Development of regional print media in 1985-1993: legal regulation and administrative influence (based on the materials of the European north of Russia)

The article deals with the legislative and administrative regulation of print media activities, describes relationship between the government and print media and also indicates major challenges and their solutions within the period under consideration based on the materials of Arkhangelsk and Vologda Oblasts. While studying this topic, the author analyzed and summarized laws and regulations of the central and local authorities (more than 30 documents). The article presents the content and peculiarities of mass media laws in 1990 and 1991. After analyzing the Soviet mass media law of 1990, the author made a conclusion that the law contained some democratic ideas, such as the prohibition of censorship and of state monopoly on publishing activities, the journalists' right to receive information, freedom of creation, etc. The main disadvantage of the document was that it did not protect mass media against the government intervention. The article also examines legal documents from the period of the State Committee on the State of Emergency published by the central and regional authorities. The decrees and orders clearly demonstrate the fight for power where both parties actively involved print media. The author analyzed the impact of the Russian Mass Media Law dated December 27, 1991 on the performance of print media and concluded that the Law did not create proper economic conditions for further development of the printed press. As a result, both central and regional print media companies happened to be in a very difficult financial situation hoping for assistance, mainly from the government. For the period from 1992 to 1993, the central authorities passed more than 20 legal acts on economic support and protection of mass media. Following the example of the central authorities, regions also started to amend their local legislation. Among the legal documents on the performance of print media passed by the local authorities in Arkhangelsk and Vologda Oblasts in 1992-1993, the author highlights the following: 1) regulations to provide organizational and financial support for local media and journalists; 2) regulations referring to the activities of certain editions, including regulations on registration of print media companies and decisions on accreditation of regional mass media representatives in government authorities: 3) decisions to support a network of regional newspapers. The ways of providing such assistance in regions were different: direct subsidies, allocation of funds to editorial offices, privileged tax regime, arrangement of subscription campaigns. Most legal documents related to the performance of print media in Arkhangelsk and Vologda Oblasts were adopted by local authorities following the decisions of the Government and the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation. A similar situation took place in most regions of Russia, as confirmed by the study of the materials of Belgorod, Voronezh, Kursk, Lipetsk and Tambov Oblasts.

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