This project explores new potentialities in the professionalization of Russian journalists with two trends: the rise of the ICT technologies and the growth of the media market, the economic independence of the media and a new business thinking of professionals. The research asks: How do technology and economy influence the political independence of journalism in Russia? I employ a three-stage approach: 1) to scrutinize types of innovations (technical and economic) introduced in the newsroom, 2) to ascertain how do they affect the status of journalism, its practices and values, and 3) to assess the implications of these developments to the political independence of journalism. A case study aims at an in-depth analysis of St Petersburg media that
will be contextualized within the national trends. It can be compared in global contexts of the new economic situation and ICT revolution. 3 groups will be asked: heads of media institutes (8); heads of mediums (8) and journalists (24).