The Specifics Of The Coverage Of Protest Actions In Moscow By Correspondents Of “Echo Of Moscow” Radio And “Deutschland Radio”

Abstract

This article uncovers and examines the features of coverage of rallies in Moscow in 2019-2021. The mass media have a tremendous power to influence people's thinking. This is especially evident in the means of quick and efficient delivery of information. Radio broadcasting is a unique way of communicating with the audience. With its help, with the power of the “living word”, it becomes one of the main instruments of media influence. Every year, radio broadcasting changes under the onslaught of new technologies that are constantly emerging. With their help, radio broadcasting retains primacy in the efficiency of delivering information to the audience. It is also worth noting that with the efficiency, improved sound quality, possibilities to access the Internet, radio broadcasting has started to specialize in the subject and type of broadcasting. Talk radio took over the coverage of the agenda, which is difficult to talk about even on the television. With the help of the radio, the audience can quickly receive information directly from the venue. However, it is essential to remember that this power can be used to manipulate the audience. Coverage of protests is no exception. Protest is an active form of conflict behavior. It can be expressed in various forms: organized and spontaneous, direct or indirect, taking on the character of violence or a system of nonviolent action. Having studied 200 radio broadcasts on the Echo of Moscow radio and Deutschland Radio, the authors of the article revealed the peculiarities of coverage of rallies in Moscow in 2019-2021. The authors studied the genre variety of broadcasts and the presence of manipulative techniques in them, with the help of which the journalists of radio stations manipulate the audience. The authors of this article found that the form of presenting an information event on a Russian and German radio station has many differences. Echo of Moscow radio often uses analytical genres, while Deutschland Radio covers rallies only through informational interviews and short notes. The results of this research support the conclusions of such scientists as L. Guo, H.T. Vu and M. McCombs (2022), S.B. Rothman (2011), T.A. Birkland (2015), B.H. Bagdikian (2004), H. Brandenburg (2004), P.J. Shoemaker and S.D. Reese (2013), H.A. Innis (2008), A. Giddens (2013), G.V. Lazutina (2010), S.G. Korkonosenko (2016), А.А. Sherel (2005), Yu.F. Lukin (1991), V.V. Smirnov (2002), S.А. Zelinsky (2008), M. Idov (2018) and add their examples from the present-day practice of radio journalism.