The article is written at the junction of philology and journalism and is devoted to the journalistic issue, which is regarded as an element of a special type of rhetoric, close in construction and function to Socratic rhetoric. The author sees differences in the Socratic and journalistic issue in their content: truth is important for Socrates and for the journalist the creation of the fullest possible image of the interlocutor is essential. The journalistic issue is considered as an auxiliary means and not as an instrument of influence, as it is supposed in “classical” rhetoric and neorhetoric. The journalist is considered as an intermediary between the speaker and the audience, not being the addressee of communication.