V. Buriak’s information intellectualism as a component of V. Zdoroveha’s journalistic skill concept

Abstract

Introduction. The relevance of the research is conditioned by the need to holistically study the results for theoretical investigations by the well-known journalism theorists in terms of paradigm shifts in journalism and the transformation of “journalistic skills” definition which happened over the past decades. Against this background, a natural question arises as regards having a positive effect on an author’s creation, that enables developing the highest forms of the information and artistic expression and interpretation of a fact. According to V. Yo. Zdoroveha, such main characteristics of creativity as novelty, and the shattering of stereotypes should come out from journalists’ perception activities, and the movement of creative consciousness towards the new forms and methods of the reality interpretation. His concept was further extended by V. D. Buriak, who introduced the concept of “information intellectualism”, which made it possible to consider regular processes in terms of postmodern thinking. The purpose of the article is an attempt to recognize information intellectualism as a conscious and creative addition to the well-known concept of V. Zdorovega and one of the main criteria in assessing the level of professional skill of a journalist. Research methods. Using analysis (including a content analysis), synthesis, generalization, comparison, and other methods we specified the elements of journalistic creativity as a gradual path to journalistic skills in V. Yo. Zdoroveha and V. D. Buriak’s studies. In particular, by means of the comparison analysis we have identified patterns as regards the development of journalistic skills in the constant media environment; the synthesis method allowed us to combine several characteristics contributing to information intellectualism into one matrix; the generalization method we used to formulate general conclusions; we applied the logical, chronological, and historical methods to trace V. Yo. Zdoroveha’s concept transformation, taking into account V. D. Buriak’s scientific conclusions. Thanks to the above-mentioned methods, the author built a research algorithm, which provided for the consistent tracking of the transformation of the well-known concept of journalistic skill towards the intellectualization of the author’s consciousness, which is an absolute requirement of the time. At the same time, the prospect of further addition and expression of the conceptual foundations of journalistic work according to V. Zdrovega appeared. Conclusions and research perspectives. Journalistic skills as the highest manifestation of journalistic creativity should always be monitored by both scientists and editors, as well as by the entire journalistic community, because the journalistic skills were noted by V. Yo. Zdoroveha to be not only the movement of creative consciousness towards the new forms and methods of the reality interpretation, but the result of the active involvement in solving social problems. That is why information intellectualism, introduced by V. D. Buriak, as a manifestation of information and creative perception, should become the main evaluation criterion for creative journalistic activities. To become a true journalist, one should consistently combine the moral and civic qualities with the psychological and literary components, provided that a high-level information intellectualism in journalism is essential. Interpreting the views on journalistic activity like that, the author suggests considering V. Yo. Zdoroveha’s concept as the leading one for evaluating journalistic skills. V. D. Buriak widened the concept, completed it with new definitions and a new dimension. His concept of information polyphony, which is enriched with the advent of new media, can become an extension of the “creative consciousness” theory. The author also suggests that modern journalism can lean in that direction amid the rapid media transformation. The issues raised in this study still remain undetermined to evaluate the professional activities of bloggers, rewriters, copywriters, as well as new networks users.