materials, the authors substantiate the need to transform the media education system in Russia in order to train professional communicators of a new formation. Based on the results of their own sociological research and the results obtained by other researchers, the authors confirm the presence of certain difficulties in educational media programs. E.g., students show average level of media literacy, unconscious behavior as consumers of information, and difficulties with information verification. Failure to overcome all that difficulties may lead to the fact that the ranks of future media specialists in the field of social communication will be replenished with personnel who does not correspond to this activity emotionally and professionally. The activities of such non-professionals significantly affects the level of public trust in any information in the media The logic of the research allows the authors to come to conclusions that in Russia there is a clear public demand for media specialists of high professional level, truthfully and responsibly forming the modern public agenda.