The article is aimed at revealing peculiarities of Russian journalism institutions as unique scientific and educational schools within polycentric paradigm of analysis. In this paradigm, differently appears the problem of leadership which is usually considered in one-centric coordinate system. Authors make comparison of scientific and educational schools in Russia and abroad and describe the main national traditions in journalism studies and teaching. The analysis shows that the Russian educational school has a long history, an extensive structure of institutions, and deep roots in the theory. It seems especially important that academia meets support in professional ideology and the current practice of the journalistic community. The last conclusion was done on the data of nationwide survey on the journalists’ representations on the profession and the professional community. The civilizational-cultural approach to journalism education, which is in use in the article, denies the center-peripheries hierarchy in the worldwide interaction and promotes the real internationalization and exchange of useful experience between countries.