Algorithms and content strategies of regional TV in the digital environment: platform as editor (the case of the TV channel "360")

In the context of the digital transformation of media consumption, the study of the mechanisms of algorithmic influence on the editorial practices of regional TV channels has become particularly relevant. Researchers are increasingly focusing not only on content but also on platforms as active participants in the information process. This study is dedicated to analyzing how recommendation algorithms in social networks and aggregators (VK, Telegram, Yandex.Zen) influence the format, genre structure, style, and topic selection in the news content of the "360" TV channel. The concept of "platform as editor" is revealed, within which digital media platforms not only broadcast but also shape the agenda through their algorithms. Typical practices of editorial production are analyzed: genre reduction, emotionalization of content, clip-based construction of news materials, and techniques for visually engaging the audience. The focus is on the changes in professional practices and the logic of content strategies under the pressure of digital ecosystem demands. The methodology includes content analysis of 90 posts, statistical processing of engagement, and comparative classification by genre, structure, and topic. The scientific novelty of the study lies in substantiating the concept of "platform as editor," according to which the algorithmic mechanisms of digital platforms not only disseminate but also actively shape the structure, style, and themes of media content. For the first time, a comparative analysis of the regional broadcaster ("360") presence on three different digital platforms, considering their algorithmic logic, has been conducted. The introduction of the engagement metric "reactions per 1000 views" for quantitative assessment of post effectiveness is also new. Additionally, the study demonstrates how the stylistics of news (emotionality, visual saturation, text length) is adapted to the requirements of recommendation systems. This approach allows for the identification of the dependence of editorial decisions on the technical architecture of platforms and highlights the need to consider algorithms in the media planning process, especially in the regional media segment.

recommendation algorithms, digital platforms, regional media, digitization, content strategy, audience engagement, platform as editor, content analysis, social media, media production