We study the history of the infrastructure, web, and online media by conducting field research in different Russian cities. Our attention to the variiety of Russian cities allows us to see alternative histories – unrealized opportunities or just local alternatives to the global understanding of development of the Internet. Furthermore, along with observing these histories, we understand how the rules and norms are constructed, on what the availability of the Internet actually depends, and what was the motivation of the creators of the first online projects. We convey the results of our research in the form of academic and public writings as well as in conference presentations.

We are interested in understanding the meaning of these words for each other. Particularly, we are interested in exploring how state representatives think about the internet and envision its political consequences. Our primary goal here is advancing deliberate and illuminating discussions and battling excessive alarmism. In doing so, we organize round tables and engage in theoretical and empirical research.

We observed how people read "Novaya Gazeta" – one of the most well-known newspapers in Russia – with special focus on critical political commentary and investigative reporting. The goal of this applied research project was to comprehend practices of its readers to promote better understanding of how people read news in "Novaya Gazeta".