The Functions of Journalism in the Context of Professional Culture Through the Eyes of Russian Students Learning TV Journalism

Abstract

In the context of global turbulence, the importance of journalists understanding their mission and motivation to implement the functions of the media as a social institution is growing. In this paper, attention is focused on the study of ideas about the functions of future television workers studying at the specialized department of the Faculty of Journalism of Lomonosov Moscow State University. The survey showed that students are primarily focused on the implementation of the traditional triad of functions: informational, entertainment and educational. The majority of respondents saw their major task as informing the audience, which they understood as the main and most important task of the media. The second most popular was the entertainment function, the importance of which the students have proved to be a feature of the modern media space, where news can be learned from digital media, while television is used for recreation and entertainment. As a priority, students also often referred to the cultural and educational function, which contributes to the development of both the individual and society. The study also demonstrated the growing attention of students to the function of public opinion management. The social value of investigative journalism and the importance of implementing the control function of the media were noted in several responses, but were not in demand. The respondents justified not only the importance of a managerial function, but also an entertainment, cultural and educational one, believing that journalists should help viewers distract from the agenda.