From the Theories of Press to the Models of Mass Media: Considering the History of the Genesis of Comparative Studies on Media Systems Abroad
Abstract
In the following article Dean of the Faculty of Journalism, Lomonosov Moscow State University, professor Elena Vartanova inquires into the impact of the book "Four Theories of Press" on the formation of the school of comparative study on media systems. The author traces, how the critical perception of the book by following media scholars promoted the stabilization of the fundamental principles of the new field in academic knowledge, the definition of central determinants of media systems and their specific features.
The ideas of F. Siebert, W. Schramm and T. Peterson were taken as a starting point, then the concepts of D. McQuail, D. Hallin & P. Mancini, as well as the contributions of J. Nerone, K. Voltmer and J. Ekecrantz were analyzed among the others. Elena Vartanova concludes, that despite the reasonable academic criticism, the "Four Theories of Press" remains a needed basis, upon that the future media scholars can develop their own ideas and approaches to analyze media systems.
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References
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