The work analyzes the functionality of the Russian verb in the genre of information reporting. The use of the verb in the form of this actual (real reportage) is considered one of the main features of the genre of reporting. However, the analysis shows that along with the forms of the present topical in the report are actively used forms of verbs of the past time of imperfect kind. The authors pay attention to the functional identity of these verb forms. The present reportage (real topical) can only be formed from the verbs of an imperfect kind. It is the imperfect ap pearance of the verb that gives the reader a sense of inclusion in the event, which is mentioned in the report. It does not matter whether the verbs of an imperfect kind are in the form of the present or the past. The functionality of the verb in the text of the report is described in close connection with the nature of the media text, in particular with the category of social space time. The concept of the communicative status of the media library is introduced — the degree of relevance of the media text for society, due to the nature of its connection with the coor dinates of social space-time. There are three communicative statuses. The actual mediatext is such at the time of publication, when it is part of the general practical activity of the society. The mediatext is being created for here and for now. Texts of the past time lose direct connec tion with the present topical society, but do not lose their importance. They store important information, experience acquired by society. Mediatexts that have lost touch with society be come artifacts of a bygone era, acquiring the status of a cognitive text. The ability to describe a mediate based on the chronotop category is analyzed. The use of the category of chronotop in the understanding of M. M. Bakhtin can be considered correct only in relation to the study of the essay and reportage of a large volume with a developed visual and analytical beginning.