By: Alexis Sergeant, Natalie Plumb, Jessica Reyes and Julia Weber

Countries of Eastern Europe…•Russia•Czech Republic•Poland•Hungary•Romania and Moldova•Croatia•Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia•Slovenia•Slovakia•Bulgaria•Ukraine and Belarus•Serbia•Montenegro, Bosnia, and Herzegovina•Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia

Something Fun!Get a Taste of European Culture!Click on the “youtube” link below

The Duquesne University Tamburitzans are a group of college students who travel across America performing songs and dances from all of the countries of Europe. My brother was a tamburitzan and many of my friends are now. I danced my entire life till college. The group is based in Pittsburgh, PA which just so happens to be a very ethnic community!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0et3eMOd1G8

Media Structure of…•Russia population: 141,839,000

•Nine Television Channels viewed by More than 50% of the population-Four National Channels (Channel One, Rossia, NTV, Kultura)-Five National Networks (TNT, CTC, Ren TV, TVS, TV Centre)-Two Satellite Systems (NTV Plus and Kosmos TV)

•TV is considered the most effective means of influence among media.•TV; mostly government owned. Newspapers; published by Independent Media House.

Two Main Media Problems1.On the electronic media market, the state remains the leading player both in audience reach and in commercial power and also acts as the market regulator. On the regional print market, the state uses a system of subsidies as a tool of influence.2. Privately owned media have limited opportunities to develop as businesses due to low volume on the advertising market, the low level of corporate management, lack of unity in the industry, and a lack of effective mechanisms for lobbying the interests of the industry as a whole. •Source:

http://www.infoamerica.org/documentos_pdf/rusia1.pdf

Russian Prime Minister: Vladimir Putin

History of…•Russia

1991: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics dissolves, ending the 74-year-long Communist dictatorship; Boris Yeltsin becomes president of New Russian Federation

1993: Freedom of the press is established and censorship prohibited in New Russian Constitution

1994-96: First Chechnyan War; NTV (Russian company Media-Most network) shows Chechnyan side of war, enraging Yeltsin and Russians

1998: Advertising market collapses; ORT, NTV and other media giants get state loans; other media disappears or merges

1999: Prime Minister Putin appointed president; Kremlin officials call journalists opposing official Russian position on Chechnyan War “state enemies”

2000: Criminal investigators raid Media-Most offices; tax police allege tax evasion; Media-Most denies, accrediting it to their independent Chechnya reporting

2002: Media Minister Mikhail Lesin takes TV-6 – Russia’s last major independent station – off air; “Of the country's four major networks, TV-6 provided the most critical reporting about President Putin and the Chechen War;” Russian officials raise concern when Radio Free Europe announces broadcasts to Chechnya

•Source: http://www.pressreference.com/No-Sa/Russian-Federation.html

PRESS FREEDOM OF:Russia The media of Russia is composed of

television, radio, newspapers and internet media which could be either state or a private property.

According to the Commissioner for Human Rights of Russia there is NO institutionalized censorship.

The World Report 2009 claimed that Russian government controlled civil society by selective implementation of media restrictions.

Controversy: A number of reporters who covered the situation in Chechnya on organized crime, state and administrative officials and large businesses have been killed.

Access to Media: Russia The media in Russia has evolved quite rapidly over the recent

decades. The most prevalent form of media is television, and with the

availability of satellite TV, foreign media from places such as the U.S. can be seen.

One of the barriers to media development is the vast size of Russia. We learned in Week 5 that it spans 11 time zones. It’s difficult to stay in touch with the rest of the country when one side is operating in daylight while it’s nighttime on the opposite side.

There is also a huge difference between the rural and urban areas. Many of the communication forms, such as telephones, are outdated in urban areas.

Language is also a barrier, but this mostly affects foreigners and tourists. Many of the newspapers are only printed in Russian so it can be difficult to find information that you’re searching for.

Russia is trying to remedy the media barrier through the use of technology. In 2009, it was ranked 1st in the social networking category. Visitors spent about 6.6 hours on the internet a day. This allows them to use alternate means of communication.

Sources: http://www.justrussia.org/russia/russia-media.asphttp://

www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2009/7/Russia_has_World_s_Most_Engaged_Social_Networking_Audience

Media Structure of…•Czech Republic population:

10,511,000

•Sources: http://www.pressreference.com/Co-Fa/The-Czech-Republic.html and http://www.communicationencyclopedia.com/public/tocnode?id=g9781405131995_yr2010_chunk_g97814051319958_ss182-1

•The current media system, established and developing since 1989 is a liberal, pluralistic system operating within the framework of constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression. •The media in the country operates in a market-driven environment with no or very limited regulation regarding both content and ownership. •The media operates within a dual system of both public-service media and private (mostly commercial) broadcasting. •Newspapers which are both regional and national appear in a number of languages including Czech, English, German, and Russian. •Most of the national press is centered in Prague, the countries capital.•80% of newspapers and magazines owned by German and Swiss corporations.

History of…•Czech Republic

After the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, the Czech Republic stood free, with the beginnings of a new democratic age unfolding before them. Admission to the European Union, and the subsequent economic and cultural benefits, gave the country the push it needed. That said, the media is right there telling the story, working against the exclusive nature that embodied the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Coverage of things such as the social conflict in the Roma allows the media to expand the blossoming democracy and to educate its citizens.

•Source: http://www.pressreference.com/Co-Fa/The-Czech-Republic.html

PRESS FREEDOM OF:Czech Republic

• Ranked fifth in Reporters Without Borders out of 168 countries in the annual “Press Freedom Index”

• The real problem in Czech Republic is not so much the freedom of press but its independence between the commercial sector and the politicians • It is good news for Czech Republics

international image but not many will agree with its contents.

• Because of its government, Czech Republic has very limited press freedom

• Censorship play a big role in press freedom. Journalists are seen restricting themselves

Access to Media: Czech Republic The Czech have made a great effort to give access

to a multitude of citizens and people in the country.

Newspapers are printed in various languages such as Czech, English, German and Russian.

It prides itself with giving coverage to areas all over the country. There are at least 38 local and regional newspapers, excluding those from Prague.

One issue is that there is often a fine line in the papers between what is news and what is opinion. This can make it difficult for the readers to discern the facts of the story so that they can form their own opinion.

Sources: http://www.pressreference.com/Co-Fa/The-Czech-Republic.html

Media Structure of…•Poland population: 38,146,000

•The Broadcasting Act was adopted in 1992 allowing foreign investors to hold only a max of 33% of shares in Polish media.•Licenses for TV broadcasting is granted for a max of 10 years.•Licenses for Radio broadcasting is granted for a max of 7 years.•Individuals of Polish citizenship & permanent residence in Poland, Corporate Bodies with the head of office in Poland can hold a media licenses.•Only two large private radio broadcasters still remain purely Polish in their ownership structure; RMF-FM & Radio Eska.

•Newspaper Circulation per 1,000: 28 •Television Sets per 1,000: 337.8 •Computers per 1,000: 69.1 •Internet Access per 1,000: 72.5

•Sources: http://www.obp.pl/03-raport/2001/ownership_rtv.htm and http://www.pressreference.com/No-Sa/Poland.html

History of…•Poland

Following the collapse of Communist regime in 1989, Polish media transformed. Three periods of change: 1) widespread support for Solidarity 2) dissolution of anti-Communist forces 3) local media now based on profit, not politics

Media history is like that of other developed nations, with a few differences:

-Readership and circulation low since 1985

-Number of magazine titles has increased 200 percent since 1990, but circulation per title has decreased

-Gazeta Wyborcza is most widely read newspaper in Poland (circulation 600,000)

-Before 1989, Poland’s single broadcaster was 'Polish Radio and Television,' which was state-operated. After the fall of the Communist government, Polish Radio and Polish Television became different public service organizations. Commercial interest in radio and television grew.

•Source: http://www.pressreference.com/No-Sa/Poland.html

PRESS FREEDOM OF:Poland

•Government may distinguish which materials are public or protected from disclosure to the public.

• Freedom of speech was first guaranteed in the Little Constitution in 1992 and later in the Constitution 1997.

•Censorship was abolished by the Polish Parliament in 1990.

•The 10th article states that everyone has the right to freedom of expression.

• The right includes freedom to hold opinions to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority.

Access to Media: Poland

The Poles in the rural areas have a low literacy rate.

On April 11, 1990, Polish parliament passed an anti-censorship act that modified the Press Act of 1984 implemented by the previous communist administration.

The structure of Poland's media also was reformed by the Polish legislature. Economic reforms in the print arena gave journalists who had previously worked for state-owned newspapers the opportunity to take over ownership. In addition, foreign investors were allowed to enter the Polish media market.

Sources: http://www.pressreference.com/No-Sa/Poland.html

Location: Krakow

Seeing a McDonald’s in a foreign country is often a reassuring feeling. However, when the menu is in the language of the country you are visiting it can create a challenge.

Media Structure of…•Hungary population: 10,024,000

•Joseph Pulitzer; a man of Hungarian descent. The person associated worldwide with excellence in the media, innovation in communications, independent liberalism in journalism & education.

•Hungary President signed recent law in 2010 on new state-owned media structure.•Journalists are forced to identify sources in stories involving national security and public safety.•Twenty-first Century; three electronic media outlets were government owned: Radio Hungary, Hungarian Television and Duna TV.•Newspapers are in a constant circulation war, competing in a declining readership market amid an excess of publications and are increasingly turning to yellow journalism in attempts to gain market share. •Yellow Journalism: Journalism that presents little or no well-researched news

Joseph Pulitzer: The Pulitzer Prize

•Sources: http://www.politics.hu/20100811/president-signs-new-media-structure-law and http://www.pressreference.com/Gu-Ku/Hungary.html

History of…•Hungary

It’s not every day that a country undergoes a ten-year transformation from a state-controlled, political media to a private, uncensored market.

High quality journalism and programming marks Hungary’s media, though its government attempts to stifle the coverage critical toward it. For example, in 2001: 6,000 marched in Budapest against the state electronic media’s advisory boards, which are highly politicized.

1994: The Constitutional Court rules that Article 232 of the criminal code was unconstitutional, thus allowing citizens and journalists to criticize public officials.

2004: Hungary's accession into the European Union; facilitates media economically and culturally

•Source: http://www.pressreference.com/Gu-Ku/Hungary.html

PRESS FREEDOM OF:Hungary

• In Hungary, preliminary censorship persisted until the 1980’s.

• In 2010, Hungary proposed a new media law that put the country’s relatively new press freedom under threat.

• Government backs the “media council”

Access to Media: Hungary Almost two-thirds of the population is urbanized and the

remaining one-third has ready access to all media. Hungary has a highly literate audience. Literacy is

estimated at almost 100 percent for men and women, and the level of education is high.

Therefore those who are of Hungarian descent have easy access to media. It is the minorities that do not have readily available media due to the language barrier. The largest group of minorities are the Roma, from neighboring Romania.

A goal of the Hungarian government has been to give more access to media to the minorities in the country. The language barrier often marginalizes them, and they are making strides to make media more available by offering it in other languages.

Sources: http://www.pressreference.com/Gu-Ku/Hungary.html

Media Structure of…•Romania population: 21,474,000

•Moldova population: 4,133,000•Media outlets are either government-owned or closely linked to the authorities.•In the mid-1990s the government nationalized some newspapers, which means the newspapers transferred from private to state ownership.•The government uses financial measures to harass the media; such as dissuading business owners from advertising in independent outlets.•CTC Media Group; leading independent media company in Russia with Modern Times Group

•Source: http://www.ejc.net/media_landscape/article/romania/

•Romania became a member of the European Union in 1997; advertisements in Print, Radio, & Television significantly decreased because people using internet for all info.•Media outlets are owned by the state, by serving politicians, by businessmen.•Realitatea-Cataventu; media company owned by Sorin Ovidiu Vântu.•Intact; owned by the family of politician and former businessman, Dan Voiculescu.•Central European Media Enterprises; founded by businessman, Ronald Launder: serves Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia.

•Sources: http://www.journalismnetwork.eu/index.php/_en/country_profiles/moldova/ and http://www.ctcmedia.ru/about/

History of…•Romania

Romania has seen control as early as the Romans and the Habsburg and Ottoman Empires. Press freedom was scarce well into and past the first and second World Wars and until the end of Soviet occupation in 1989.1989: Overthrow of Communist President Nicolae Ceausescu1991: Adoption of a new constitution1996: Election of Democratic Front President Emil Constantinescu2000: Election of Social Democrat Ion Ilescu as president. 2004: Romania joins NATO and 2007: Romania joins the European UnionBoth of these moves demonstrate Romania’s commitment to multiparty democracy, a free press, and human rights.

• MoldovaMoldavian press developed under the Romanian culture. Until proclaimed a sovereign state in 1991, there was no independent mass media and there was strict state and party censorship. 1995: Few financial resources for independent media markets; so government began to nationalize printed and electronic media and 50 percent of it returned to state control-Journalists lost dignity, professionalism and objectivity trying to compromise between fighting for independence and serving government interests that guaranteed salary in spite of losing freedoms. -Thus, political parties’ press dominated in 1990s until citizens saw their bias one decade later.-Though 40 percent of the press was party-owned in 2002, their circulation did not reach that of the independent press.

•Source: http://www.pressreference.com/Ma-No/Moldova.html

•Source: http://www.pressreference.com/No-Sa/Romania.html

PRESS FREEDOM OF:Romania• Ongoing intimidation of media in Romania caused the beating of four journalists.

•It is evidence of deterioration of press freedom in the country.

•The erosion of press freedom resulted in unbalanced campaign coverage and misinformed electorate.

• Lack of editorial independence at many privately owned media outlets advances the personal, political, and business interests of ownership.

PRESS FREEDOM OF:Moldova

• Freedom of expression, speech and access to information are basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Moldova which was adopted in 1994.

• According to Article 32, every citizen has the right to freedom of thought, opinion, and their public expression in words, painting or by other means.

Access to Media: Romania and Moldova

Romania The reign of Nicolae Ceausescu was a difficult time for the

Roma. He decreased the number of papers printed, ads displayed and the media was nationalized. After the fall of his regime, the media became free again and the access to media was rejuvenated.

The Carpathian Mountains are the largest barrier to media development in the country. They create a crescent shape throughout the country which cuts off media access to the people who live around them.

Moldova For such a small country, it really tries to give as much media

access to its people as possible. The country has a literacy rate of 96.4% so they are well-educated and able to keep up with different media forms.

All forms of media: radio, print and broadcast are constantly growing and appear in many languages such as Moldavian, Romanian, Russian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian and Yiddish.

Sources: http://www.pressreference.com/No-Sa/Romania.htmlhttp://www.pressreference.com/Ma-No/Moldova.html

Media Structure of…•Croatia population: 4,433,000

•Among more than 20 Croatian TV channels, only four are licensed for national coverage – two state-owned and two private channels. •State-owned television is the leader by audience on the national level.•Nearly all households have a color television set, while half of the population do not read any newspapers and listen to any radio. •Styria Media Group; one of Croatia’s biggest media companies

Croatia Comic Strip Hero

•Traditional Media-Television is predominant source of information.-National Telecom Agency plans a full digital television

coverage by 2011. •Print Media

-Steady decline in the production of newspapers.-Newspapers are becoming more tabloid like.-Major newspapers are among the top-20 online websites.

•Source: http://www.ejc.net/media_landscape/article/croatia/

History of…•Croatia

1992-1996: “Homeland defense war” against neighbors Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina; Croatia required to state its allegiances; necessity to remain extremely nationalistic; independent new media criticize war; President Franjo Trudjman wants to control media and bring about nationalism

1999: President Trudjman dies

-Candidacy to enter European Union; dependent on the government-to-media relations

-Value of independent media not yet realized

•Source: http://www.pressreference.com/Co-Fa/Croatia.html

PRESS FREEDOM OF:Croatia

• As Croatia builds its democracy, it also builds the ethics and standards of its new media.

• “Right now the most controversial issue in Croatian media is the level of professionalism”, librarian for The Freedom Forum Journalism.

• Political parties have influence over particular newspapers making it difficult for Croatian citizens to receive unbiased news.

Access to Media: Croatia

The people of Croatia are highly literate and well-educated.

Unlike many of the other Eastern European countries, it wasn’t until the new millennium that the media became free. Since that time the country has been trying to evolve its media.

The majority of the population is in the urban cities so it’s not difficult for them to access media.

The minorities (Slovenes, Italians, Hungarians, Serbs and Bosnians) live in the urban areas and regional newspapers have been created in these regions so that they can keep up-to-date with the media.

Source: http://www.pressreference.com/Co-Fa/Croatia.html

Media Structure of…•Lithuania population: 3,399000

•Latvia population: 2,256,000

•Estonia population: 1,340,000

•During the last decade a sufficiently stable print media system was established.•The television market began to develop after foreign capital (from the USA, Great Britain and Scandinavian countries) poured into Lithuania in the 90’s.•The state owns part of the National Radio and Television public broadcasting company but the majority of the mass media is privately owned.

•Source: http://www.ejc.net/media_landscape/article/lithuania/

•Most newspapers and magazines in Latvia are privately owned.•Radio & Television are non-profit state enterprises with limited liability. Licenses for broadcasting activities are issued by the National Council of Radio &Television.•Source:

http://www.pressreference.com/Ky-Ma/Latvia.html

•Broadcasting is a notably more trusted medium than newspapers.•The press has fully moved away from state control and is now independently run.•A wide variety of privately owned newspapers published in Estonian and Russian, private and national television channels, and a state-owned public service channel.

•Source: http://www.estonica.org/en/Society/Development_of_the_public_field_until_the_early_2000s/The_shaping_of_a_new_media_system/

History of…•Lituania

Lithuania has overcome Soviet domination and now faces a “ten-year decline of moral principles that was widespread in the media,” despite the fact that it is among the most trusted media institutions, even with its “generally low level of talented journalists.”

1997: A Conference for East European journalists concluded that the Lithuanian media is freer than elsewhere in the former Soviet Union

1999: Public trust in media 60 percent; in parliament 20 percent2000: State-run Lithuanian Radio & Television suspends radio broadcasts due to funds2002: Media privately owned and financially stable

• Latvia1990: Censorship prohibited through Law on Press and other Mass Media1992: Journalists are taught the Code of Journalism Ethics adopted by Latvian Union of

Journalists (media ethics)1997: European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental

Freedoms ratified; freedom of expression, right to impart information and ideas without interference

• EstoniaPre-21st century, Estonia suffered from censorship and subjugation. Now independent, it suffers economically. Its media is characterized by many print and broadcast channels in comparison to the country’s small population. Newspapers, television channels are privately owned, while a service channel (which receives the highest ratings) and radio stations are state-owned. Print publications make it so that the limited advertising revenues are overwhelmed financially.

•Source: http://www.pressreference.com/Co-Fa/Estonia.html

•Source: http://www.pressreference.com/Ky-Ma/Lithuania.html

•Source: http://www.pressreference.com/Ky-Ma/Latvia.html

FREEDOM OF PRESS IN:Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia All three countries are ranked

within the top 20 by Reporters Without Borders.

Soviet censorship fell apart in 1988 even as state censorship existed in neighboring countries.

Media continues to be free although some problems exist.

Access to Media: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia Lithuania

During the Soviet regime, the economy of the country sank. Despite this the country has tried to reestablish its media. It is printed in the official language, Lithuanian, but is also found in Polish and Russian.

With a literacy rate of 98% the people are able to keep up with the new media developments.

Latvia They have also struggled financially since the fall of the Communist

regime. This affects the nation in that they don’t receive news as often. For

example, the weekend edition of some of the papers are printed on Saturday, there is no Sunday paper.

Despite the decrease in papers this hasn’t seemed to affect the country too much because the literacy rate is very high.

Estonia This is another Baltic country with a lack of a strong infrastructure that

made it difficult to finance media. There aren’t any major barriers to media development. It is a small

country, with only around 1 million people, but they have achieved a 100% literacy rate.

Sources: http://www.pressreference.com/Ky-Ma/Lithuania.htmlhttp://www.pressreference.com/Ky-Ma/Latvia.html

http://www.pressreference.com/Co-Fa/Estonia.html

Media Structure of…•Slovenia population: 2,043,000

•Slovenia media is mostly privatized owners.•Unlike the Print and Radio; foreign owners play an important role in the TV market. •Three of the largest commercial channels are all owned by foreign companies.•Among the top five media companies (all of which have a narrow international role);

-Three print media (Delo, Dnevnik and Večer) .-Two broadcast media (public service broadcaster Radiotelevizija

Slovenija, “Radiotelevision Slovenia” or RTV Slovenia).- One commercial broadcaster (Pro Plus).

•Media advertising is increasing in sales.•In a population of nearly 2 million, circulation for all printed media is around 6 million.

•After Slovenia gained independence from Yugoslavia, the number of electronic and broadcast media establishments tripled•The Slovenian press could flourish and become one of the freest and most diverse in the world with further improvements to the media unions, communications education, and communications law

•Sources: http://www.pressreference.com/Sa-Sw/Slovenia.html and http://www.ejc.net/media_landscape/article/slovenia/

History of…•Slovenia

During WWII, Slovenia published 292 newspapers that laid the groundwork for a country that would break free from communist leadership and establish a democratic parliament. Government subsidy of newspapers was still necessary to keep this media diversity (multiple publications).

The largest Slovene daily newspaper, and also the one of the oldest (50+ years), at present is Delo, with over 150 reporters. Even this paper maintains a large government influence, with its roots having grown from its communist beginnings, and the government owning 20 percent of shares.

The state also allows large foreign investment and ownership of broadcast stations.

•Source: http://www.pressreference.com/Sa-Sw/Slovenia.html

PRESS FREEDOM OF:Slovenia

• The struggle over defining democracy continues in Slovenia.

• Press Freedom has become the most important battleground in Slovenia’s society.

• Over 400 Slovene journalists have publicly denounced Prime Minister Janez Jancar’s atttempts to restrict media freedom claiming that the gov. has established an informal decision- making.

Access to Media: Slovenia Unlike many of the other Eastern European

nations, Slovenia’s media did not have to undergo many changes post-Communism.

It had one of the most liberal media’s during that era, and did not have censorship issues that many of the other countries had.

The public’s access to media is readily available. The entire country’s population is 2 million, and the circulation for all printed media is at 6 million.

The country enjoys free education, which helps to keep up the literacy rate of the nation at 99%.

Sources: http://www.pressreference.com/Sa-Sw/Slovenia.html

Media Structure of…• Slovakia population: 5,417,000

•Since 1989 the media climate in Slovakia has changed from a restrictive, state-run system to a dual system of state and independent media.•Slovakia is home to the only state-controlled press agency in Europe, the Press Agency of the Slovak Republic (TASR).•The Swiss company Ringier Slovakia is the leader in Print Media ownership.•Although there are some national media groups, the most important media outlets are owned or co-owned by foreign companies; except public service media .•Media owners of private media are private companies or individuals who are independent from government.•More than 85% of adults listen to radio broadcasts regularly; it is the second most popular medium after television. •Open to privatization; Slovak media is attracting foreign investment. •The Slovak media market is undeveloped & ripe for innovation and development.

•Sources: http://www.pressreference.com/Sa-Sw/Slovakia.html and http://www.ejc.net/media_landscape/article/slovakia/

History of…•Slovakia

Between 1990 and 1992, more than 15 laws regarding the media helped to expedite the process of converting the pre-1989, restricted, state-run media climate to the free speech- and privatization-themed enterprise it is today.

By 1998, Slovakia held a truly democratic government that promotes vehicles for commercial broadcast and print media that led to the present growth of cable, satellite, and online media communication. Foreign investment is encouraged in media outlets. Given these resources and the eager Slovene audience, the diversity, number and types of media available are such that Slovakia’s media atmosphere might catch up to that of western Europe.

2001: Slovakia passes first Freedom of Information Act

•Source: http://www.pressreference.com/Sa-Sw/Slovakia.html

PRESS FREEDOM OF:Slovakia

• The Constitution provides freedom of press.

• Constitution provisions include a limitation.

• From it’s history, since it became independent it has been struggling in keeping peace therefore, it’s media has not been steady.

Access to Media: Slovakia The fall of Communism was the cataclysm that

helped to transform the media. The media is a combination of public, state and

independently owned publications and broadcasting.

The people are extremely well-educated with a 100% literacy rate. This makes Slovakia a very attractive country to launch foreign media markets.

New technology media is also being tested out in the country.

The papers cover local, national and international news so the media is well covered in the nation.

Sources: http://www.pressreference.com/Sa-Sw/Slovakia.html

Media Structure of…• Bulgaria population: 7,590,000

•Since 2000 there has been a boost in foreign investments•Bulgarian Broadcast industry has been largely shaped by the impact of a few international media groups – News Corporation, Antena Group, Emmis Communications, Communicorp Group, Apace Media, SBS Broadcasting Group•Broadcasting in Bulgaria is regulated by the state-controlled Bulgarian National Radio and Bulgarian Television agency. •There are four national and six regional radio programs. •Bulgaria's major radio station is the government-owned Bulgarian Radio. •Irena Krasteva : owner of the New Bulgarian Media Group,which owns several Bulgarian newspapers, televisions & IPK Rodina – the biggest publishing & printing company in Bulgaria.

•Source: http://eastbound.eu/site_media/pdf/EB2010_Daskalova.pdf

History of…•Bulgaria

From the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires during the Middle Ages, to the Turks and Russians in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Bulgaria has rarely been independent. And having been under Communism, throughout Bulgaria’s history, despite having Constitutions that upheld them, human rights and press freedoms existed for only brief periods.

1997: Union of Democratic Forces wins the presidency; Bulgarian Socialist Party, the former Communist party, led by dictator Todor Zhivkov overthrown; modern democratic state beginnings

2002: Bulgarian Socialist Party leader and former Communist, Georgi Purvanov, is elected president

-Membership into the European Union and NATO

•Source: http://www.pressreference.com/Be-Co/Bulgaria.html

PRESS FREEDOM:Bulgaria

• Press Freedom in Bulgaria remained under fire and lost ground in 2009.

•Became less free in 2009 after suffering a governmental set back.

• Has limited press freedom.

• Censorship on journalists plays an important role in its history of press freedom in Bulgaria.

Access to Media: Bulgaria Citizens of Bulgaria have a good amount of access to the

media thanks in part to its Constitution. Under one of the article’s the people have the right to

request information from state bodies or agencies that is of legitimate interest to them.

The people rely more on newspapers and radio for their media. The amount of television networks are fewer than the other two forms of media because of the cost and the lack of money from advertisers.

The cost of cable television for many of the people is too expensive, so there is a lack of television media throughout the nation.

The government is trying to remedy the problem by slowly expanding the range of the government owned channels, but this is a slow process.

Sources: http://www.pressreference.com/Be-Co/Bulgaria.html

Media Structure of…• Ukraine population: 46,030,000

• Belarus population: 9,662,000

•The National Commission on Communication Regulation of Ukraine is the responsible for everything related to telecommunications in Ukraine.•The state-run National TV Company of Ukraine (NTCU) is the responsible for the TV system in Ukraine and controls two national television channels.•The National Radio Company of Ukraine (NRCU) operates three radio networks.•State and government is very influential of what is said and written in the media.•To be truly free, mass media must gain independence from financial oligarchs, industrial magnates, parties, and state control in order to create structures that will lobby media interests in government and in Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s Parliament).

•Source: http://www.justukraine.org/ukraine/ukraine-media.asp•Media is mostly state-operated; other media is commercial or

privatized.•Thousands of foreign mass media have spread throughout Belarus.•Government-owned Belo Russian Telegraph Agency (BELTA) became independent after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991; runs Belarus TV & Radio.•Government policies regarding TV and radio broadcasts are even stricter than for printed media since no private enterprise is allowed in this type of media.•Independent media have to be printed in Lithuania or Ukraine.

•Source: http://www.ejc.net/media_landscape/article/belarus/

History of…•Ukraine

1991 to 2002: Ukraine adjusts to free market rule, introduces electronic press; adopts constitution guaranteeing “freedom of speech, information, and press, and protection from censorship;” international print, television, and radio access

-Often described as an “unfinished” media revolution because the mass media still reflects the transition from Communism to democracy, and the respective changes in economy

-Intellectuals are concerned that media concentrates too much on sensational information, as opposed to analytical material

• Belarus2000-1: Independent newspaper Pagonia is accused in libel against president

and is shut down by court; 14 journalist protesters hold signs with “Ideal Press According to the President” and are arrested; all equipment and copies of paper are confiscated; editor’s disclaimer: “during the presidential campaign [we] criticized all candidates”

2002: A combination in hopes of democracy: internet technologies, TV broadcasts from other countries, and the support of democratic governments around world for a constitutional opposition

•Source: http://www.pressreference.com/A-Be/Belarus.html

•Source: http://www.pressreference.com/Sw-Ur/Ukraine.html

PRESS FREEDOM OF:Ukraine and Belarus

• Press freedom in Ukraine has declined sharply.

•Televisions that have tried to pursue independent thoughts have been cut off of the frequencies.

• Censorship in Belarus refers to government regulation the news that is released.

• There is a law that prohibits insulting the president which shows government involvement.

Access to Media: Ukraine and Belarus

Ukraine As Ukraine continues to grow into a more democratic country, the access

to foreign media for the people constantly increases. Printed publications are translated into a number of different languages;

the national newspaper is printed in Russian, English and German among other languages.

Due to mixed marriages, a large portion of the country speaks Ukrainian, Russian and sometimes both. This can lead to some tension amongst Ukrainian citizens and can be a barrier to communication depending on what region you live in.

Belarus Media flourished after the end of Communism. The only problem is that all of the television stations are under the control

of the government. Regional channels do not produce their own news or current affairs pieces,

instead they rely on news from national channels. This means that those who live in Urban areas do not get access to regional news, so they aren’t as informed as they should be,

Sources: http://www.pressreference.com/Sw-Ur/Ukraine.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_in_Belarus

Media Structure of…• Serbia population: 7,322,000

•What remained of Yugoslavia in 2002 became the Federal Republic of Serbia & Montenegro. •Bad economic situation, undeveloped market and constant struggle for survival are not leaving much space for media to fulfill the role expected from them in a modern society.•Growth of Serbia’s & Montenegro’s media depend greatly on political will of the new elite. •Five commercial television channels with license for national coverage, and two additional channels of public television•On state level; one commercial television and two channels of public service.•Tanjung is the federal government news agency; there are plans to privatize it. •Montenegro's only news agency is the state-owned Montena Fax •Some papers are owned by trust funds who origins are unknown.•Swiss company Ringier owns three dailies newspapers, three weeklies, and a monthly.•Journalists are poorly paid and the public reputation of the profession is very low.

•Sources: http://www.pressreference.com/Sa-Sw/Serbia-and-Montenegro.html and http://www.academicjournals.org/ajbm/pdf/pdf2010/18Nov/Radenkovic%20et%20al.pdf

• Montenegro population:

628,000

and

History of…•Serbia

•MontenegroSince President Slobodan Milosevic’s downfall, Serbia has made

substantial changes regarding media and the Federal Republic of Serbia and Montenegro hopes to conform to the communication standards of the European Union. At the same time, redeveloping this nation following the decade of war (the Yugoslav Wars fought in the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) will be hard in light of the dwindling economy.

“It is clear that the people of Serbia and Montenegro are working hard to get beyond the Milosevic era and becoming integrated into the Europe of the European Union.”

2002: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is replaced by the Federal Republics of Serbia and Montenegro

•Source: http://www.pressreference.com/Sa-Sw/Serbia-and-Montenegro.html

and

PRESS FREEDOM OF:Serbia

• Censorship is greatly imposed in on journalists in Serbia.

• It has become more difficult to become a journalist in Serbia due to its limitations set forth by governmental rule.

• Years of censorship have influenced their way of covering news.

• It will take some time before Serbia transform themselves into truly being free and open-,independent journalists.

Access to Media: Serbia and Montenegro After the dissolution of Yugoslavia, Serbia

went through a period of not having any media. Frequency broadcast rights to television and radio stations was denied.

Licensing fees were so high that many stations were forced to close and newspapers couldn’t afford the printing costs.

The constant change of what country the people belong to has created a language barrier amongst the people of the country.

Sources: http://www.pressreference.com/Sa-Sw/Serbia-and-Montenegro.html

Media Structure of…• Albania population: 3,196,000

• Kosovo population: 2,222,000

•After two decades of developing private, independent media in the country, the number of media outlets have been increasing.•Edisud JSC an all-Italian media company owns a large quantity of Albania media.•Koco Kokedihma owns 100% of Spekter jsc; the most prominent newspaper company.•Klan Group and Koha Media Group: other private media business owners•Foreign owners; British-based company Apace Media Albania owns 20% Albania media.

•Source:http://www.institutemedia.org/documenta/research%20and%20monitoring/research/media%20development/media%20ownership%20anglisht%202.pdf

•Media in Kosovo is mostly in the hands of private owners or businesses.•There is also a public owned television and radio station.•Koha Media Group is the most powerful media company in Kosovo. •Koha Media Group belongs to the well known publicist and now the Member of Parliament and leader of Ora political party, Veton Surroi.•Many media systems receive funds from foreign donators.•Television has technically been furnished by the donation of the Government of Japan in cameras, montage room and other brand new equipments. •Source: http://www.kijac.org/page.php?

mtid=6&elid=29

History of…•Albania

•KosovoIsolation and control during the rule of the Ottomans, intervention of the

Soviet Union, and internal political feuds have paved jagged grounds for the development of a democratic system in Albania.

1985: Death of Enver Hoxha, Communist leader of Albania since 19441990: Multiparty democracy transition begins1997: Economic crisis due to pyramid scheme1998: New constitution approved2009: Formally applied for European Union membership

Electronic media is expanding. AlbaNews distributes information about Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and general Albanian living throughout the globe.

•Source: http://www.pressreference.com/A-Be/Albania.html

and

PRESS FREEDOM IN:Herzegovina and Albania

• Very similar press freedom as Bosnia; continuous death threats against journalists from people in power (government, organized crime)• Self- regulatory body for print media.• Motto: “Journalists fighting together for the truth”

• Albania has showed maturity and professionalism in reporting the news.• Professional standards for hiring journalists reflects a significant improvement.• Journalists bias and opinions are more likely to appear in editorial pages not the front pages anymore.• A lack of financial resources forced Albania to increasingly depend on foreign news source for international coverage.

PRESS FREEDMO IN:Kosovo and Macedonia

• Journalists have come in for threats from nationalistic militants and extremists of every stripe.• Professional or financial punishments are applied to those who expose the many scandals in which all area of activity in Kosovo are mired.• Although violence against journalists is rare, financial reprisals against their families are commonplace an frequently turn out to be effective in driving them to self- censorship.

• Prosecutors will only charge journalists if they insult the president and only if the president presses charges. • Government only grants limited protection to whistleblowers who “report corruption or a significant threat to human health or the environment.”

Access to Media: Kosovo, Albania and Macedonia Kosovo

As a relatively new country, Kosovo is still attempting to get itself off the ground financially so that it can support media.

The goal is to be able to serve all of the communities in Kosovo, which currently is not happening.

Albania One of the barriers is the separation of people in the urban and rural areas. Newspapers are only circulated in the cities, which omits 60% of the

population who live in rural areas. Those who are able to read them don’t find them to be an adequate means

of finding news and prefer to get their media electronically. Macedonia

Unfortunately issues with security and politics after the dissolution of Yugoslavia have left the media to be preoccupied and not able to adequately cover news.

Most towns have a radio station. Television is broadcast in both Albanian and Turkish.

To combat with the lack of media, there are pirate radio and television stations which have sprung up all over the nation in an attempt to give the people access to media.

Sources: http://www.pressreference.com/Ky-Ma/Macedonia.html

http://www.pressreference.com/A-Be/Albania.html

http://www.osce.org/kosovo/43593

Media Structure of…• Bosnia-Herzegovina population:

3,843,000

• Macedonia population: 2,049,000

•Media landscape is highly saturated; 138 newspapers and reviews, 168 radio stations, 59 television stations and 11 news and photo agencies.•Media remains weak and poor; there is a lack of talented and educated journalists.•Media professionals and consumers are distrustful of foreign media.•A variety of media are available, but Bosnians have few choices in independent & fair media outlets. •Broadcast media is heavily dominated by the government and its influence, leaving Bosnians are bombarded with slanted and narrow views in the media.

•Source: http://www.pressreference.com/Be-Co/Bosnia-Herzegovina.html

•Broadcast and Print media is owned by government, state, and private owners.•Media has suffered from government interference, political and ethnic biases of publications, a malfunctioning economy, and uneven & often poor quality of journalism.•Dozens of unlicensed, pirate radio and television stations operate locally without paying any fees and violating copyright laws.•Macedonia's principal information agencies are the government-owned Macedonian Information Agency and private Makfaks. •Source:

http://www.pressreference.com/Ky-Ma/Macedonia.html

History of…•Bosnia-Herzegovina

Media remains weak and poor because of poor management, lack in business skills, financial resources and infrastructure, war aftermath, lack in journalist education and morals, technological disadvantages, little variety in media outlets, government intervention distorts truth

1999: Oslobodjenje must reduce staff from 250 to 160 due to poor economy; prior to war, it was the largest daily in Bosnia (circulation 60,000 daily; in 1999 dropped to14,000)

2000: A Dnevni Avaz journalist assaulted as ordered by Federation Prime Minister Edhem Bicakcic after the journalist wrote critical articles about him2000: Edin Avdic, a journalist from the weekly Slobodna Bosna, assaulted after he said he received threats from the Chief of Cultural Affairs Muhamed Korda demanding he cease coverage of government cultural activities

2000: Tax authorities raided the daily Dnevni Avaz; paper distribution delayed; paper billed $450,000 for tax evasion; happened after favored nationalist Party of Democratic Action and adopted objective reporting covering government corruption

2001: First time in 60 years Oslobodjenje stops publishing due to employee strike over war-caused financial instability; paper resumes one week later •Source: http://www.pressreference.com/Be-Co/Bosnia-

Herzegovina.html

History of…• Macedonia

1991: Independence from Yugoslavia; transition toward democracy and capitalism; 94 percent literate population booms with hundreds of private newspapers, magazines and broadcasters

-Suffers from government interference, political and ethnic biases, immoral journalism, low public trust, bad economy, high unemployment, low living standards

2000: Macedonia has 11 dailies; most popular are Dnevnik (independent daily 60,000; weekend 70,000), Ve&NA;er (50,000), Utrinski Vesnik (30,000), Vest (25,000), Nova Makedonija (considered “government’s voice,” 20,000)

-Three television channels: state-owned Macedonian Television and private A1 TV and Sitel TV; local pirate radio and television stations exist

-Constitution “guarantees freedom of speech and access to information and forbids censorship;” media suppression still exists; political parties manipulate media through advertising bargains; foreign newspaper circulation allowed, but limited

-Internet cafes on the rise, though too expensive

•Source: http://www.pressreference.com/Ky-Ma/Macedonia.html

PRESS FREEDOM IN:Montenegro, Bosnia

• Media in Montenegro are both independent and state-owned. • Montenegro has been accused of using its criminal defamation laws and economic pressure to punish and inhibit critical reporting.• There have been numerous attacks on independent press that have led to death of journalists.• The country has recently taken steps to repeal its criminal defamation laws.

• Reoccurring deaths threats against journalists in Bosnia continues.• Death threats come from politicians and organized crime. • Investigative journalists are the one ones who risk their lives more than any other journalist.

Access to Media: Bosnia and Herzegovina Media is readily accessible in this country,

but the citizens are having a hard time adjusting to the new media put into place.

Many of them still prefer the publications that cater to their particular party or ethnic/religious demographic.

They are accustomed to the old propaganda form of media and do not want to embrace the new changes.

This affects the kind of media that they are being exposed to.

Sources: http://www.pressreference.com/Be-Co/Bosnia-Herzegovina.html

Putting it all together…(media structure)

In Eastern Europe,

•Collapse of Communism in Eastern European Countries in 1989 brought growth and development and new laws & ownership in media structures.

•Newspaper readership is declining; newspapers are losing income.•Advertisements in the media are declining with a declining economy, while in other areas, such as Slovenia, increase advertisement sales are saving the media.•Television is the most predominant source of information.•Most people turn to the internet for their information as it becomes available.•Many of the countries media system is growing and innovating with new technology.•Foreign Investors media businesses play a significant role in media ownership.

•Yugoslavia was roughly divided on ethnic lines and split up in the 1990s into several independent countries. •These eight federal units were the six republics: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and two independent provinces within Serbia: Kosovo and Voivodina.•Since the gain of their independence, these countries have been restructuring and rebuilding their media.

Source: http://www.qog.pol.gu.se/working_papers/2010_2_Fardigh.pdf

Total Number of Households, Share of

Television Households,Number of Television

Channels, Share of Privately Owned

Channels, 2006Source for graph information: IP International Key Facts 2007.

Source: http://www.qog.pol.gu.se/working_papers/2010_2_Fardigh.pdf

Newspaper Reach, Television Reach, and Internet access

andBroadband access, 2006

(percent)Note: The newspapers and television reach is based on the total number of adults. 16-74 years of age.

Source for graph information: World Press Trends 2007, IP International Key Facts 2007, Eurostat 2007.

Putting it all together…(history)

In Eastern Europe,

•The collapse of Communism (1989 to 1991) brought growth and development, new laws and ownership in media structures

•The future of many nations’ media will come down to recognizing the importance of media in forming public opinion, discovering whether that nation’s particular government can live with an independent media that will not dwindle, and reinforcing the media’s role to “seek the truth and report it,” while eliminating opposition and foe.

•The global future of media and the quality of journalism depends upon the competition among various influential and political outlets, which unfortunately often leads to corruption and crime as numerous parties struggle for mass print, radio, television and electronic media control.