<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> The article describes the transformation of contemporary Russian media in the dual framework of common trends initiated and set to a great extent from the centre of power in Moscow, on the one hand, and specifics pertaining in the regions, on the other. As common trends characterising the post-Soviet society and media we note capitalization, westernization, commercialization and corruption. Their specific character was formed by the political and economic conditions pertaining in St. Petersburg from the end of the 1990s to the beginning the 2000s. The article is based on an empirical study of St. Petersburg media conducted 1998-2001. The data consist of pilot interviews with eleven experts in 1998, in-depth interviews with thirty journalists in the editorial offices of the eight basic media in 1999, and a survey of eleven experts in 2001. Asking in what ways the common trends dovetail into the local context, the article describes the conditions for journalism and its emerging characteristics. On the one hand, the study reveals crucial changes after the decade of reforms, such as the intensive development of informational and advertising services in society and commercialization of media and journalist’s labour. On the other hand, the study notes the forces of continuity deriving from the fact that the media and journalists formerly served the interests of the political and economic groups rather than the interests of the public.</p></abstract>

The article describes the transformation of contemporary Russian media in the dual framework of common trends initiated and set to a great extent from the centre of power in Moscow, on the one hand, and specifics pertaining in the regions, on the other. As common trends characterising the post-Soviet society and media we note capitalization, westernization, commercialization and corruption. Their specific character was formed by the political and economic conditions pertaining in St. Petersburg from the end of the 1990s to the beginning the 2000s. The article is based on an empirical study of St. Petersburg media conducted 1998-2001. The data consist of pilot interviews with eleven experts in 1998, in-depth interviews with thirty journalists in the editorial offices of the eight basic media in 1999, and a survey of eleven experts in 2001. Asking in what ways the common trends dovetail into the local context, the article describes the conditions for journalism and its emerging characteristics. On the one hand, the study reveals crucial changes after the decade of reforms, such as the intensive development of informational and advertising services in society and commercialization of media and journalist’s labour. On the other hand, the study notes the forces of continuity deriving from the fact that the media and journalists formerly served the interests of the political and economic groups rather than the interests of the public.

The St. Petersburg Media in Transformation

Lic.Soc.Sc., Researcher, University of Tampere, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, FIN-33014 University of Tampere,

Nordicom Review

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

{"article-title":"The St. Petersburg Media in Transformation"}

The article describes the transformation of contemporary Russian media in the dual framework of common trends initiated and set to a great extent from the...

The St. Petersburg Media in Transformation

Published Online: Feb 14, 2017

Page range: 69 - 84

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nor-2017-0259

Keywords
media boom, bankruptcy, corruption, transforming russia

© by Svetlana Pasti

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The St. Petersburg Media in Transformation

Published Online: Feb 14, 2017

Page range: 69 - 84

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nor-2017-0259

Keywordsmedia boom, bankruptcy, corruption, transforming russia

© by Svetlana Pasti

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
media boom, bankruptcy, corruption, transforming russia