The thesis is a comprehensive study of truth viewed as a complex problem of journalism and a research issue, the urgency of which in the last five years has become critical not only in Ukrainian but also in the global communication space. Truth is considered as a key category of the mission of journalism and is explored in the paradigm "truth – journalism – society". The research clarifies the nature of truth and its essential features that form truth as a category of social communication interaction (SCI) and determine its functions. The paper considers major aspects of truth in SCI and journalism and outlines the ways of solving the problem under research.
The study is based on the hypothesis that truth is the fundamental value of journalism and a major social communication category (SCC) of journalism, which is the basis of professional standards, techniques, forms, and methods of journalism. This category shapes motives, intentions, algorithms of communication and is a criterion for moral and professional choices and decisions made by a journalist.
The object of study is the truth as a category. The subject - the truth as a social communication category.The purpose of the research is to identify the essential (absolute) features and functional properties that characterize truth as the SCC of journalism, determine its criteria, place and functions in the social communication and ensure the fulfilment of social mission by journalism.
The scientific novelty of the obtained results: it is the first time when the study of the category of truth as a typological object of research is carried out from the standpoint of the social communication approach as a methodological basis of the research. This determines the methodology of the study.
It is the first time when the research claims that: 1) truth – by its nature – is a communicative metacategory; 2) the communicative function of truth is ontologically conditioned, axiologically marked and socially oriented; 3) truth is revealed in communicative interaction – spiritual and social – and through it.
The lack of the category of truth and its conceptualization in the categorial apparatus of the SC causes dysfunction of the truth as a SCC and leads to the loss of an important fundamental not only by journalism but also by the entire system of SC and thus producing negative social consequences.
It is confirmed that the truth by its metaphysical nature and essence is a socially oriented communication category with a set of relevant functions. The communicative function of truth is the basic one, due to which the ontological and axiological properties and functions are realized, which, in turn, forms the SC basis of truth as a category.
Additionally, the paper provides the definition of "truth as SCC" and suggests the category should be introduced into the conceptual and categorial apparatus of SC and journalism as a metacategory. It is proposed to categorize journalistic activity based on the metacategory of truth as "Journalism of Truth". The substantiation of the principle of truth-centeredness as a meta-principle of the SCI and journalism, as well as the place of truth as a value and truth-centeredness as a principle in the system of values of the journalist's personality are given.
As a result of the research of the complex problem of truth as SCC of journalism, the hypothesis is formulated that truth as a meta-category of SCI and journalism realizes its communicative meta-function through truth-centeredness (as a meta-principle) to achieve the major goal – social harmony and public good. The paper argues that it is truth-centered communications that form the basis of the social mission of journalism and turn it into the socially responsible activities, which is especially important in the age of global post-truth.
The results of the PhD research have theoretical and practical significance for shaping the concept of journalism education, application in the system of journalistic training and the practice of SCI and journalism.
The areas of further research of truth have also been determined:
– the primary essence of truth, its manifestations in real SCI and journalism;
– criteria of truth and development of methodology for their application in establishing the truth in the SCI and journalism;
– the mechanism of truth in the SC;
– system of spiritual communication;
– truth as a meta-value of SC and journalism.
Keywords: truth, universal truth, criteria, functions, social communication category, journalism, social communications, spiritual communications, interaction, truth-centeredness, meta-category, meta-value, meta-principle, meta-function.
