The media (hereinafter referred to as the media) is a means of delivering information (verbal, audio, visual) on the principle of a broadcast channel, covering a large audience and acting on an ongoing basis, it is a means of implementing a single process of disseminating socially significant information and fostering social feelings, habits, motives, intentions. Carrying out agitation, propaganda, informational and organizational functions in order to reflect and form public consciousness, achieve direct changes in social reality, based on truthfulness and close connection with life.
Over time, the consideration of the media as “informing” has become a thing of the past: depending on the angle of consideration, the epithets “entertaining” and even “formative” (public opinion) are used. The development of a feedback mechanism, that is, the presence of a formal opportunity to influence or express their opinion on the part of listeners, viewers and readers, gives the media the character of a non-one-way communication. In this regard, the media in sociology are referred to as "mass media". The concept of "mass media" should not be equated with the concept of "mass media" (QMS). This is not entirely true, since the latter concept characterizes a wider range of mass media. The QMS includes cinema, theater, circus, etc., all spectacular performances that differ in the regularity of their appeal to a mass audience, as well as technical means of mass communication such as telephone, telegraph, teletype, etc.
So, the media represent a complex and multifaceted institution, consisting of many organs and elements.
What are the media?
In the Federal Law of the Russian Federation "On the Mass Media" the media means a periodical print publication, radio, television, video program, newsreel program, another form of periodic dissemination of mass information. "
V.P. Pugachev interprets the media as "institutions created for the open, public transmission of various information using special technical tools to any person."
The mass media in practice implement the human rights to information, to freedom of political choice, to publicly express their position.
Thus, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: "everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, this right includes the freedom to freely adhere to their beliefs and the freedom to seek, receive and disseminate information and ideas by any means and regardless of the state."
The Constitution of the Russian Federation "guarantees freedom of the media, prohibits censorship." Similar principles are enshrined in the constitutions of other states.
The Federal Law of the Russian Federation "On the Mass Media" enshrines the right of citizens to promptly receive reliable information through the media. "
It should be noted the distinctive features of the media:
- · Publicity, that is, an unlimited circle of consumers;
- · Availability of special, technical devices, equipment;
- · Indirect, separated in space and time, interaction of communication partners;
- · One-way interaction from the communicator to the recipient, the possibility of changing their roles;
- · The fickle, dispersed nature of their audience, which is formed from time to time as a result of the general attention shown to a particular program or article.
The media include:
- Printed editions (press): newspapers, magazines
- Electronic media: television, radio, Internet
- News agencies - providers of information
The media is one of the most important institutions of modern society. Its role is great in the formation, functioning and evolution of social consciousness as a whole. Modern media are institutions created for the open, public transfer of various information using special technical tools to any person - this is a relatively independent system characterized by a plurality of constituent elements: content, properties, forms, methods and certain levels of organization (in the country, in the region, in production). The distinguishing feature of the media is publicity, i.e. unlimited number of users; availability of special technical devices, equipment; the volatile volume of the audience, which changes depending on the expressed interest in a particular program, message or article.
With the use of advanced technical means of communication - the press (means of disseminating information using printed reproduction of text and images), radio (transmission of sound information using electromagnetic waves) and television (transmission of sound and video information also using electromagnetic waves; for radio and television it is mandatory use of the appropriate receiver) is directly related to journalism.
Thanks to the use of these communication means, three media subsystems arose: print, radio and television, each of which consists of a huge number of channels - individual newspapers, magazines, almanacs, books, radio and television programs that can be distributed both around the world and in small regions (regions, districts, districts). Each subsystem performs its share of journalistic functions based on its specific characteristics.
Printing (newspapers, weeklies, magazines, almanacs, books) has acquired a special place in the media system. Products released from the printing press carry information in the form of printed alphabetic text, photographs, drawings, posters, diagrams, graphs and other pictorial and graphic forms that are perceived by the reader-viewer without the help of any additional means (while for receiving radio - television information needs a TV, radio, tape recorder, etc.). It is easy to have printed publications “with you” and turn to the “extraction” of information at a convenient time, without disturbing others, and in circumstances that do not allow or interfere with listening to the radio or watching television (on a train, subway, bus, plane, etc.) ).
At the same time, the reading of the text and the perception of the pictorial printed material takes place in accordance with the desire selectively, in the order, pace and rhythm that the reader himself sets. He can refer to the same work several times, store what is needed, underline, make notes in the margins (marginals), etc. etc. All this determines many positive aspects in contact with print media, which makes them currently irreplaceable and important media carriers.
However, printing also has properties that make it inferior to other means of communication. If television and especially radio are capable of transmitting information almost continuously and extremely promptly, then printing by technology itself is doomed to the discretion of the issue of numbers and books. Currently, the frequency of publication of printed periodicals ranges from daily (newspaper) to annual (almanac). Of course, it is possible to issue newspapers, especially with urgent information, and several times a day (this often happened in the conditions of underdeveloped other means of communication), but this is due to the difficulties of printing and delivery, and therefore, with the spread of radio and television, this practice almost stopped.
Consequently, the press loses in the promptness of information.
The second most popular medium of mass communication is radio broadcasting. Its most characteristic feature is that the information carrier in this case is only sound (including pauses). Radio communication (using radio waves - broadcasting over wires - wire broadcasting) allows you to instantly transmit information over unlimited distances, and the signal is received at the time of transmission (or - when transmitting over very long distances - with a slight delay). Hence the possibility of such promptness of radio broadcasting, when the message arrives almost at the moment of the event, which is impossible in principle to achieve in the press. In addition, radio is very popular among car enthusiasts, since there is no way to go to print and television.
A characteristic feature of radio is extravizuality - (lat. Viceo "vision"). At first glance, this is a disadvantage of radio, but in fact, constituting the deep basis of the specificity of radio, non-visuality makes it possible to realize the possibilities of sound to the extent that television does not allow it. If initially the radio was capable of broadcasting only voice messages, then with the improvement of the transmitting and receiving radio technology, it became possible to transmit all types of sound - sounding speech, music, noises. But the “monopoly” of sound, of course, limits the audience's ability to “see” how and by whom the “sound picture” is created.
But, the features of the radio also determine its negative properties. Radio broadcasting is in a sense compulsory - you can listen to the program only while it is on the air and in the same order, tempo and rhythm that are set in the studio. These features of the radio force you to carefully study the capabilities of various layers of the audience and draw up programs taking into account the distribution of time, the nature of the classes, the mental and physical condition of the listeners in different time periods.
Television entered life in the 30s and, like radio, became an equal participant in the "triumvirate" of the media in the 60s of the XX century. Further, it developed at a faster pace and in a number of parameters (event information, culture, entertainment) came out on top.
The specificity of television was born, as it were, at the intersection of the possibilities of radio and cinema. From radio, television has taken the opportunity to transmit a signal using radio waves over long distances - this signal simultaneously has audio and video information, which on the TV screen, depending on the nature of the transmission, bears a cinematic nature or the nature of a photo frame, diagram, graphics, etc. Printed text can also be displayed on the TV screen.
As well as on radio, on television, it is possible to organize operational broadcasts both from the studio and from the scene (although direct broadcast has a number of technical difficulties that are overcome with the development of video equipment and communication channels). The advantages of such an operational "live" transmission, going directly to the air from the scene of the event, are in a much greater "effect of presence" than radio, since sound and video are in an organic unity and both the most important types of human receptors are involved, which ensures the creation of more strong connections with the audience.
On television, “audio” and “video” can act on an equal footing, but when necessary, programs are made with an emphasis on either the sound sequence or the video sequence (such as, for example, a program from an art gallery). The specifics of television determines the characteristics of all types of programs - journalistic, fiction, and popular science.
In the last decade, these types of media have been joined by the actively developing fourth type of information channels - the worldwide computer network (represented in our time by the Internet), in which mass information occupies a significant place (along with special information). These are electronic versions and digests of newspapers, i.e. network newspapers and magazines, radio and television - "network broadcasting", sites ("pages") of individual journalists, moreover, quickly changing content and received in real time. Thus, computer networks combine the capabilities of all types of media, however, print texts can only be read from the monitor (and, if necessary, printed on their own printer.) It is also important to take into account that most of the information is transmitted in foreign languages, which makes it difficult for many to fully master the information even if there is a translation program in the computer.
Thus, the main areas of media activity can be identified:
- 1. satisfying the information interests of society;
- 2. ensuring publicity;
- 3. study and formation of public opinion;
- 4. organization of discussion, discussions on important problems of the life of society;
- 5. support or criticism of programs and activities of the state, parties, public organizations and movements, individual leaders;
- 6. education of political culture, morality and other qualities of citizens.
Hello, friends! Today we will plunge into a very interesting topic: the world of the media and its connections with politics. Often in the USE tests in society, especially in terms of increased complexity, it is required to talk about the functions of the media, their role in the political system.
And since this topic is quite scrupulous and extensive, few people at school study it. I must say right away that in the article I use "adult" terms. If you have problems with them, I recommend studying my video course. "Social Studies: Unified State Exam for 100 points" .
What is mass media?
So the media is sometimes referred to as the fourth estate. For the sake of fairness, it should be said that in fact, at the beginning of the last century, journalists began to be called the fourth power, in particular, and the press (print media) in general. The independent press, of course. In the United States, there was even a special "sort" of such journalists who were called makrakers - "mud rakes."
Today, the mass media means periodicals, online publications, TV channels, radio channels, television programs, radio programs, video programs, newsreel programs and other forms of periodic dissemination of mass information under a permanent name (title) (Art. 2 of the Federal Law "On Mass Media")
The functions of the media depend on the political system of a particular state.
Media under a democratic regime
In a democracy, the functions of the media are entirely related to the dissemination of open information among the population. Why do you need to disseminate information? Firstly, in order for citizens to know more or less adequate information about the situation in the country, they used this information in everyday life.
For example, those who learned about the imposition of sanctions against Russia at the end of last year did not buy, for example, apartments. Why do you need an apartment - that is, an unrealizable asset that imposes obligations on you. In addition, housing may still fall in price due to the insolvency of the bulk of the country's population.
Another important function of the media in a democracy: socialization. That is, the transmission of culture, values to the younger generation. It is clear that in modern Russia this function is not realized at all.
On television, there are continuous songs and dances and a culture of consumption. No values, other than these, are broadcast to young people. As a result, a whole generation is growing up that cannot really read, cannot express your thoughts coherently , has no need for.
Creators of mass culture: thinking about what else to show you this
Also, an important function of the media is communicative. Today you can call the program and talk to the President, or an interesting person on the phone. Ask a question there…. That's cool!
The function of criticism is also characteristic of the media. Journalists are obliged to convey not only the dominant point of view on events, but also an alternative one. Without this, no democracy is possible. It is clear that in reality, in order to please one or another business community, quite common things are often criticized. In this regard, an example from the book "All the King's Men" by Robert Penn Warren is very indicative.
One candidate for governor of a state in the United States (30s) needed to morally destroy in the eyes of the public Judge Irwin, who was famous for his incorruptibility and adherence to principles. And the subordinate of this candidate - a professional historian - dug up dirt on this judge in the archives. The judge once stumbled in his youth .... And this case was enough for the media to tear the judge to shreds. From this humiliation, the latter shot himself.
The poster for the movie "All the King's Men", based on the novel by Robert Penn Warren
This is how the media can become a guillotine under a democratic political system.
Another function of the media is to shape public opinion. In theory, public opinion should be based on the principles of universal human morality and ethics. This means that such public opinion can easily put any politician in his place. For example, in 2011 there was an earthquake in Japan, during which an ecological and humanitarian disaster arose in Fukushima.
Subsequently, the Minister of Economy, Labor and Industry of Japan Yoshio Hachiro on September 8 at a meeting with reporters pretended to touch one of the reporters with the sleeve of his protective overalls, and immediately joked: "There's radiation there!" And the next day, September 9, Khachiro called the residential areas near the nuclear power plant "ghost towns." The Japanese could not stand such mockery of the people's disasters and expressed their position very harshly. As a result, the minister himself resigned.
An important function of the mass media in a democracy is mobilization. This function lies in the fact that the media can play a significant role in the consolidation of the masses, in the transformation of the crowd into the masses. We will touch on this function in more detail below.
Also, the media in a democracy has an entertainment function, which today, in my humble opinion, has eclipsed all other functions. I constantly watch all sorts of entertaining shows, some kind of inventions and, frankly speaking, disinformation. For example, on the Ren-TV channel, there are continuous psychics, UFOs, the end of the world, thermonuclear war and other tin.
I used to respect Igor Prokopenko, but now I don't. Because he sank with his revelations - nowhere below. Also channel TV3. Previously, at least the show was a good one about the battle of the illusionists, led by Oscar Kuchera. And now? Mystic? Horror. And about other channels generally keep quiet. Personally, I now only watch two channels Discovery and National Geografic. Well, you can also see History.
Mass media under a totalitarian regime
From the course in social studies, you know that there are democratic regimes, and there are non-democratic ones. For more details about political regimes -. The totalitarian regime is one of those. Under such a regime, the media, in addition to the previous ones, also perform an ideological function. That is, all events and news are presented from the standpoint of the dominant ideology.
If we are talking about Stalinism, then the radio and newspapers broadcast about a bright future, about people's labor exploits, about faith in the infallibility of the leader of the people - I.V. Stalin. At the same time, of course, the unsightly sides of the Soviet Stalinist reality were hushed up: the famine in the Volga region, why there were defeats in the first days of the Great Patriotic War, etc.
In addition, the ideological function is also manifested in the fact that the antithesis "we - they" is formed. We, the Soviet people, are our own, they are the countries of imperialism — foreign, enemy countries. This role of newspapers, magazines, radio and television is also implicitly exploited today: observe how information is presented in the media: there is a mess everywhere, only in Russia everything is stable. In principle, this is normal. The main thing is to be aware of this 🙂
In the later Soviet era, unsuccessful launches of rockets into open space were hushed up: Belok and Strelok, for example, there were several.
Another function of the media under a totalitarian regime: mobilization. Thanks to the exaltation of future successes, newspapers, magazines, and radio constantly repeat that it is necessary to work for free, show enthusiasm, be conscientious, not succumb to the provocations of the enemies of the people and report everything where it should be.
The editorial of the newspaper Pravda
Incidentally, it is thanks to this function that the Russian people have created the very material and technical base of communism, which we now use: roads, factories, trains, airplanes and others.
It is clear that under totalitarianism, the media have a control function. When the newspapers constantly publish reports about the enemies of the people, whom concerned citizens have identified and brought to an honest trial. Naturally, each totalitarian regime has its own enemies of the people: other peoples (Nazism), the bourgeoisie (Marxism-Leninism), just intellectuals in glasses and trousers (Kombodja, the Khmer Rouge).
Mass media under an authoritarian regime
Under an authoritarian regime, the media most of all perform a controlling and ideological function. At the same time, the existence of other publications is also allowed: a more liberal one. A perfect example: tsarist Russia. Such magazines as: European, Moscow Telegraph, Moskvityanin and others were liberal. (a presentation and a cool video tutorial on this topic is in my video course "Russian history. Preparation for the exam for 100 points" ) As soon as the newspapers started talking about politics, they were immediately closed. Because under authoritarianism, power gives relative freedom, but does not let anyone into the sphere of politics.
Thus, the media under all regimes play one of the key roles in society. That is why they are called "the fourth estate" for a reason. Well, we will talk about the "fifth estate" in the context of a post-industrial society another time. !
Best regards, Andrey Puchkov
Modern media are institutions created for the open, public transfer of various information using special technical tools to any person - this is a relatively independent system characterized by a plurality of constituent elements: content, properties, forms, methods and certain levels of organization (in the country, in the region, in production). The distinguishing feature of the media is publicity, i.e. unlimited number of users; availability of special technical devices, equipment; the volatile volume of the audience, which changes depending on the expressed interest in a particular program, message or article. The concept of "mass media" should not be equated with the concept of "mass media" (QMS). This is not entirely true, since the latter concept characterizes a wider range of mass media. The QMS includes cinema, theater, circus, etc., all spectacular performances that differ in the regularity of their appeal to a mass audience, as well as technical means of mass communication such as telephone, telegraph, teletype, etc. Journalism itself is directly related to the use of advanced technical means of communication - the press (means of disseminating information using printed reproduction of text and images), radio (transmission of sound information using electromagnetic waves) and television (transmission of sound and video information also using electromagnetic waves; for radio and television, be sure to use an appropriate receiver). Thanks to the use of these communication means, three media subsystems arose: print, radio and television, each of which consists of a huge number of channels - individual newspapers, magazines, almanacs, books, radio and television programs that can be distributed both around the world and in small regions (regions, districts, districts). Each subsystem performs its share of journalistic functions based on its specific characteristics. From the definition specified in Article 2 of the Law of the Russian Federation "On the Mass Media", it follows that the mass media in its legal interpretation is nothing but one of the forms of information dissemination. There can be any number of such forms, but the most significant and well-known of them are singled out by the legislator in a separate list. Gorodov O.A. Information law: textbook - M., 2007.S. 109
The most significant media outlets include:
periodical printed edition;
radio program;
TV program;
video and newsreel programs;
specialized media.
Let's consider all these tools separately:
Periodical printed edition - a publication that has a permanent title, current issue and is published at least once a year, i.e. a kind of material carrier with information fixed on it with certain details. Periodic printed publications include:
newspaper - a periodical newspaper published at short intervals, containing official materials, operational information and articles on topical socio-political, scientific, industrial and other issues, as well as literary works and advertising.
magazine - a periodical magazine containing articles or abstracts on various socio-political, scientific, industrial and other issues, literary and artistic works, which have a permanent heading, officially approved as this type of publication.
almanac - a collection containing literary and artistic and popular science works, united according to a certain criterion;
bulletin - a periodical or continuing publication, issued promptly, containing brief official materials on issues within the purview of the issuing organization.
Printed editions may also include other editions.
A radio program is a set of periodic audio messages and programs that have a constant name and are broadcast at least once a year. A radio program is also a kind of material carrier that exists in the form of a physical electromagnetic field displaying this or that audio message in the form of signals of a certain frequency spectrum.
A television program is a collection of periodic audiovisual messages. An audiovisual message is information that is a series of interconnected frames (with or without sound accompaniment) intended for visual and auditory perception using appropriate technical devices. and programs that have a permanent title and are aired at least once a year. Like a radio program, a television program exists in the form of a physical electromagnetic field that displays an audiovisual message in the form of signals of a certain frequency spectrum.
Video and newsreel programs - a set of periodic audiovisual messages and materials that have a permanent title and are published at least once a year. Video and newsreel programs exist in the form of films, videotapes (other material carriers), on which video and sound signals are recorded according to a certain technology. Specialized mass media are that part of the mass media in relation to which the law establishes special rules for their registration or distribution of the products of these media.
Special registration rules are defined for:
- · The mass media established by the legislative, executive and judicial authorities exclusively for the publication of official messages and materials, normative and other acts;
- · Periodicals with a circulation of less than 1000 copies;
- · Radio and television programs distributed over cable networks, limited by the premises and territory of one state institution, educational institution or industrial enterprise, or having no more than ten subscribers;
- · Audio and video programs distributed in recording with a circulation of no more than 10 copies.
The above funds are exempt from registration. The specialized mass media, based on the peculiarities of the distribution of their products, include erotic publications, which are periodicals or programs that in general and systematically exploit an interest in sex. In addition to periodicals, radio, television, video programs, newsreel programs, and other forms of periodic dissemination of mass information, there are also other mass media. The specificity of these mass media lies in the specific form of external expression. First of all, such media include: texts created with the help of computers, unprinted texts stored in information data banks of computers, media whose products are distributed in the form of printed messages, materials, images. At the same time, databases are understood as an objective form of presentation and organization of a set of data, systematized in such a way that these data can be found and processed using an electronic computer. Specific forms of expressing information are represented in the law by teletext, videotext and other telecommunication networks - Internet, Fidonet and other networks that provide access to an unlimited number of persons. Journalism itself is directly related to the use of advanced technical means of communication - the press (means of disseminating information using printed reproduction of text and images), radio (transmission of sound information using electromagnetic waves) and television (transmission of sound and video information also using electromagnetic waves; for radio and television, be sure to use an appropriate receiver). Thanks to the use of these communication means, three media subsystems arose: print, radio and television, each of which consists of a huge number of channels - individual newspapers, magazines, almanacs, books, radio and television programs that can be distributed both around the world and in small regions (regions, districts, districts). Each subsystem performs its share of journalistic functions based on its specific characteristics. Printing (newspapers, weeklies, magazines, almanacs, books) has acquired a special place in the media system. Products released from the printing press carry information in the form of printed letter text, photographs, drawings, posters, diagrams, graphs and other pictorial and graphic forms that are perceived by the reader-viewer without the help of any additional means (while for receiving radio - television information needs a television, radio, tape recorder, etc. ). It is easy to have printed publications “with you” and turn to the “extraction” of information at a convenient time, without disturbing others, and in circumstances that do not allow or interfere with listening to the radio or watching television (on a train, subway, bus, plane, etc.) At the same time, the reading of the text and the perception of the pictorial printed material takes place in accordance with the desire selectively, in the order, tempo and rhythm that the reader himself sets. He can refer to the same work several times, store the necessary, underline, make notes on the margins (marginalized), etc., etc. All this determines many positive aspects in contact with print media, which makes them currently irreplaceable and important media carriers. loses to other means of communication.If television and especially radio are able to transmit information almost continuously and extremely quickly, then printing by technology itself is doomed to discrete issue of numbers and books. Currently, the frequency of publication of printed periodicals ranges from daily (newspaper) to annual (almanac). Of course, it is possible to issue newspapers, especially with urgent information, and several times a day (this often happened in the conditions of underdeveloped other means of communication), but this is due to the difficulties of printing and delivery, and therefore, with the spread of radio and television, this practice almost stopped. Thus, the press loses in the promptness of information. The second most popular medium of mass communication is radio broadcasting. Its most characteristic feature is that the information carrier in this case is only sound (including pauses). Radio communication (using radio waves - broadcasting over wires - wire broadcasting) allows you to instantly transmit information over unlimited distances, and the signal is received at the time of transmission (or - when transmitting over very long distances - with a slight delay). Hence the possibility of such promptness of radio broadcasting, when the message arrives almost at the moment of the event, which is impossible in principle to achieve in the press. In addition, radio is very popular among car enthusiasts, since there is no way to go to print and television. A characteristic feature of radio is extravizuality - (lat. Viceo "vision"). At first glance, this is a disadvantage of radio, but in fact, constituting the deep basis of the specificity of radio, non-visuality makes it possible to realize the possibilities of sound to the extent that television does not allow it. If initially the radio was capable of broadcasting only voice messages, then with the improvement of the transmitting and receiving radio technology, it became possible to transmit all types of sound - sounding speech, music, noises. But the “monopoly” of sound, of course, limits the audience's ability to “see” how and by whom the “sound picture.” when it goes on the air, moreover, in the same order, tempo and rhythm that are set in the studio. Television entered life in the 30s and, like radio, became an equal participant in the "triumvirate" of mass media in the 60s of the XX century. culture, entertainment) moved to the first place.Television specificity was born, as it were, at the intersection of the possibilities of radio and cinema. Radio television has taken the opportunity to transmit a signal using radio waves over long distances - this signal simultaneously has audio and video information, which on the TV screen, depending on the nature of the transmission, bears a cinematic nature or the nature of a photo frame, diagram, graphics, etc. Printed text can also be displayed on the TV screen. As well as on radio, on television, it is possible to organize operational broadcasts both from the studio and from the scene (although direct broadcast has a number of technical difficulties that are overcome with the development of video equipment and communication channels). The advantages of such an operational "live" transmission, going directly to the air from the scene of the event, are in a much greater "effect of presence" than radio, since sound and video are in an organic unity and both the most important types of human receptors are involved, which ensures the creation of more strong connections with the audience. On television, “audio” and “video” can act on an equal footing, but when necessary, programs are made with an emphasis on either the sound sequence or the video sequence (such as, for example, a program from an art gallery). The specifics of television determines the characteristics of all types of programs - journalistic, fiction, and popular science. In the last decade, these types of media have been joined by the actively developing fourth type of information channels - the worldwide computer network (represented in our time by the Internet), in which mass information occupies a significant place (along with special information). These are electronic versions and digests of newspapers, i.e. network newspapers and magazines, radio and television - "network broadcasting", sites ("pages") of individual journalists, moreover, quickly changing content and received in real time. Thus, computer networks combine the capabilities of all types of media, however, print texts can only be read from the monitor (and, if necessary, printed on their own printer.) It is also important to take into account that most of the information is transmitted in foreign languages, which makes it difficult for many to fully master the information even if there is a translation program in the computer.
periodical printed edition, radio, television, video program, newsreel program, other form of periodic dissemination of mass information.
Excellent definition
Incomplete definition ↓
MASS MEDIA
sources of providing information to people using various technologies that affect a wide range of consumers. These media include: newspapers, magazines, radio, television, news agencies and online publications. Today, almost everything that the media informs about is implicitly controlled by those in power, although censorship is prohibited by law. In other words, through the media, power controls people, influencing their consciousness and subconsciousness (see manipulation of public opinion).
Modern media has begun to focus on vivid pictures and images. The main source of information is the TV screen. What does this tendency for the dominance of images lead to? It means a sharp weakening of such forms of influence on a person as logic, rational arguments, facts. People are lulled to sleep with endless talk shows, TV shows and gossip about famous people. Ideological brainwashing is going on through the media. Power shows only what is beneficial to it. In particular, people are indoctrinated with the myth of Russian fascism, of the rampant xenophobia and extremism in Russia. At the same time, the true state of affairs about ethnic criminal groups, about the genocide of their own people, about the plight of the Russian people and about many and many other things remains unspoken.
Many newspapers or magazines that tell the truth are published only in electronic form via the Internet, which is increasingly being attacked by all kinds of public figures, through whose mouths the villains who have usurped power speak in disguise. So recently it has become fashionable to talk about the control of the Internet by the state, and such ideas are thrown into the masses by “lovers of freedom” by human rights activists and liberals. However, due to the lack of access to the Internet for most of the citizens of Russia, electronic publications cannot convey information to everyone. This creates a kind of information hunger, where many people feel that something is wrong in their home, but do not know who to turn to for help and support.
See also: refugee, journalists, information war, manipulation of public opinion, mass culture, international terrorism, ethnic hatred, migration policy, peacekeeping operation, public resonance, oligarchy, orange revolution, developed democracy, incitement, Russian fascism, skinheads, creative elite , television, tolerance, cold war, censorship, elite, hate speech.
Excellent definition
Incomplete definition ↓
The media, as many are convinced, is the "fourth estate". The influence of newspapers, magazines, TV, radio and online sources is so noticeable in modern society. What is the role and function of the media? How is the legislative regulation of the media sphere carried out? What innovations can we expect in this aspect?
Definition of the term "media"
According to the popular interpretation, these are institutions that are created for public broadcasting to society or its local groups of various information through various technological channels. Mass media, as a rule, have a target audience and thematic (industry) focus. There are political media, business media, scientific media, entertainment media, etc.
The technological channels in question are now usually subdivided into offline (also referred to as "traditional") and online. The first include printed newspapers and magazines, radio, television. The second group includes their counterparts, which function on the Internet in the form of articles on web pages, TV and radio broadcasts online, as well as video and audio clips posted as recordings and other ways of presenting content using digital technologies (flash presentations, HTML5 scripts, etc.).
The emergence of the media
At the same time, according to some experts, the prototypes of the media existed already in those days when humanity had not yet invented not only the alphabet, but even a full-fledged language. Rock carvings of antiquity, some scholars believe, could already perform a number of functions characteristic of those that are performed by modern media. For example, through them, one nomadic tribe could inform (intentionally or accidentally) another, who came to their place, about what resources are present in a given territory - water, vegetation, minerals, give general information about the peculiarities of the climate, (for example, draw the sun ) or display elements of warm clothing in pictures.
However, the mass media acquired, of course, only after the invention of information carriers, which assumed the technical possibility of replicating sources in a large number of copies. This is the late Middle Ages - the time when the first newspapers appeared. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the telephone, the telegraph were invented, and a little later - the radio and TV. By that time, the communities of developed countries began to experience tangible needs for communication due to processes reflecting aspects of political construction, socio-economic problems that were ripening due to the intensification of production and the introduction of new market mechanisms. The government and business began to actively use the available technologies for communication with the community. This trend quickly became widespread and the media emerged as we know them today.
The media are in great demand, primarily in the political environment. They have become a key communication mechanism between the government and society, as well as an effective tool for discussion between various political organizations. The media became a resource, control over which could guarantee the ability of certain interested groups to control the minds of people on the scale of the whole society or its individual representatives. Power appeared
The media are endowed with specific functions. Let's consider them.
Functions of the media
The experts call the basic function informational. It consists in familiarizing the community or specific groups that form it with information reflecting events and forecasts. Also, the information function can be expressed in the publication of certain participants in the political process or information in order to inform not only society, but also significant figures or organizations at their level. This can be expressed, for example, in the publication of profile interviews where an entrepreneur talks about the competitive advantages of his company - this kind of information can be read not so much by target clients as by those who can be considered competitors of the company or, for example, potential investors. ... At the same time, the forms of presenting information can be different. Among the main ones, two can be distinguished - in the form of facts and in the form of opinions (or through a balanced mixture of these two models).
A number of experts believe that the media perform an educational (and to some extent socializing) function. It consists in transferring knowledge to target groups of citizens or society as a whole, which helps to increase the level of involvement in certain processes, to begin to understand what is happening in politics, in the economy, in society. Also, the educational function of the media is important from the point of view that the target audience understands the language of the sources read, becomes constant, interested in obtaining new information. The influence of the mass media on the level of education as such, of course, is not so great. This function, in turn, is called upon to deal with schools, universities and other educational institutions. However, the media can harmoniously complement the knowledge that a person receives in educational institutions.
The socializing function of the media can be to help people to become familiar with the realities of the public environment. The mass media can give people guidance in the choice of those values that will facilitate early adaptation to the specifics of socio-economic and political processes.
Who controls whom?
The media, if we talk about democratic regimes, also perform the function of control over certain phenomena in politics and economics. At the same time, society itself is called upon to be the subject who performs it. By interacting with the media, society (as a rule, represented by individual activists who express the interests of certain groups) forms the relevant issue, and the media themselves make it public. The government, in turn, or the subjects of economic activity, enterprises, individual businessmen, will be forced to respond to the corresponding requests of society, to "account" for promises, for the implementation of certain programs, solution of urgent problems. In some cases, control is complemented by the function of criticism. this sense does not change - the main thing is to convey the relevant comments and suggestions to the broad masses. And then, in turn, broadcast the response of the authorities or businesses.
One of the specific functions of the media is articulatory. It consists in giving the society an opportunity, again, in the person of activists representing someone's interests, to express their opinion publicly, to convey it to other audiences. The mobilization function of the media is also adjacent to the articulatory function. It assumes the presence of channels through which the same activists who reflect someone's interests are included in the process of a political or economic nature. They become not only representatives of someone's views, but also direct figures at the level of government or business.
Media and law
The Russian media, like the media in most countries of the world, operate in accordance with the established norms of the law. What kind of normative acts regulate the activities of the media sphere in the Russian Federation? Our main source of law is the Law on Mass Media, which entered into force in February 1992. However, it was adopted in December 1991. Since then the USSR still formally existed, the body that adopted this act was called the Supreme Soviet of Russia. And it was signed by the President of the RSFSR, Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin. This legal act is preceded by the Soviet Press Law, which entered into force in August 1990. Experts note the fact that both sources of law were developed mainly by the same authors.
History of Russian media legislation
What regulatory legal acts preceded the two that we named above? Historians note that the laws governing the activities of the media were in force even before the October Revolution. However, after the change of government, they were canceled. Very soon, however, the Press Decree appeared, signed in October 1917. It said that as soon as the new political system gains stability, any administrative influence on the work of print media will be terminated. It was assumed that there would be freedom of speech, limited only in possible measures of responsibility before the judiciary. True, the adoption of a law that would consolidate these provisions did not take place until 1990.
Censorship and publicity
The Bolsheviks, as historians note, almost immediately upon the establishment of their power, closed several dozen newspapers and introduced censorship. The activities of the Soviet media were not regulated by any law and were, according to experts, under the direct control of the CPSU and the USSR Council of Ministers. The interaction of the media and the authorities in the USSR took place virtually unilaterally. The functionaries of the central bodies or persons subordinate to them within the structures at the level of the Union republics and their constituent entities, as historians and lawyers note, adopted appropriate resolutions concerning key aspects of editorial policy, appointed leading officials in publications, and resolved organizational issues. A similar situation took place also in the field of radio and television. Thus, only state-owned mass media legally functioned in the USSR.
However, in the second half of the 80s, glasnost appeared in the country. The practice of direct interference of the authorities in the activities of the media was somehow not linked to the emerging reality in this area. De facto publishing houses began to play a huge role in the socio-political development of the USSR. But de jure they were deprived of rights. Publishing houses did not have the opportunity, as some experts note, to dispose of the profits from the sale of huge circulations. As a result, the country's leadership decided to develop a law on the media, which would legally consolidate the importance that the media acquired in the era of glasnost. It was necessary to create a media sphere that would operate independently of the party line.
So, since August 1, 1990 in the USSR, an opportunity has opened up for the functioning of the media within the framework of publicity. The only mechanism considered by many experts to be an echo of the times of censorship was the mandatory registration of media outlets, which required compliance with certain formalities. Such as, for example, the definition of a person or organization establishing a mass media - the law ordered this to be done.
New media law?
Formally adopted in the USSR, the legal act regulating the activities of the media is still in force. However, during the entire existence of the law, it has been regularly amended periodically. And today, discussions about whether this legal act should be edited again, whether to write this or that norm, do not subside. Of course, there is no talk of adopting a principled law yet (in any case, there is no public information about this known to the general public). However, there are a lot of proposals for various kinds of amendments that would affect the activities of the mass media in Russia.
Among the most recent ones, which were adopted by the State Duma, is the one concerning the restriction of foreigners' ownership of shares in the media. What exactly does this mean? Until recently, foreigners could be present in the shareholdings and authorized capital of the Russian media in any proportions (excluding the sphere of radio and television). In the fall of 2014, the State Duma in three readings adopted amendments to the law on the media, according to which, starting in 2016, foreign investors will be able to own no more than 20% of the assets of Russian media.
Limiting the share of foreigners
According to experts, more than one mass media may face the consequences of the adoption of the new version of the law. Examples abound. There is a large share of foreigners in the assets of such publishing houses as Sanoma Independent Media, Bauer, Hearst Shkulev and many others. To circumvent the norms of the law, lawyers believe, is problematic. The norms set out in the act do not allow foreigners to own shares in media assets through an intermediary chain from different legal entities. What can this lead to?
Experts believe that the entry into force of the amendments may result in the desire of some media brands to stop operating in the Russian Federation. Largely because, analysts believe, media owners will not have the opportunity to build editorial policy in the desired format. In this connection, the recognition of the style of the media brand can lose in quality, the readers will stop buying the corresponding publications, and the owner will incur losses. According to a number of experts, the expediency of the law may raise doubts due to the fact that the most sensitive spheres of the media space in Russia (politics, society) by foreigners are not so significantly controlled by foreigners. There is much more foreign influence in the "glossy" publications that have practically no relation to matters of state importance.
Blogger Law
Among other sensational initiatives of the Russian legislator are amendments related to the activities of bloggers. In accordance with them, the owners of Internet portals (or pages on social networks and other similar online projects) are in a certain sense equated to the media if the audience on the corresponding pages exceeds 3 thousand daily users. True, in this case, the amendments do not concern the law "On Mass Media", but another legal act related to the regulation of the information technology sphere.
What kind of obligations, typical for the media, will have to fulfill? First of all, this is the provision of a real surname, first name and patronymic. Also, a blogger is obliged to indicate an email address in order to be able to conduct legally significant correspondence with him. In turn, the blogger or the hosting provider of the site where the project is hosted should redirect the full name and e-mail to Roskomnadzor.
The blog should not publish information that may, by virtue of its content and orientation, contradict the norms of the law. For example, ungrounded and negatively affecting the interests of others, statements, judgments, publication of compromising and personal information become inadmissible.