The culture of change in lithuanian national daily newspaper

This scientific research work aims to define the trends of change in work of the Lithuanian mass media. The conception of these trends includes several topical issues, for example, the way in which the Lithuanian mass media’s attitudes towards selection and presentment of topical information were changing, and to what extent the trends in changes of Lithuanian mass media correlate with the principles of contemporary philosophy and cultural theories, especially post-modern theories. The subjects of the research were the main Lithuanian national daily newspapers, “Lietuvos rytas” and “Respublika” in period from 1995 to 2005. The method of research was monitoring of the chosen subject, recording of the noticed changes, and defining the trends of the latter. We used methods of quantitative analysis (for example, how the quantity of the illustrations in the chosen daily newspapers changed through the years), as well as the principles of qualitative analysis. The aim of the analysis was to trace and describe the trends in changes, gained in some period of time, paying special attention towards the alteration of content quality and conformation of the chosen newspapers. It was tried also to observe the influence of the new technologies (Internet) on the traditional media. Also the analysis of newspaper’s “Lietuvos rytas” web page (www.lrytas.lt) was accomplished. Interaction between the activity of the readers of the web page and its content are shown. While writing the theoretical part of the work, mostly the postmodern theories were taken into consideration. This was done because of the dominant position, which these theories hold in the paradigm of contemporary science. Though it is not considered, that the postmodern theories alone may help in explaining the trends in development of the modern society (especially because those theories themselves are still being elaborated), they are thought to be the most significant in reaching the goal of the work. After accomplishing the survey and considering the theoretical works it was come to a conclusion that the culture of changes in modern Lithuanian daily newspapers results in alteration of shape and content of media, with intensification of the post-modern elements (mostly from 1998). Among those the principle of disunity, strive to shock, and abolishment of every possible hierarchy can be mentioned. The amount of yellow journalism and commercials increases, pictures and illustrations become more important, the shape and size of the newspaper become unstable. Also it as noticed, that the printed newspapers are becoming more dependant on the new technologies, the Internet. All this is bound with the acceleration of life, appearance new technologies and changes happening in the society. These trends to a certain extent can be traced in every media. It is noticed that the post-modern elements of modern life may result from the postmodern features of the contemporary media. Researches in this field are of interest for media analysts, public institutes dealing with media, and non-governmental organisations, conducting media’s observations