Dynamics of the Russian-speaking media in Finland: Linguistic and cultural aspects

Abstract

The present article considers the characteristics of Russian-language mass media in Finland in comparison with the situation 10–25 years ago. The most significant change that has taken place concerns the attitude to emigration and to immigrants: the previous exoticism and sense of adventure has gone, and the topic has now become commonplace. We aim to pinpoint the differences between the first and the second generation of immigrants and their attitudes to various sources of information. The article includes a survey of recent research in the sphere of media use. Particular attention is paid to various current trends in news reporting (relations between Russia and Finland, the activities of the Russian-speaking minority, political news, peculiarities of the Finnish way of life, historical parallels). An example is given of a local Russian- language media outlet. It is further demonstrated that changes in the Russian-language media concern not only the format, but also the status and content of the reporting. Materials of interest to the local reader are exemplified. We put forward hypotheses concerning the cyclical nature of people’s media interest, as well as the new functions of the mass media abroad. The article also includes brief remarks on the linguistic peculiarities of the new publications.