Recently conducted research on the political role of the Internet in societies in transition reveals the importance of the online media. Online media are the most prominent (in terms of popularity) news and political websites in these countries. They play an important role in the current political affairs there. Online media as a research area is poorly developed not only in the transitional societies but also in the established democracies. Moreover, researchers in this field seldom make a distinction between online versions of traditional media and original online outlets. Although this distinction may be of less importance for established democracies, it appears to be crucial for other countries. Based on the case study of Ukraine and Russia this article explores the definition and categorization of online media. It also investigates reasons for online media emergence. The major differences between original online media and online versions of traditional media are outlined and discussed. The role of online media in societies in transition is analysed.
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