Journalism studies: the subject-object field and the structure

The article deals with the theory of journalism as an established interdisciplinary science on the mass information activities. Rejecting the widespread belief about the uncertain object of journalistic science, the author proceeds from the fact that its onto-logical field was formed long ago. Based on the analysis of existing theoretical approaches a relevant definition of the journalistic science is formulated: it is the science of mass-media activities that has an interdisciplinary character and combines the efforts of linguists and historians, philosophers and psychologists, sociologists and political scientists, legal experts and economists. The variety of research methods (empirical and theoretical) and the mobility of the categorial apparatus, which is in constant formation, are associated with the social nature of the object of journalistic science (social information and social consciousness). This science considers dynamic processes, whose development is unpredictable, rather than static situations. The concepts "media of mass information" and "media of mass communication" (mass media) are separated; the latter is broader and reflects the narrow, technological aspect of information processes. In the proof of the interdisciplinary nature of journalistic science, the author gives a classification of its major directions: history of journalism, functional style of mass communication, poetics of journalism, psychology of journalism, sociology of journalism, media typology, media design, media economics etc. Russian theory of journalism develops throughout the 20th century, drawing on a powerful historical and philological basis. In the writings of the Moscow, Leningrad, Sverdlovsk, Rostov, Voronezh and other scientific schools, the author sees the combination of fundamental and applied approaches which generally reflects the systemic nature of journalistic science. The idea of the systemic character of the modern theory of journalism, which affects practice, is illustrated by the analysis of the formation of one of its areas, media design. The national originality of the journalism theory in Russia is associated with the national identity of the Russian press: it arises, on the one hand, as a state and censored, on the other hand, develops in the era of "personal journalism" and "artistic journalism", when among the authors and editors were the greatest Russian writers. It is emphasised that this kind of journalism formed the special audience of "the most reading country".

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