Ethnic media in Russia: between state model and alternative voices

Abstract

The paper analyzes the current state of ethnic media outlets (print, broadcasting and online) in Russia, i.e. media produced and disseminated in the three national republics of Russia (Tatarstan, Bashkortostan and Chuvashia) and in languages of the biggest ethnic groups living in those areas (the Tatar, the Bashkir and the Chuvash), and discusses their possible trends of development. Using open data analysis, we look into funding options (the proportion of media with state budget only and those with state budget and alternative sources of financing, such as advertising revenues, subscription, donations, sponsorship, etc.) and ownership (the proportion of state institutions and private companies, organizations, individuals, etc. as media owners). At the end, we consider whether ethnic media in Russia today follow the traditional state model (i.e. are primarily state-owned and state-funded) or are gradually shifting towards an ‘alternative’ (i.e. non-state) one in terms of financing, ownership, management and other factors.