The Department of Media Theory and Economics appeared in 2004. 

Since the moment of the department’s foundation and till now it has been headed by the Dean of the Faculty of Journalism, MSU, Professor Elena Vartanova. 

The department has Doctors and Candidates of Sciences, scientific employees – more than thirty people in overall. 

The main directions of scientific activities of the department are study of Russian and foreign theories of journalism through the prism of relations between society, economy and the media. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the activities of the media as an industry of the national economy. At the department models of media systems in different national contexts are being researched, industry database is being created. 

Separately, it should be noted that the department of Media Theory and Economics became the first in Russia, where they began to study and teach the theoretical foundations of economics and management of mass media.

The scientific and research and practice activities of the department’s staff also include seminars and conferences for representatives of the media sphere, cooperation with international professional organizations of publishers of broadcasters, conducting of round table meetings and workshops for journalists and media managers. In addition, lecturers work on monographs, collective yearbooks, and regularly publish in leading Russian and foreign academic journals including Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta, Medi@lmanah, Mediascope and World of Media. Yearbook of Russian Media and Journalism Studies (the latter is published in the English language). 
     
At the department of Media Theory and Economics there are the following thematic modules for students: business journalism, media business, fashion and lifestyle journalism, sports journalism, music journalism.

Among lecturers of the department are not only staff members of the Faculty of Journalism, but also well-known Russian and foreign professors and representatives of media society.
The department is a member of the European Media Management Association (EMMA). 
     
Contact person: Ms. Maria Osipova
Email: kafedra.ekonomikasmi@yandex.ru  
Tel.: +7 (495) 629 44 40
Room 203