Russian Local Newspapers’ Newsrooms in a Digital Environment Olga Smirnova Moscow State University, Russia

Newspapers of the medium-sized cities and towns of Russia in 2010s  Research project conducting by the Faculty of Journalism of Lomonosov Moscow State University since the beginning of 2013.

There are 1099 medium-sized cities and towns 155 medium-sized cities 780 towns In total it includes 935 representing 85% of all cities and towns of Russia The population is people that represents 28% of the urban population of Russia.

 The following elements were included in the sample of the research: 26 administrative subjects of the Russian Federation 55 medium-sized cities and towns 66 editorial offices of newspapers In total 153 editors-in-chief and journalists of local newspapers were interviewed.

Possible answersPercentage (%) It has become easier to find information on the Internet and check it 69 Working process and process of information transfer became more operative 61 Working rhythm became tougher48 New technologies make constantly learning45 There is a significant increase in interactivity of communication with the audience through social networks, via , forums, etc. 44 Technological capabilities of newspaper production process are improved 44 Part 1/3

Possible answersPercentag e (%) Now information can be transmitted over communication channels, i.e. a journalist is less "bound" to an editorial office because the production process can be "home -based" 40 A journalist's work has become more public and more discussible therefore it receives positive or unflattering assessments 31 There is a very high pace of work that is why you need to fit into a shorter time than before and it means that the labor intensity is increased significantly 27 Now journalists work rarely with traditional letters from readers 27 Opportunities for communication with experts and specialists in different spheres increased through Internet networks 26 Part 2/3

Possible answersPercentage (%) Information becomes more “secondary”, non-exclusive18 Process of creating texts became more creative17 Process of creating texts became less creative14 A journalist himself is more rarely an observer of events or seldom communicates directly with their members to gather information for publication 12 New technologies are shifting the focus of attention from the content of journalistic publications to the form of production 8 It is difficult to answer0 Part 3/3

 The journalistic work in Russian local newspapers is changing dramatically because of digital and convergent processes in media environment. There is a significant increase in efficiency, working intensity, interactive communication with the audience through social networks.  They have become more technically equipped; there are many possibilities for using digital technologies for the formation and presentation of newspaper's content as well as for communication with the audience.