The Strategy of Media Education Development of a Future Journalist as a Factor of Professionalism in the Digital Economy

The article examined one of the priority areas of social development - media education. The transition to a new technological system has caused major changes in media education. Digitalization processes influence the system of higher vocational education and highlight the fact that media education should be aimed at developing students' skills relevant to new digital environment. The originality of the research is the fact that media education is one of the factors that ensures that students are able to adjust to innovative economy of the Russian Federation. The study examined the regional demand for trained media literate professionals. The research proposed a model of media education for students majoring in journalism and a special educational program to develop professional competencies taking into account the media discourse in the region. The article discussed one of the components of the model of strategically oriented media education - the integrative course of additional vocational education. We found that graduates who participated in media education program not only improved their professional competencies defined by the government standard, but also acquired additional skills such as the ability to form media culture of the target audience. This kind of focus of educational efforts increased their competitiveness in the regional labor market. The proposed model of media education of future journalists, which integrates information and communication environment of the university in sync with current industry requirements; media technologies as part of the core subjects, and the advanced training program that focuses on the management of media literacy of the audience, has shown its effectiveness. Teaching methodology presented by the authors develops value and belief system that has ongoing professional media education at its core. It also fosters the development of mass media culture in digital environment.