Russian Media Model: Politics, Business and Profession Professor Elena Vartanova Moscow State University Lecture Course at Alexander Institute University of Helsinki February 22 - March 3, 2006 Professor Elena Vartanova Moscow State University Lecture Course at Alexander Institute University of Helsinki February 22 - March 3, 2006

Lecture 1. Theories of Mass Media in Russia - basic theoretical framework, - media theories since 1985, - Eurasian approach - basic theoretical framework, - media theories since 1985, - Eurasian approach

Basic Theoretical Frameworks Authoritarian Theory: journalism as a political instrument of elites Leninist Theory: media as collective agitator (education + political enlightenment), propagandist (common ideology and culture), organizator (mobilization) Dissident Approaches: media as a free voice of intellectuals (intelligentsia), alternative arts (rock music, chansons, elitist cinema) Authoritarian Theory: journalism as a political instrument of elites Leninist Theory: media as collective agitator (education + political enlightenment), propagandist (common ideology and culture), organizator (mobilization) Dissident Approaches: media as a free voice of intellectuals (intelligentsia), alternative arts (rock music, chansons, elitist cinema)

The Soviet Media Theory Normative character: media professionals have to be Communist party affiliated, people’s oriented, ethical truthful and educating News and timeliness reporting: of minor importance compared to feature polemic genres Publicistics (political essays writing): at the core of journalists’ activity A ‘must’ for journalists: an active citizen’s stand Normative character: media professionals have to be Communist party affiliated, people’s oriented, ethical truthful and educating News and timeliness reporting: of minor importance compared to feature polemic genres Publicistics (political essays writing): at the core of journalists’ activity A ‘must’ for journalists: an active citizen’s stand

Media Theories after 1985 Glasnost Public Sphere Open Society Political Economy / Media Political Capital Information / Network Society Theory of Dual Transition Globalization Glasnost Public Sphere Open Society Political Economy / Media Political Capital Information / Network Society Theory of Dual Transition Globalization

Libertarian Theory and Glasnost Western Approach: Western Approach: ‘ Glasnost as the process of systematically, continuously, and completely informing people on all spheres of life both in the USSR and abroad, except for information constituting state of other legally-protected secrets or violating the generally excepted societal moral and ethical norms. It is an instrument for the leadership in carrying through political reforms.’ Russian view: adaptation of administrative-bureaucratic model to Western ideal of free and open society liberation of media ‘from the top down’ Authors: Authors: Nordenstreng, Paasilinna, Yassen Zassoursky Western Approach: Western Approach: ‘ Glasnost as the process of systematically, continuously, and completely informing people on all spheres of life both in the USSR and abroad, except for information constituting state of other legally-protected secrets or violating the generally excepted societal moral and ethical norms. It is an instrument for the leadership in carrying through political reforms.’ Russian view: adaptation of administrative-bureaucratic model to Western ideal of free and open society liberation of media ‘from the top down’ Authors: Authors: Nordenstreng, Paasilinna, Yassen Zassoursky

Public Sphere: Who Responsible to Whom? Habermas public sphere as a forum for public debates Russian approach: Public sphere for discussions between the power and citizens Concept of the State Information Policy: Forth Power at the service of the State Media for Dialog between the Power and Citizens Information SecurityHabermas public sphere as a forum for public debates Russian approach: Public sphere for discussions between the power and citizens Concept of the State Information Policy: Forth Power at the service of the State Media for Dialog between the Power and Citizens Information Security

Popper’s Open Society Glasnost (lack of censorship) as a foundation of Russian open society Open access to information and mass media Media accountability to the public prior to media accountability to the State Tolerance in Media Glasnost (lack of censorship) as a foundation of Russian open society Open access to information and mass media Media accountability to the public prior to media accountability to the State Tolerance in Media

Political Economy: Media Political Capital Western approach Balkanization of media: heavy state control, high degree of mass media partisanship, + integration of TV and illegal business through advertising for corruption Russia view media-political capital as an institute of corruption, media not a business, but a source of political influence + integration between media and political elites, no consolidation and shared professional ethics among media professionals Western approach Balkanization of media: heavy state control, high degree of mass media partisanship, + integration of TV and illegal business through advertising for corruption Russia view media-political capital as an institute of corruption, media not a business, but a source of political influence + integration between media and political elites, no consolidation and shared professional ethics among media professionals

Information or Network Society Western Theories informational society based on network structures which grow from capitalism + economic and social flexibility Russian approach applicability of the network society concept to Russian communication habits and media uses, but only to the most advanced part of Russian society – fragments, fragmented globalization networks in Russian social and everyday life digital divide as a form of modern inequality striving from the complex of universal (socio-economic, geographical) and individual (educational, cultural, personal, etc.) reasons Western Theories informational society based on network structures which grow from capitalism + economic and social flexibility Russian approach applicability of the network society concept to Russian communication habits and media uses, but only to the most advanced part of Russian society – fragments, fragmented globalization networks in Russian social and everyday life digital divide as a form of modern inequality striving from the complex of universal (socio-economic, geographical) and individual (educational, cultural, personal, etc.) reasons

Theory of Dual Transition Western and Russian Approaches Technological Transition Transition in Legislation Social Transition Transition of Life Styles and Values Professional Change Western and Russian Approaches Technological Transition Transition in Legislation Social Transition Transition of Life Styles and Values Professional Change

GlobalizationGlobalization Western concepts: Glonationalization through adaptation of Western formats (program genres, structure of TV programming, entertainization); absorbing global elements and transforming them into national Russian approach in terms of economy Russian commercial media system falls under general market laws: regionalization of the press markets tabloidization, growing importance of national TV in media-politics relationship Russian media have inherited a paternalistic pattern of relationship (decision-making Father – obedient Child) Western concepts: Glonationalization through adaptation of Western formats (program genres, structure of TV programming, entertainization); absorbing global elements and transforming them into national Russian approach in terms of economy Russian commercial media system falls under general market laws: regionalization of the press markets tabloidization, growing importance of national TV in media-politics relationship Russian media have inherited a paternalistic pattern of relationship (decision-making Father – obedient Child)

‘Eurasian’ media model: Basic Components Anglo-American Legislation (philosophy and principles) created in a parliamentary wayLegislation (philosophy and principles) created in a parliamentary way Market laws introduced into the media industry (profit-driven market activity, role of advertising, growing importance of commercial motives in content strategies of media), trends of conglomeration and concentrationMarket laws introduced into the media industry (profit-driven market activity, role of advertising, growing importance of commercial motives in content strategies of media), trends of conglomeration and concentration Role of NGOs, journalists and representative of audience in forming media policyRole of NGOs, journalists and representative of audience in forming media policy Media as an element of culture and education (enlightening role of media, audience expectations) constructing the public sphereMedia as an element of culture and education (enlightening role of media, audience expectations) constructing the public sphere Role of technology as a driving force for media policy and a liberating force for audiences in their relations with mediaRole of technology as a driving force for media policy and a liberating force for audiences in their relations with media Standards of objective journalism and attention to professional ethicsStandards of objective journalism and attention to professional ethics Rise of professional regulation, strive for professional corporativismRise of professional regulation, strive for professional corporativismAnglo-American Legislation (philosophy and principles) created in a parliamentary wayLegislation (philosophy and principles) created in a parliamentary way Market laws introduced into the media industry (profit-driven market activity, role of advertising, growing importance of commercial motives in content strategies of media), trends of conglomeration and concentrationMarket laws introduced into the media industry (profit-driven market activity, role of advertising, growing importance of commercial motives in content strategies of media), trends of conglomeration and concentration Role of NGOs, journalists and representative of audience in forming media policyRole of NGOs, journalists and representative of audience in forming media policy Media as an element of culture and education (enlightening role of media, audience expectations) constructing the public sphereMedia as an element of culture and education (enlightening role of media, audience expectations) constructing the public sphere Role of technology as a driving force for media policy and a liberating force for audiences in their relations with mediaRole of technology as a driving force for media policy and a liberating force for audiences in their relations with media Standards of objective journalism and attention to professional ethicsStandards of objective journalism and attention to professional ethics Rise of professional regulation, strive for professional corporativismRise of professional regulation, strive for professional corporativism Asian Implementation of legislation by state- market complex having strong informal control and intervention in the mediaImplementation of legislation by state- market complex having strong informal control and intervention in the media Lack of transparence in market activities of media companies (closed ownership data and balance sheets), elements of bribery and corruption among journalists (concealed advertising), suppressed commercial motives in activities of many media enterprisesLack of transparence in market activities of media companies (closed ownership data and balance sheets), elements of bribery and corruption among journalists (concealed advertising), suppressed commercial motives in activities of many media enterprises Dominant role of state agencies in shaping media policy (a notion of state media policy)Dominant role of state agencies in shaping media policy (a notion of state media policy) Instrumental (service) use of media by ‘state-market complex’/power elites/clans/,Instrumental (service) use of media by ‘state-market complex’/power elites/clans/, evident media clientelismevident media clientelism State-media relations: combination of repression and conciliatory measures (strong unofficial control)State-media relations: combination of repression and conciliatory measures (strong unofficial control) Partisan (often informal and hidden) connections of journalists to power elitesPartisan (often informal and hidden) connections of journalists to power elites Stimulation of self-regulation ‘top-down’Stimulation of self-regulation ‘top-down’

‘Eurasian’ media model: Comparison of components Anglo-American Philosophy and principles of media legislation created in a parliamentary way Anglo-American Philosophy and principles of media legislation created in a parliamentary way Asian Implementation of legislation by state- market complex having strong informal control and intervention in the media

‘Eurasian’ media model: Comparison of components Anglo-American Market laws introduced into the media industry (profit-driven market activity, role of advertising, growing importance of commercial motives in content strategies of media), trends of conglomeration and concentration Anglo-American Market laws introduced into the media industry (profit-driven market activity, role of advertising, growing importance of commercial motives in content strategies of media), trends of conglomeration and concentration Asian Lack of transparence in market activities of media companies (closed ownership data and balance sheets), elements of bribery and corruption among journalists (concealed advertising), suppressed commercial motives in activities of many media enterprises

‘Eurasian’ media model: Comparison of components Anglo-American Role of NGOs, journalists and representative of audience in forming media policy Anglo-American Role of NGOs, journalists and representative of audience in forming media policy Asian Dominant role of state agencies in shaping media policy (a notion of state media policy)

‘Eurasian’ media model: Comparison of components Anglo-American Media as an element of culture and education (enlightening role of media, audience expectations) constructing the public sphere + media (formal) independence in agenda setting and framing the reality Anglo-American Media as an element of culture and education (enlightening role of media, audience expectations) constructing the public sphere + media (formal) independence in agenda setting and framing the reality Asian Instrumental (service) use of media by ‘state-market complex’/power elites/clans/ + evident media clientelism + State-media relations: combination of repression and conciliatory measures (strong unofficial control)

‘Eurasian’ media model: Comparison of components Anglo-American Standards of objective journalism and attention to professional ethics + rise of professional regulation, strive for professional corporativism Anglo-American Standards of objective journalism and attention to professional ethics + rise of professional regulation, strive for professional corporativism Asian Partisan (often informal and hidden) connections of journalists to power elites + stimulation of self-regulation ‘top- down’

‘Eurasian’ media model: Comparison of components Anglo-American Role of technology as a driving force for media policy and a liberating force for audiences in their relations with media + market as a regulator Anglo-American Role of technology as a driving force for media policy and a liberating force for audiences in their relations with media + market as a regulator Asian Role of technology as a liberating force for audiences in their relations with media + state as a regulator + problems of information inequality