INSTITUTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LEGAL REGULATION OF MASS MEDIA: FEATURES OF THE MODERN STAGE

Abstract

The idea of creating the legal branch called the «information law» appeared to be reasonable: in the most difficult times of the transition to the information society, the new branch has shown its ability to find the right path to the realization of the right to information, other rights and freedoms of individual. Information law by means of its sub-sectors and institutions allows to see the relationship between the various branches of law and to better understand the mechanisms of transition of constitutional rights to the plane of their practical implementation. The article shows the relationship of information law and its institutions with constitutional and civil law; attention is drawn to changes in the terminological apparatus of the sphere of mass communication; the article substantiates that mass media law as an institution of information law, being involved in the transformation of the media system associated with the emergence of «new media», requires a clearer delineation of the areas of legal regulation depending on the type of media. Based on the analysis of the media legislation of the CIS countries, two models of regulation of new media are identified: when the scope of the Media Law extends to both the media and online publications, and to Internet resources through which mass information is distributed and when The scope of the Media Law of the Internet does not apply. The European approach to the concept of media in the new environment is shown. A proposal has been made to improve media legislation regarding registration.