Comparative analysis of the current state of educational journalism development in Russia and China

Abstract

The article examines the current state of educational journalism development in Russia and China. Educational journalism is an important tool for spreading educational innovations, forming a professional community, and supporting public dialogue about educational policy. Despite the growing interest in this area, no systematic comparison of its features has been conducted so far in the two largest countries in terms of population and educational and political influence. The purpose of the study is to identify similarities and differences in the structure, subject matter, and institutional support of educational journalism in Russia and China. To achieve this goal, methods of comparative legal analysis, content analysis and semi-structured expert interviews were used. The publications in the leading pedagogical journals (2015-2023) of Russia and China, official statistical reports of the ministries of education, as well as data from media resources and specialized online platforms were analyzed. The content analysis covered more than 1,200 articles, and interviews with 15 Russian and Chinese journalists and editors clarified the specifics of editorial policy and government interaction. The study showed that in both countries there is an active digital transformation of educational media: the growth of online publications, the introduction of multimedia formats (video blogs, podcasts), the development of social networks. At the same time, educational journalism in China is more clearly integrated into state educational programs and has a pronounced ideological character, focusing on the priorities of the national educational strategy of the "Double Cycle". Russia has great editorial autonomy and a variety of thematic platforms, but there are still problems with financing regional publications and insufficient consolidation of the professional community. The data obtained indicate that the institutional context largely determines the format and content of educational journalism: government support ensures the scale and sustainability of Chinese projects, while in Russia the covariance of democracy and the market promotes pluralism of opinions, but generates fragmentation of the media space. The recommendations include expanding bilateral expert exchange, strengthening digital infrastructure, and developing joint educational media platforms that can combine the best practices of both countries.