Russian Media Construction of the Economic Crisis of 2014 Image

This work is focused on the media coverage analysis of the recent economic crisis in Russia, that erupted in the end of 2014. The primary aim of the present study is to define how the image of the economic crisis was constructed in Russian online newspapers and TV programs. The research is focused, mainly, on the theoretical perspective of social constructivism, and the economic crisis is considered to be a result of collective definition. By conducting content- and network analysis in the study, it was found that the differences in media coverage of the economic crisis are due to its audience orientation, and the increased media interest towards economic problems was observed during the period of serious fluctuations of economic indicators. Moreover, during this study some key strategies of economic crisis deproblematization were identified. They were carried out mainly by representatives of the government. Key words: mass media, economic crisis, construction of social problems, deproblematization, economic discussion