Moscow Planning to Eliminate Journalism Faculties in Russian Universities

Paul Goble
    Staunton, Nov. 25 – Dmitry Afanasyev, the Russian deputy minister for science and higher education, has told the Duma that the Russian government plans to eliminate separate journalism faculties in Russian universities and instead train those who are planning to work in the media in philology faculties.
    He argued that “journalism is not a science and therefore doesn’t need a separate faculty” and that in any case, the lines between various professional categories are becoming less sharp than they were as the explanation for this decision of the Russian government (nakanune.ru/articles/122859/).
    But the plan faces opposition from journalists and those who teach journalism. Vitaly Tretyakov, dean of the television faculty at Moscow State University, says that any such unification of the disciplines would harm journalism which has developed its own theories and methods.
    Neither side in this debate which is only now beginning is saying the obvious: the Putin regime has long had problems with journalists, has suppressed most independent outlets and driven many journalists out of their profession and even out of the country, and is now taking steps to destroy its professional training centers in order to better control such people.