Development of Tools for Conducting Content Analysis of Federal and Regional Mass Media in Russia on the Issues of Reflecting the Demographic Situation and Politics

Abstract

At the present stage, the development of scientific tools that allow for a qualitative and independent assessment of the current demographic situation and the socio-political measures taken to strengthen, stabilize and develop it is particularly relevant. The efforts of Federal, regional and local authorities aimed at increasing population reproduction, increasing the birth rate, reducing mortality, increasing life expectancy, and supporting young families and families with children should be publicized, developed as public initiatives, and resonated with the population. The content analysis method as a method of qualitative and quantitative study of information sources, which implies search, registration, numerical processing of semantic units of analysis, interpretation of the obtained data, and has successfully proven itself in the sociopolitical sphere, can be used for demographic research, including identifying the level of loyalty of public institutions (including the media) to the demographic policy. In the context of media policy, it is important that information related to the demographic situation, especially in Federal and regional media, be objective, reliable, and consistent. This article presents a method of content analysis developed for the purpose of analyzing Federal and regional media in Russia on the issues of reflecting the demographic situation and taking measures of demographic policy. The article provides an overview of the research tools: sample, indicators and keywords, instructions for research and analysis, units of analysis (revealing demographic problems in the Russian Federation, measures to support families at the birth of children, assistance to the older generation and other demographic problems in the mass media).