The Opinion of Russian Journalists on Professional Standards in Traditional and Digital Media

The field of journalism in Russia is undergoing continuous transformation influenced by the intricate political and legal landscape, as well as the dynamic advancements in technology and resulting social shifts. These changes disrupt established professional norms, roles, values, and practices within the journalism community. These changes disrupt established professional norms, roles, values, and practices within the journalism community. The discussion surrounding professional journalistic standards is not only prompted by the aforementioned factors but also by the gradual integration of AI technologies into everyday journalistic practices. Against this background, the author conducted a study based on 11 semi-structured interviews with the representatives of the professional community and devoted to the issues of professional identity of journalists, the boundaries of the profession and the transformation of professional standards. The study showed that despite some discrepancies in viewpoints, professionals emphasize the paramount importance of clearly defined “rules of engagement” that are comprehensible to both the journalism community and its audience. While core values remain largely unchanged, practical aspects such as formatting requirements and acceptable journalistic practices demonstrate adaptability to shifting socio-political, economic, and cultural contexts. Notably, values are consistent across traditional and new media platforms, whereas technical and practical standards exhibit greater flexibility and responsiveness to evolving norms. Ultimately, the specific standards adopted by individual editorial teams are contingent upon the media format and niche they occupy within the industry.