USING USER-GENERATED CONTENT IN THE NEWSCASTS OFTHENTV CHANNEL

The article examines the role of user-generated content (UGC) in contemporary television broadcasting, using the news program Segodnya(Today) on the Russian TV channelNTVas a case study. The relevance of the study stems from the transformation of the media landscape in the digital age, where content created by non-professional participants in events has become a significant element of news coverage. The research is based on a content analysis of 12 episodes of the program from 2024. Thestudy examines the types of events covered, the ways UGC is integrated into broadcasts, and the sources of user-generated materials. The findings indicate that UGC is actively used in reports on military conflicts, protests, natural disasters, and other emergency situations. The primary sources of such content are social media platforms (Telegram, X, YouTube), though in some cases, the origin of the materials is not disclosed. The study confirms the hypothesis that UGC plays a crucial role in news broadcasting due to its immediacy and ability to provide visual documentation of events. However, the lack of consistent attribution raises concerns about the reliability of such content. This research contributes to the understanding of modern media practices and the evolving nature of television journalism i n the digital era.