When Freimut Duve, the Representative on Freedom of the Media of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), quit his job in December of 2003 because his mandate ended after six years, he delivered his last regular report to the permanent council, saying: “Six years ago there was great hope in the world for those countries that came from a very dramatic past where freedom for writers and journalists was non-existent. […] Back in the nineties we all felt confident that we would be able to overcome the burden of the past in the structure of many media outlets in the newly emerging democracies. […] We had not foreseen that in the following six years the situation would change not for the better.”1 Duve does not analyse the Eastern and Central European media as still being stuck in communism or repressed by their governments. What he does state though, is a lack of really free, investigative journalism in former communist countries. This essay will take a closer look at these accusations and discuss possible reasons for the existing problems. The different approaches to the media’s function in communism and democracy will be explained (chapter 2), and transition difficulties from one system into the other will then be highlighted (3). Chapter 4 will go deeper into the events that took place in the Czech Republic after the Velvet Revolution in 1989. The conclusion will finally not only summarize the essay’s findings but also look further into the future and try to give possible solutions for the occurring problems. 1 Duve, 2003, p.1
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Media and its function
- 2.1 Media in democratic systems
- 2.2 Media under communism
- 3. Transition problems
- 4. Media in the Czech Republic - a case study
- 4.1 Historical background
- 4.2 Old habits
- 4.3 Failed privatization
- 4.4 Western investors
- 4.5 Embracing capitalism
- 4.6 Politics
- 5. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to analyze the state of journalism in the Czech Republic after the Velvet Revolution, examining why free, investigative journalism has struggled to thrive in the country. It will explore the contrasting approaches to media function in communist and democratic systems, highlight transition difficulties, and delve deeper into the events that shaped the Czech media landscape.
- The importance of media in democratic systems and its role in fostering public discourse and informed political participation.
- The contrasting concept of media under communism and the challenges of transitioning to a free press.
- The specific challenges faced by the Czech Republic in establishing a truly democratic media market, including historical factors, failed privatization, and the influence of Western investors.
- The relationship between politics and media in the Czech Republic and the influence of political forces on media freedom.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Chapter 1: Introduction: Introduces the essay's central focus: the state of journalism in the Czech Republic and the lack of truly free investigative journalism. It highlights the concerns raised by Freimut Duve, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, regarding the challenges faced by media in post-communist countries.
- Chapter 2: Media and its function: Explores the fundamental differences in the concept of media in communist and democratic systems. It emphasizes the crucial role of media in democratic societies, including its contributions to public discourse, political participation, and acting as a watchdog against government overreach.
- Chapter 3: Transition problems: Acknowledges the inherent difficulties in transitioning from a communist media system to a democratic one, highlighting the complex and time-consuming process that requires significant effort.
- Chapter 4: Media in the Czech Republic - a case study: Focuses on the Czech Republic's experience after the Velvet Revolution. It examines various factors that have contributed to the ongoing challenges in developing a free and independent media market, including historical legacy, failed privatization attempts, the influence of Western investors, and the complexities of the political landscape.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key themes and concepts explored in this essay include: democratic media, transition from communism, free and investigative journalism, Czech Republic, media privatization, Western investors, political influence on media, public discourse, political participation, and the role of media in a democratic society.
- Quote paper
- Birte Müller-Heidelberg (Author), 2004, Journalism in Transition - Is the Czech Press developing into a democratic media market?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/26872
