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Building democracy in Russia: Online m edia and protests

Building democracy in Russia: Online m edia and protests. Svetlana Pasti, University of Tampere BASEES/ICCEES European Congress 2013: ‘Europe: Crisis and Renewal’ April 5-8, 2013- Cambridge, UK. World Democracy Audit 2013. Source: http :// www.worldaudit.org

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Building democracy in Russia: Online m edia and protests

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  1. Building democracy in Russia:Online media and protests Svetlana Pasti, University of Tampere BASEES/ICCEES European Congress 2013: ‘Europe: Crisis and Renewal’ April 5-8, 2013- Cambridge, UK

  2. World Democracy Audit 2013 Source: http://www.worldaudit.org Russia: in the group of non-free country between Iraq and Kazakhstan Democracy rank: 128 Press Freedom rank: 128 Corruption rank: 110 Finland on the top: 1, 1, 1 North Korea on the bottom: 150, 150, 148 2

  3. World Press Freedom 2013 Source: Reporters Without Borders http://en.rsf.org/ • Russia: 148th (-6 fallen) among 179 countries: repressions to a wave of opposition protests, tighter control of internet, making foreign funding of human rights organizations as a crime • Russian Union of Journalists (Bogdanov, 2013): in Russia has become worse with the freedom of speech. Legislation in the field of media overkill, we are strictly regulated how to talk, how to act. • Russian journalists - in the International Congresses of Journalists; First professional editions

  4. Different Levels of Freedom Source: http://www.freedomhouse.org • American criteria – problems mentioned in last BASEES by Ellen Mickiewicz • Freedom of press: Russia, score 80, non-free • Freedom on net: Russia, score 52, partly free • Rating for independent media remains unchanged during past 10 years (6.25, scale of 1-7, with 1 highest level and 7 lowest)

  5. Stimulus for the growth of Internet • Broadband Internet development in regions • Cost of Internet is reducing • Internet access speed is increasing • In 2013 – 90 millions of internet users (about 142 million of population) • Average age of internet user in Russia is 33 year • Open platform for public debate and political opinions

  6. Internet role is growing • Internet as source of information: 60% of population • Television as source of information: 73% of population • By new elections to the State Duma (2016) and President elections (2018) main role will be with Internet

  7. Internet: as threat to the regime • Social media networks and video-sharing platforms played a critical role in galvanizing massive protests in December 2011 • The Russian government intends to control the media and Internet, monitor all information not only in the media, but also on forums, blogs and social networks • Since May 2012: recriminalized defamation, expanded blacklisting websites, bloggers faced detention and criminal prosecutions

  8. Internet as medicine against revolutions • 60% of Russians use Internet • Russians are in the first place in the world on the amount of time on social networks • Educated Russians devoted more time for Internet and social networks in virtual world, they have less desire for the revolution in real world • Specialists preferring to do everything remotely: work, learn, communicate, reluctance to have a contact with real people 8

  9. St Petersburg pilot study 2012-13 • A part of the academic project Media Systems in Flux: The Challenge from the BRICS countries, 2012-2016 • Four cities in Russia : Moscow, St Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Petrozavodsk • Similar studies in all BRICS countries,2013-2014 • Main research focus on the new online media in comparison with the conventional media

  10. Online media sample: St Petersburg

  11. Journalists in online media • Sample: 23 journalists and editors in 12 online media • Age: 20 under 31, 3 above 31 • Gender: 13 male, 10 female • Education: 22 with university diploma, 1 unfinished • Employment: 22 permanent, 1 contracted • Income: between 20.000-130.000 Rub (500-3.250Eur) • Second job: 2/3 • Membership in Union of Journalists: only 3 • Party/NGO belonging: only 1 NGO

  12. Online journalists • From middle class: architects, engineers, teachers, academics, journalists, servicemen, programmer, accountants • Professional experience in conventional media • Strong wish to work independently resulted to move from conventional media to online

  13. Self-portrait: Online journalists • Q: What is difference between you, journalists online, and those in old media? • Young people: under 30 • Speed of perception, reaction, work: We are faster • Internet media like news agency • Long working hours, it is available 24/7 • No border between work and private life

  14. Self-portrait: Online journalists • Multi-platform: • Online media often combines TV, newspaper and news agency. It works against a journalist: lost depth, quality, no idea, often bloopers • Multi-functionality: • Managing editor of online daily + working with social networks: their content and communication with subscribers + anchorperson + news editor of online radio. “No matter how many tasks you do, it is important, how do you do it” (from interview)

  15. Protests in St Petersburg • 2008 – first protest, detention of journalist, Union stood up for him, special lifejackets for journalists • 2011 December: first day – 100 people arrested, second day – 100, third day – 100, then people less and less, until 15 December protest ended • 31 day, every month – rally GostinnyiDvor • Big potential for protests. Large critical masses of dissatisfaction accumulated. People skeptical to everything • Social lifts do not work

  16. From picketers into journalists • “Journalism had a surge of popularity in 2011 on the wave of the protests in the city. Humanists after the rallies decided that it was necessary to somehow help society. One of ways was seen to become journalists. Street people flowed the profession. Some failed, but some had stayed in journalism. Some began to work as journalists on the protests by picturing and sending photos to the media. They believe that their reports in the media are necessary, this is seen as engaging with society. Theyare very young, 18-19 years, students” (from interview)

  17. Journalists and protests • Regular coverage of protests (differed from official) • Protest is emotional expression of opinion • Following blogosphere: Dissatisfaction growing up • Tiredness: “No protests in weekend”, journalists are more than picketers • Opposition separated, no leader, no program • Weak faith in effectiveness of protests: Street protests led to nothing

  18. Journalists and protests • Protests provoked interest in politics: • “From the student newspaper we developed into a youth online newspaper, which represents the views of 20-year-old generation, who were born in 1990, 1991 and 1989 respectively” (from interview) • December 2011 like student’s revolution, age: 20-22 • Some kept a distance to protests not identifying themselves with picketers, performing in the status of a detached reporter, some were involved

  19. Journalists and protests • Journalists distinguish political protests (unfair elections) and city rallies (local questions of city life, city building, public health, etc.) • Some participate in city rallies to make the city better • Journalists positively estimate people’s awakening, participation in protests and rallies, but their valuation of opposition and its leaders is not high. “People do not trust opposition” (from interview) • Journalists respect civil organizations Beautiful Petersburg, Petersburg’s observers and civil activists

  20. Findings: Online media: 3 types • Independent initiatives by journalists: Bumaga, Karpovka, Politgramota, OK, V kurse • Part of independent media holdings (Azhur, MediaSPb, RBC): Fontanka, Lenizdat, Zaks.ru, RBC.ru • City government: Peterburgsky dairy

  21. Online media: Young, healthy, multi- • All young: Established during the 2000s • Healthy media economy • Small-scale organizations in comparison with the conventional media (on average 6-7 journalists) • Most successful with multi-platform strategy: • Fontanka, firstinternet daily in the city established: Fontanka.Fi, VoditelPeterburga, DoktorPiter, Kvadrat.Ru, radio Fontanka FM • Specialization and expertize, target audiences • Interactivity with audience and interactive advertising

  22. Conclusion • With rise of Internet –rise of independent online media • To establish online media is available for anybody • Young professionals go to online for politically independent journalism • Online media become influential sources of information and opinion owing to their independence • Politicians, experts, journalists begin a new day with online media, not with the conventional media • Generation of 1990 and later without servile mentality

  23. Thanks for your attention Svetlana.pasti@uta.fi http://www.uta.fi/cmt/en/contact/staff/svetlanapasti/index.html

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