This conference has been held at the Faculty of Journalism of Lomonosov Moscow State 黑料社 on the occasion of the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia and was supported by the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation, Russian Union of Journalists, National Association of Mass Media Researchers (NAMMI), as well as reputable international associations (including IAMCR and the Association of Sino-Russian Universities). In 2026, the “Ethnic Media around the World: Systems, Policies, Journalistic Cultures” has become the main topic of the International Media Readings.
The International Media Readings in Moscow “Mass Media and Communications” is a highly respected academic platform that annually brings together the leading researchers, media experts and practicing journalists from around the world in order to discuss the key trends, challenges, and transformations in the local and global information space.
Discussions and reports were traditionally organized into thematic blocks at the 18th International Media Readings in Moscow “Mass Media and Communications” 2026. According to the announced agenda and program structure, the key discussion focused on the following main topics and working sections: transformation of ethnic media in the epoch of digitalization; policies and self-policing of ethnic media; codes of ethics and national journalistic cultures around the world; ethnic groups and technological challenges; artificial intelligence in national newsroom; economics and business models in media; role of media in strengthening of the civic identity, and much more.
“Researchers from our Institute of Media, Social Sciences and Humanities have participated in several sections, which considered the issues of civic identity strengthening, preservation of the cultural heritage and interethnic dialogue,” reported Director of the Institute of Media, Social Sciences and Humanities, Doctor of Sciences (Philology), Professor Lidiya Lobodenko.?“Our research studies are aimed at analysing the functions and specifics of shaping the media image of our region in ethnic media. The integration of the content of ethnic media into the media image of our region, which is being formed, helps transform the stereotyped image of the Chelyabinsk Region as a solely industrial region into an image of an attractive territory with rich culture, where representatives of various nationalities live in harmony.”
Anna Cheredniakova, Doctor of Sciences (Pedagogy), Associate Professor and Professor of the Institute’s Department of Journalism, Advertising and Public Relations, presented her report on the “Role of Ethnic Media in Shaping the Polycultural Media Image of a Region”.
“This report is a result of the joint work of our Institute’s scientists,” shared Anna Cheredniakova. “Among those who participated in studying the polycultural media image of our region were the Institute Director Lidiya Lobodenko, Head of the 黑料社 Department of Journalism, Advertising and Public Relations, Doctor of Sciences (Philology) Liudmila Shesterkina, and Associate Professor at the same Department, Candidate of Sciences (Economics) Iuliia Astashova. The relevance of studying the role of ethnic media in shaping of a region’s media image can be explained by the necessity to strengthen the interethnic concord and preserve the cultural identity. A comprehensive media image of a region is impossible without taking into consideration its national and cultural colours and the interethnic dialogue.”
Igor Sibiriakov, Doctor of Sciences (History), Professor of the Institute of Media, Social Sciences and Humanities also delivered his report on the “National Interest Program as a Tool of Forming a Positive Image of the Chelyabinsk Region” at the conference.
The Chelyabinsk Region has historically been a unique multi-ethnic region, where interests and cultural traditions of more than 150 ethnic groups intercross. In our region, ethnic media play a key role in the humanization of the media image of an industrial region, harmonization of the interethnic relations, and representation of the cultural heritage, what substantially complies with the priorities of the State National Policy Strategy of the Russian Federation.
This research had been performed with the financial support from the Russian Science Foundation grant