[ecrea] Open access publication: World of Media-2017 edition

It is my pleasure it share with you the new issue of World of Media 
academic journal. It can be accessed online at 
http://worldofmedia.ru/volumes/2017/

 World of Media-2017. Journal of Russian Media and Journalism Studies

The issue was published in 2017 by the Non-Commercial Partnership 
“National Association of Mass Media Researchers” in cooperation with the 
Faculty of Journalism, Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Download

EDITOR’S NOTE

LEAD ARTICLE

Frolova, T. (2017) Subject Competence in Journalism: Issues of 
Responsibility and Ways to Tackle Them. World of Media. Journal of 
Russian Media and Journalism Studies, 13-38.

The content strategies of modern Russian media are frequently subject to 
criticism by the public sector, researchers and expert groups. The 
author points to the significant role that subject-matter expertise 
plays in attempts to raise the quality of media content. The thematic 
modules employed as a pedagogical technique at Moscow State University’s 
Faculty of Journalism aim to provide a deep understanding of a range of 
subject matters and to familiarize students with the special 
characteristics and/or peculiarities of the operative social spheres. 
Public sphere journalism is considered for its potential as a beneficial 
addition to academic programs for young journalists. The article 
includes the results of a student opinion poll as well as the outcome of 
a data research focusing on formation of future journalists’ 
professional and ethical values.

Key words: social responsibility of the media, media content, media 
content strategy, journalists subject competence, educational 
innovation, and thematic module.

ARTICLES

Acharya, B. (2017) Conceptual Evolution of the Digital Divide: A 
Systematic Review of the Literature over a Period of Five Years (2010 – 
2015). World of Media. Journal of Russian Media and Journalism Studies, 
41-74.

Throughout the last twenty years the digital divide – a multidimensional 
concept – has evolved in a manner that takes account of various 
technological, socio-economic, socio-political, and socio-cultural 
considerations. The objective of this study is to access recent 
conceptualizations of the term and to identify emerging considerations. 
In this paper I employ Okoli and Schabram’s (Okoli, Schabram, 2010) 
systematic literature review framework as a basis for examining 21 
digital divide focused scholarly articles that were selected from 118 
peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2010 and 2015. The 
findings suggest that scholarly literature published in this domain 
during the last five years has identified 42 user attitudes towards 
technology, motivations for use of technology, and socio-cultural 
backgrounds as factors influencing the notion of the digital divide. 
Despite the lack of a widely agreed upon definition of the digital 
divide, recent conceptualizations appear to be moving away from the 
traditional emphasis on technological and economic gaps. The central 
theme of the selected articles is that without addressing long existing 
socio-economic and sociocultural inequalities, which are real and deep 
divides, bridging the technological gaps might not end the real issue of 
digital divide.

Key words: digital divide, conceptual evolution, skills and usage gaps, 
socio-cultural disparity, systematic literature review.

Krecek, J. (2017) Buying a Gun not to Use it? A Study of the Change in 
Czech Media Ownership and its Political Instrumentalisation. World of 
Media. Journal of Russian Media and Journalism Studies, 75-98.

This article covers changes to media ownership in the former Eastern 
Bloc, which first started in the 1990s (de-nationalisation, 
privatization, the entry of foreign owners), and then by other changes 
brought by the economic crisis after 2008 (the fleeing of foreign 
owners, the rise of domestic capital). In the Czech Republic we can talk 
about another, the third stage of media ownership from 2013, when Andrej 
Babiš, entrepreneur, the chair of a political party, and later the 
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, became the owner of the 
MAFRA Publishing House. 76 The theoretical debate of our contribution 
looks at the first two historical stages and discusses point-by-point 
the individual concepts that the literature mentions in this context 
(party-press parallelism, Italianisation) and some of which may be in 
conflict with the normative expectations placed on the media in 
democratic and pluralist societies (business parallelism, impure 
publishing, instrumentalisation). The subsequent empirical part of the 
paper is dedicated to this “third stage” of media ownership in the Czech 
Republic. The method of quantitative content analysis focuses on Babiš’s 
two dailies, MF Dnes and Lidové noviny, and, by comparison with the 
contents of other dailies, examines whether there has been political 
instrumentalisation that has robbed them of their independence so that 
they side with their owner. The research – in comparison with both 
expert and public opinion – produced surprising results. Although media 
siding was measured with the aid of openly expressed sympathy for 
various political actors or by measuring the attention devoted to each 
political actor and their arguments, almost no tendency towards 
partisanship was recorded. The input hypothesis about the pernicious 
impact of merging political and media power in democratic public debate 
was found to be false. Interpretation of these results, however, does 
not mean this danger should not be heeded, and offers three possible 
explanations as to why there has been no political instrumentalisation 
in this area so far.

Key words: media ownership, media parallelism, Italianisation, media 
moguls, instrumentalisation.

Raycheva, L. (2017) Transformations in the Bulgarian Media System: 
Tendencies and Challenges. World of Media. Journal of Russian Media and 
Journalism Studies, 99-120.

The transition to a civil society and market place economic 
relationships in Bulgaria have involved a number of challenges to the 
development of mass media. These include a general insufficiency of 
financial and technological resources, as well as a lack of professional 
standards. Media competition stimulated the first dynamic open markets 
in the country, which established well-developed media consumption 
patterns. However, although the public was offered a highly varied media 
menu, expectations that the media would aid the processes of 
democratization in a purposeful and effective manner proved 
unrealistically high. Media were in need of transformation themselves. 
Tracing current political and economic developments in the country, this 
paper presents the challenges facing the contemporary 100 media system. 
Emphasis is placed on traditional media (press, radio and television). 
Tendencies aroused by technologically driven online media are outlined 
in several aspects: technological, economic, professional, regulatory, 
educational, scientific, and social.

Key words: media, politics, challenges, tendencies.

Khroul, V. (2017) Christian Media in Russia in the Age of 
“Networkization”. World of Media. Journal of Russian Media and 
Journalism Studies, 121-142.

This paper analyzes the subsystem of religious media in Russia, with a 
focus on Christian media and their place in Russia’s media system in the 
context of “networkization”. The dilemma faced by the Russian Orthodox 
Church in coming to terms with new digital communication technologies, 
and the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ of using social networks, are considered by 
specialists in the field. The author underscores three problem areas for 
Christian media in Russia: (1) the requirement that journalistic 
endeavors remain subordinate to the goals of proselytization and public 
relations; (2) a blurry understanding of the target audience, and (3) 
the use of a barely understandable archaic ecclesiastical language. The 
author hypothesizes that some recent approaches to the challenge of 
“networkization” on the part of Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant 
thinkers may hold promising solutions to the problem.

Key words: media, religion, social networks, religious identity, 
Christians, Russia.

Wilson, J. (2017) Communicating in the Absence of Mobile Telephone 
Network During the State of Emergency in Borno State, Nigeria. World of 
Media. Journal of Russian Media and Journalism Studies, 143-167.

The role of mobile telephony in Nigeria can never be overemphasised. 
Little wonder, the astronomical growth in 144 mobile subscribers/users 
in Nigeria ranks among the top ten mobile phone subscribers/users 
nations in the world. The growing reliance on mobile telephony by 
Nigerians for various purposes makes it seemingly an indispensable tool 
for the smooth running of daily endeavours. The technology has 
overwhelmed other conventional means of communication that existed and 
supported communication among Nigerians for ages. For example, the 
introduction of Global Service for Mobile Networks at the dawn of the 
new millennium in Nigeria relegated and almost pushed to extinction the 
likes of Telegram, surface mail or letter writing, land line telephony, 
radio message, walkie talkie etc. Unfortunately, in 2013, the mobile 
telephone network was shut down in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states as a 
counter insurgency measure, when the then government of President 
Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in the three States. The 
use of Thuraya services at a point was also banned by the military in 
the affected states. While the mobile network was restored in Adamawa 
and Yobe in July, 2013, Borno state was without mobile telephone network 
for over 6 months (17th May, 2013 to 3rd December, 2013). What was the 
nature of daily communication endeavours without the usual mobile 
telephony among the residence of the affected states? This study 
examines how residence of Maiduguri were communicating during the period.

Key words: state of emergency, mobile phone network, Borno State, 
counter insurgency, communicating.

Akpabio, E. (2017) Women in the Tanzanian Media: A Critical Analysis. 
World of Media. Journal of Russian Media and Journalism Studies, 168-183.

Research reports that indicate that women are marginalized in the 
Southern African and Tanzanian media call for urgent redress. In the 
specific instance of Tanzania, male sources dominate at 79%, while radio 
has the lowest proportion of female sources at 13% – women are more 
likely to be seen than to be heard. Female voices are heard in the 
“soft” areas such as gender equality and gender-based violence and less 
so in the fields of mining, labor and housing, each of which registers 
at a paltry 10%. Their voices start to disappear when they attain the 
age of 50. Women’s commentary dominates in the categories of beauty 
contests, and in reports on sex workers and homemaking, and women are 
more likely to be identified by a personal tag. In the newsroom, women 
constitute only 25% of print reporters, they are more likely to feature 
in “soft” news beats, and women occupy just over a quarter of the top 
management positions and constitute 14% of sources quoted 169 by male 
reporters. This study, citing best practices, charts the way forward 
more even gender representation in the Tanzanian media.

Key words: Tanzania, gender, media, SADC Protocol, Africa.

Kumylganova, I. (2017) Ethical Education at Western Schools of 
Journalism. World of Media. Journal of Russian Media and Journalism 
Studies, 184-199.

Current trends in the public sphere reveal the need for a clearly 
formulated, objective and socially sanctioned system of ethical 
requirements to guide the work of mass media professionals. However, the 
question of ethics in media has yet to be sufficiently investigated on a 
rigorous theoretical level in Russian media scholarship. The lack of 
Russian theoretical formulations can be contrasted to the long-standing 
interest of Western media experts in theoretical understandings of the 
subjective conditions necessary for journalists to observe ethical 
requirements in practice. This difference, on the other hand, seems to 
be leveled, by a shift in public consciousness in both Russia and abroad 
regarding “formal morality”, which is characterized by bountiful use and 
abuse of ethical terminology in the modern social lexicon. The 185 
outcry for morality expressed in the media often demonstrates only 
incompetence and a lack of understanding of the real problems. Our 
research demonstrates that, despite speicialized curricular offerings in 
journalism programs in both Russian and Western universities in the 
fields of professional ethics and social responsibility, students do not 
really acquire a framework for making ethical decisions. This article 
considers pedagogical traditions in instruction on media ethics in 
Russia and elsewhere, presents the results of an analysis of several 
western approaches to courses on journalistic ethics at the university 
level, and compares the results of disparate teaching methodologies. The 
study draws on data obtained from foreign scholarly publications, on the 
author’s interviews with American and European professors, and on 
classroom observation of relevant courses at Western faculties of 
journalism.

Key words: social responsibility, professional ethics, practice of 
ethical education, methodological approaches to studying of journalistic 
ethics, resolving ethical dilemmas.

Dzyaloshinsky, I. (2017) Violations of the Journalist Ethics: 
Professional Negligence or a Pattern? World of Media. Journal of Russian 
Media and Journalism Studies, 200-228.

This article analyzes violations of journalistic ethics in the Russian 
media. Material for analysis was collected by advanced undergraduates at 
the Faculty of Journalism, Moscow State University and at the Faculty of 
Communication, Media and 201 Design of the National Research 
University/Higher School of Economics. Using the method of intent 
analysis, students determined types and numbers of violations of 
journalistic ethics, including the following typological groupings: 
invasion of privacy; corruption of the minds of children and teenagers; 
the intrusion of unverifiable agendas (creation of illusive worldviews); 
instilling heretical views (promoting mysticism); fermenting social 
aggression and intolerance; destruction of moral principles; creation 
and intrusion of stereotypes (idols and outcasts); traumatization of 
mental state (formation of a sense of fear and hopelessness); 
destruction (damaging) of reputation; and the formation of unrealistic 
life scenarios. Based on our analysis we conclude that forms of 
professional behavior considered impermissible in terms of any 
journalistic code, appear to be “normal” in the actual practice of 
Russian journalists. Furthermore, we hypothesize that, due to a 
consistent “logic” in the frequency of such ethics violations on the 
part of journalists, it would be incorrect to assume that they simply 
demonstrate professional carelessness. Rather, the violations appear to 
respond to some public need. This publication accords with the 
specifications for Science Project No. 15-03-00514/16, and is supported 
by the Russian Foundation for Humanities: “Media environment: problems 
of security and rational usage of the communication resources”.

Key words: the journalist professional ethics, media reality, 
journalism, agenda, the journalist social responsibility.

Kalugina, E. (2017) The Influence of Citizen Journalism on the Internet 
Media Sector: Demarcation Between Online Media and other Network 
Resources. World of Media. Journal of Russian Media and Journalism 
Studies, 229-250.

Сurrent trends in the media environment make it necessary to rethink 
traditional understandings of the media, and journalism in general. The 
growing popularity of network resources used as a means to obtain 
information, along with the increasing competition between professional 
and citizen journalism, together raise the question of what the media is 
about the Internet. This article attempts to establish criteria to 
differentiate between online media and other network resources. Based on 
the scholarly literature and expert assessments, we conclude that these 
criteria include professionalism, self-positioning as media, and the 
performance of journalistic functions, audience scale, and 230 
compliance with organizational signs of traditional media, as well as 
the degree of independence. The analysis of social media in the context 
of these constraints shows that the Internet media sector involves 
individual segments of the blogosphere, in particular, user blogs that 
operate on platforms of professional media and blogs functioning on the 
principle of Internet portals.

Key words: online media, citizen journalism, blogs, social networks, 
Internet media sector.

Ogwezzy-Ndisika, A., Husseini, S. (2017) Freedom of Expression and 
Safety of Journalists in the Digital Age. World of Media. Journal of 
Russian Media and Journalism Studies, 251-280.

The issue of the safety of journalists has become topical the world 
over. Journalists and media workers around the world are increasingly 
being targeted, threatened, assaulted and even killed for performing 
their duties. This anti-press violence absolutely negates the freedom 
that journalists are supposed to enjoy as they carry out their 
functions, one of which is to uphold the 252 responsibility and 
accountability of a government to its people. Drawing on some 
theoretical insights and citing examples from documented cases of threat 
of arrest, deaths, withdrawal of broadcast licenses, proscription and 
general impunity against journalists, this paper examined freedom of 
expression and safety of journalists in the digital age. The paper 
argues that journalists, because of the peculiar nature of their work, 
should be at liberty to gather, hold, express and disseminate 
information and opinions with neither official nor unofficial 
restrictions. The paper makes recommendations on how journalists in the 
digital age can be provided with a safe and secure environment for practice.

Key words: press freedom, mass media, freedom of expression, anti-press 
violence, digital age

CONTEMPORARY DEBATE

Teplyashina, A. (2017) Media Criticism as a Form of Literary Journalism: 
Updating Theoretical Approaches to a Meta-genre. World of Media. Journal 
of Russian Media and Journalism Studies, 283-310.

This paper attempts to analyze current practices of literary journalism, 
manifest in the format of a column as its meta-genre, and media 
criticism as its global content. Critics mainly focus on 284 media 
products from such creative industries as modern television, theatre, 
cinema, as well as on literature and the work of cultural institutions. 
One of the most prominent journalists concerned with these issues is 
Tatyana Moskvina. The paper draws attention especially to a definition 
of literary journalism as a community of creative personalities with 
different professional backgrounds, working on staff or as freelancers, 
who are concerned with the most pressing issues and give their reviews 
in unconventional creative genres.

Key words: meta-genre, literary journalism, column writing, column, 
media criticism, tradition, tone.

REVIEW

Grabelnikov,A. (2017) Magazines Rabotnitsa and Krestjanka Dealing with 
Women’s Question in the USSR in 1920-1930s: Model of Propaganda Support 
to Social Reforms”: Review of the Monograph by O.D. Minajeva. World of 
Media. Journal of Russian Media and Journalism Studies, 313-318.

CONFERENCE REPORT

Gladkova, A. (2017) The Eighth International ‘Moscow Readings’ 
Conference “Mass Media and Communications-2016”. World of Media. Journal 
of Russian Media and Journalism Studies, 321-323.




Dr. Anna Gladkova,
World of Media / Executive Editor
125009, 9 Mokhovaya, Moscow, Russia
tel. +7 (495) 629 52 76
fax +7 (495) 629 49 54

---------------
The COMMLIST
---------------
This mailing list is a free service offered by Nico Carpentier. Please
use it responsibly and wisely.
--
To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit http://commlist.org/
--
Before sending a posting request, please always read the guidelines at
http://commlist.org/
--
To contact the mailing list manager:
Email: (nico.carpentier /at/ vub.ac.be)
URL: http://nicocarpentier.net
---------------