MASS MEDIA AS A SOCIO-POLITICAL INSTITUTION: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS

Abstract

The article aims to define the dominant forms, structure and functions of the modern media as a socio-political institution. The analysis of the scientific literature on the problems of defining and distinguishing the concepts of «means of mass information», «means of mass communication» and «mass media» is carried out. The inconsistency of their scientific interpretation, as well as on the legislative uncertainty of the concepts of modern forms of media, in particular «means of mass communication» and «mass media» is emphasized. According to the author, one of the reasons for the absence of concerted and consistent definitions of these phenomena is the lack of precise delineation of the functions of these mentioned socio-political institutions. The absence of the legislative definition of functions of the media, the need for legal regulation of public relations that arise while using the information and communication capabilities of the Internet network is indicated. The dominant approaches of foreign and domestic scientists to the definition of the main functions of the mass media are analyzed and singled out. The need to clarify these functions in view of the strengthening of the role of information, the growing importance of information technology in the organization of public life is justified. According to the author, the key and determining the functional focus of the media is their impact on personal and mass psychology, on the level of general and political culture, on the formation of the system of values as the basis of civilization development, construction of meanings, agenda and social trends.