Russian internet news sites, 2008–2018. RHETORIC IN TEXT AND INFORMED AUDIENCES
(2025) In Baltic Worlds 18(2). p.49-63- Abstract
The short-lived apex of journalistic freedom that took place after Perestroika in the late 1980s and early 1990s has been followed by setbacks and stagnation of press freedom, in particular since Putin’s accession to power in 2000. Despite this, qualitative text analysis of commentary articles in some of the most important current Russian news sites strongly indicates that during 2008–2018, readers of news sites were increasingly addressed as active and knowledgeable citizens. Four case studies are examined to cast light on the period, using the following methods: focusing on argumentation analysis, exploring whether arguments are valid, and the means of persuasion used. The findings imply that a number of Russian Internet outlets have... (More)
The short-lived apex of journalistic freedom that took place after Perestroika in the late 1980s and early 1990s has been followed by setbacks and stagnation of press freedom, in particular since Putin’s accession to power in 2000. Despite this, qualitative text analysis of commentary articles in some of the most important current Russian news sites strongly indicates that during 2008–2018, readers of news sites were increasingly addressed as active and knowledgeable citizens. Four case studies are examined to cast light on the period, using the following methods: focusing on argumentation analysis, exploring whether arguments are valid, and the means of persuasion used. The findings imply that a number of Russian Internet outlets have strengthened their role as advocates of the Fourth Estate. The results further indicate a sharp distinction between news sites utilizing traditional Western journalistic devices, and those employing a traditional Russian/Soviet journalistic approach. Thus, the social roles of the audiences were to a certain extent reinforced during the period investigated, 2008–2018.
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- author
- von Seth, Rutger LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- argumentation analysis, citizen roles, journalism roles, Russian news sites
- in
- Baltic Worlds
- volume
- 18
- issue
- 2
- pages
- 15 pages
- publisher
- Sodertorn University Centre for Baltic and East European Studies
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105019492791
- ISSN
- 2000-2955
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2025, Sodertorn University Centre for Baltic and East European Studies. All rights reserved.
- id
- d53453db-7d04-4e28-9ad5-652308680431
- alternative location
- https://balticworlds.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/BW-2-2025.pages49-63.pdf
- date added to LUP
- 2026-01-19 11:59:30
- date last changed
- 2026-01-19 11:59:30
@article{d53453db-7d04-4e28-9ad5-652308680431,
abstract = {{<p>The short-lived apex of journalistic freedom that took place after Perestroika in the late 1980s and early 1990s has been followed by setbacks and stagnation of press freedom, in particular since Putin’s accession to power in 2000. Despite this, qualitative text analysis of commentary articles in some of the most important current Russian news sites strongly indicates that during 2008–2018, readers of news sites were increasingly addressed as active and knowledgeable citizens. Four case studies are examined to cast light on the period, using the following methods: focusing on argumentation analysis, exploring whether arguments are valid, and the means of persuasion used. The findings imply that a number of Russian Internet outlets have strengthened their role as advocates of the Fourth Estate. The results further indicate a sharp distinction between news sites utilizing traditional Western journalistic devices, and those employing a traditional Russian/Soviet journalistic approach. Thus, the social roles of the audiences were to a certain extent reinforced during the period investigated, 2008–2018.</p>}},
author = {{von Seth, Rutger}},
issn = {{2000-2955}},
keywords = {{argumentation analysis; citizen roles; journalism roles; Russian news sites}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{2}},
pages = {{49--63}},
publisher = {{Sodertorn University Centre for Baltic and East European Studies}},
series = {{Baltic Worlds}},
title = {{Russian internet news sites, 2008–2018. RHETORIC IN TEXT AND INFORMED AUDIENCES}},
url = {{https://balticworlds.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/BW-2-2025.pages49-63.pdf}},
volume = {{18}},
year = {{2025}},
}