Malkova Vera K.

The article discusses the public assessment for the contemporary state of the Russian Federation and the forecasting of its desired future, as described in the publications in the Russian mass media. The research of the Institute of Ethnologyand Anthropologyof the Russian Academyof Sciences,based on content analysis of Russian media materials published from October 2022 to May 2023, revealed the deep-seated concerns of the Russian society, which were intensified by its representatives in the Russian media space during the difficult period for the country.The materials of the research demonstrate some dissatisfaction of society with the current situation and a willingness to change and improve various spheres of social life.The media platforms present numerous specific directions for the state’s development.Researchers associate the increase in public anxiety in the media sphere not only with the current geopolitical conditions but also with the fact that the new generation of Russians wants to understand and decide what is more crucial for the country’s successful development: radical changes, political and economic reforms or sustainability, gradual development with consistent solutions to urgent challenges? The most discussed topics in the Russian media sphere are the attitude of Russians towards the West and Western civilization, the directions of interaction between the new Russia and the countries of the West and East, the possibility of moving forward while preserving tradition and upholding the spiritual and moral values.The studyresults provide recommendations for governmental and public structures regulating federal and regional information policy.