Elena Vartanova speaks about Faculty's post-pandemic life and ‘hybrid learning’: interview for 'Moscow 24'

28.03.2021

nBkSUhL2hFQvncy2I7mI5pql29q06p-80mnBnvmDoGuQYX7XByXLjCdwu5tI-BaO-42NvWWBK8AqGfS8kjIzIymM8G1N_xHb1A=JhN0IxodWjR7xFUJCAo_hw (1).jpgDean of the Faculty of Journalism was invited to speak about post-pandemic life on the Faculty and comment on ‘hybrid learning’. Professor explained that hybrid learning model has been implemented since the very start of the current academic year, and, in its essence, it lies in combining traditional classroom experiences and digital course delivery, with online lectures and seminars conducted offline. She also outlined the tendency towards the increasing offline presence of students, as appropriate in light of the pandemic situation. However, the upcoming Open Day will be held online, like several previous similar events.

While on the subject, Professor Vartanova mentioned two comprehensive training programs offered by the Faculty: traditional ‘Journalism’ and groundbreaking ‘Media Communications’, the first being a tribute to a long-standing proud tradition of the Faculty and the second being an innovative field of study, focused on digital media environment. Elena Vartanova then elaborated on the concept of media communications, saying that this umbrella term encompasses both traditional journalism and new digital communications and the way they co-exist in modern media environment. The degree of academic advancement of the Faculty was yet again proven by the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021, which ranked MSU the best Russian educational institution precisely in the subject field ‘Communication & media studies’.

Professor Vartanova went on talking about current Faculty's projects. One of the significant initiatives is a proposed cooperation with security forces and journalists’ unions, discussed in the course of the expanded meeting of Information Security Committee. The initiative is aimed at ensuring safe working conditions for media workers during mass events and in other high-risk environments. According to Elena Vartanova, it is crucial that future journalists be fully acquainted with their potential working environment and, most importantly, be aware of their rights and obligations, as well as the regulations followed by law enforcement authorities.

Media-government interaction also became the centerpiece of the first seminar in a series of academic online seminars, attended by world-class media experts. Topical seminar meetings, due to be held on every first Tuesday of each month, strive to trigger productive academic discussions. The event is characterized by a broad thematic coverage, with the second seminar dedicated to the poetic topic of media and art, and the next one featuring the concept of ‘liquid journalism’.

Still on the subject of various aspects of journalism studies, Dean of the Faculty of Journalism touched upon numerous pandemic-related challenges facing journalism today. In particular, she mentioned the problem of infodemic, which stands for overabundance of information, caused by a rapid and far-reaching spread of both accurate and misleading information during a disease outbreak.

Professor also outlined the current crisis of certain sectors of journalism, notably print media, triggered by advertising revenue decline; meanwhile the need for qualified specialists has become particularly tangible.

Having emphasized certain challenges yet to be addressed by media community, Professor Vartanova finishes the conversation on a positive note, by telling about the generation of future media specialists. School media projects festival, with its latest trend towards digital projects, might become a perfect
springboard for becoming first-class media experts, as it fosters the development of both journalism skills and digital competencies. The Dean of the Faculty of Journalism noted with pride that this year the festival received a record-high number of submissions.

Full interview is available here.