Two Generations of Contemporary Russian Journalists

Abstract

This study explores the professional roles of Russian journalists, from the perspective of 30 practitioners working in St Petersburg at the end of the 1990s. The aim is to describe how journalism has developed, what attitudes and work values professionals hold and what the prospects for the future of journalism are. A central finding is that there are two types of professional roles within contemporary journalism, representing two types of professional subculture: the old generation (practitioners of the Soviet era) and the new generation (who have joined the profession since 1990). Whereas the old generation continues to hold a cultivated view of journalism as an important societal task in natural collaboration with those in authority, the new generation is orientated towards the contemporary role of providing entertainment and perceives journalism rather as a PR role for the benefit of influential groups and people in politics and business. Despite their polarities, both generations of journalism accept the political function of journalism as a propaganda machine for the power elite during elections and other important events

Managed Mediocrity?

“…(Pasti, 2005a, p. 108) It should be noted that scholars differ over the degree to which perestroika-era journalists broke from the Soviet past. Some say the break was a significant one (e.g., Coman, 2000), and others saw journalists as still serving the elite (Pasti, 2005a).…”

“…Journalists influenced the process of societal change while simultaneously being affected by overall developments in the country (Davis et al, 1998). The news media's acquisition of real power during perestroika (not nominal power, as in Soviet times) fostered an increased popularity for the journalism profession among younger people at that time (Pasti, 2005a). Economic development and increased opportunities for entrepreneurship resulted in increased investment in media enterprises: in 1992 alone, more than 400 new print and electronic outlets were launched in Russia (Azhgikhina, 2007).…”

“…However, 25 years after Gorbachev's reforms, media professionals found themselves dependent not only on politically powerful authorities (as in Soviet times) but also on financial moguls . A new generation of journalists coming of age after perestroika, instead of advancing press freedom and civil rights, focused on entertainment and sensationalism (Coman, 2000;Pasti, 2005a). From the viewpoint of perestroika-era journalists, the new generation seemed professionally immature.…”

Global Public Relations

“…According to Pasti (2005), two types of professional role have emerged within contemporary Russian journalism. The older generation continues to view journalism as an important societal task in close collaboration with those in power.…”

O jornalismo e a obrigatoriedade do diploma: negociando as fronteiras da comunidade jornalística no Brasil

“…Em outros contextos, o problema assume configurações diferentes. Assim, por exemplo, Pasti (2005) menciona uma definição totalmente diferente de jornalismo na União Soviética, nos termos da qual o prestígio de cada profissão era avaliado numa gradação que tinha o trabalho no governo (no partido) como ápice. Concebido como trabalho literário nos meios de comunicação a serviço da construção do socialismo, o jornalismo ocupava o segundo degrau desta hierarquia, abaixo das artes, ciências e do governo e acima das profissões que não exigiam nível superior.…”