THE ERA OF THE RUSSIAN ENLIGHTENMENT AND THE FORMATION OF RUSSIAN JOURNALISM

Abstract

The paper examines history of forming and development of Russian journalism in the context of the Russian Enlightenment. Russian journalism, as a component of Russian literature, has an interesting and ambiguous history of formation. It was an important stage in the formation of spiritual culture and national consciousness of Russian society. Thanks to the reforms of Peter I, a periodical press appeared – the first newspaper “Vedomosti”, which was followed by the publication of satirical magazines Sumarokov, Novikov, Chulkov, Krylov, and others. Journalism of the XVIII century was represented by popular science and literary publications. A special role in the formation of public consciousness was played by progressive satirical journalism, which indicated its irreconcilable attitude to the monarchy and the arbitrariness of officials and serfs. Journalism of Russian Enlightenment was based on the principles of citizenship, morality and humanism.