Problems of Practical Journalistic Activity (Based on the Material of a Sociological Survey of Ural Federal District Journalists)

Abstract

The modern media space of both the Ural Federal District and the Russian Federation as a whole has changed dramatically by now. The digitalization of the media has created many challenges that media actors should respond to. The social demand for media has changed, the working conditions of a professional journalist have changed, and the tools with which information is extracted, processed, and disseminated have changed.
In this regard, the purpose of the article is to highlight the key problems of practical journalistic activity from the point of view of media actors and professionals.
Empirical data obtained as a result of the survey confirm that respondents do not see competition from «citizen» journalists, do not pay enough attention to the threats of media digitalization and the specifics of working in a convergent editorial office, do not know the criteria for evaluating community journalism, and strive to work in the traditional paradigm. The data obtained and the conclusions drawn from them may be useful for media actors, researchers and media educators working on the formation of a holistic media personality.