The Sociology of Media Audience and the Contributions of Journalist Ioan Slavici

The study below aims to outline the communication research dimension, as an integral, albeit less known part of Ioan Slavici's activity. Concepts such as public, public opinion, press were familiar to Ioan Slavici. Sometimes he specified their meaning in context, but most of the times he used them without additional specifications. This proves that, after 1871, when Slavici, the writer, journalist, teacher, historian, author of economic and social studies, carried out his activity, these notions were already known among Romanian intellectuals. Less known as a sociologist, compared to Eminescu, Slavici proves to be a dedicated, diverse and indepth researcher, carrying out an activity stretching over several decades. The press is the mirror of society, Slavici thought in 1884, giving it an important role, and not necessarily that of providing information, but of supporting debates, of unbiased judgement and of underlining the undesirable phenomena in society. When the Transylvanian journalist raised the issue of seriousness in newspaper activity, he also brings the public into the equation, also trying to define public opinion. He knows that a society exists not as a mass, but through the persons and the relations between them. When the rules (written or unwritten) are breached, a reaction appears. Some will try to defend the rule, others to invalidate it. The press, Slavici believed, will signal the breach of cohabitation rules and will get involved in the debate.