Convergence in the Work of Russian Journalist

For citation: Galkina M.Yu., Vyrkovsky A.V., Kolesnichenko A.V., Obraztsova A.Yu. (2016) Konvergentsiya v rabote rossiyskogo zhurnalista [Convergence in the Work of Russian Journalist]. Mediaskop 1. Available at: http://www.mediascope.ru/?q=node/2079

© Marina Yu. Galkina
PhD, Researcher at the Problem Research Laboratory for Integrated Studies of Current Issues of Journalism, Faculty of Journalism, Lomonosov Moscow State University (Moscow, Russia), marina.galkina@mail.ru

© Andrei V. Vyrkovsky
PhD, Associate Professor at the Chair of Media Theory and Economics, Faculty of Journalism, Lomonosov Moscow State University (Moscow, Russia), a.v.vyrkovsky@gmail.com

© Alexander V. Kolesnichenko
PhD, Associate Professor at the Chair of Periodical Press, Faculty of Journalism, Lomonosov Moscow State University (Moscow, Russia), april-7@yandex.ru

© Anastasia Yu. Obraztsova
Researcher at the Problem Research Laboratory for Integrated Studies of Current Issues of Journalism, Faculty of Journalism, Lomonosov Moscow State University (Moscow, Russia), obraztsova.anastasia@gmail.com

Abstract

New technologies affect the routine work of journalists, especially the collection and transmission of information. Convergent practices (creating and using photo, video, audio and hyperlinks) in the work of print and online journalists and editors are of particular interest to researchers, because this media segment must quickly adapt to technological changes in order to survive in the media market.

The project "Structure of the work of Russian journalist" revealed how journalists and editors of the federal and regional press cope with the technical side of the profession – put texts and convergent elements on the internet. A written survey of 82 journalists and 38 editors shows that multimedia elements are represented mainly by photos and hyperlinks. Video and audio elements in multimedia texts are very limited. According to the research, journalists’ activity in the production of convergent elements is very low. But if the journalist starts to produce multimedia elements (photo, video, audio or hyperlinks), he is engaged in the process intensively.

The results show that regional journalists use convergent practices more actively than their federal colleagues, and that the age of respondents doesn’t affect the use of modern technologies in the work. Thus, the convergent practices do not easily fit in the journalist’s work routine. The results of the research can be valuable for further study of convergence in the work of newsrooms.

Keywords: convergence, convergent practices, news journalism, work routines, technical process, photo, video, audio, hyperlinks, new technologies, transformation.

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