Local Media and Democracy in Croatia: Wasted Potential

In the paper we analyze a discrepancy between citizens’ perception about importance of political independence of local media and their clear understanding that local media are heavily dependent on local political elites. We interpret that contradiction in the context of local media empowerment for t...

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Main Authors: Suzana Kunac, Vesna Roller
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Center for Philosophy of Media and Media Research 2015-05-01
Series:In Medias Res
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.centar-fm.org/inmediasres/images/pdf/6/S.%20Kunac%20i%20V.%20Roller%20-%20Lokalni%20mediji%20i%20demokracija%20u%20Hrvatskoj%20neiskoristeni%20potencijal.pdf
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author Suzana Kunac
Vesna Roller
author_facet Suzana Kunac
Vesna Roller
author_sort Suzana Kunac
collection DOAJ
description In the paper we analyze a discrepancy between citizens’ perception about importance of political independence of local media and their clear understanding that local media are heavily dependent on local political elites. We interpret that contradiction in the context of local media empowerment for their democratic role, based on normative media theory of deliberative (civic) democracy and its assumption that the functioning of democracy requires an active involvement of citizens in public debate and that local media are highly important for the social communication in which citizens express their individual and collective views. The paper analyzes political (in)dependence of local media and local radio, as well as citizens´ attitudes, preferences and expectations regarding local radio programs content and their interest to participate in radio programs and their editorial policy. In empirical analysis, which supports our hypothesis, we use the data from the research conducted for the Agency for Electronic Media by Ipsos Puls in spring 2014. In order to enable local media to fulfill their deliberative function much stronger and more profoundly, media policy debate should include models of community media which can open the space for further democratization of media landscape in Croatia.
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spelling doaj.art-efac418391c24eb3b8e1702a8392eedc2022-12-21T18:42:33ZengCenter for Philosophy of Media and Media ResearchIn Medias Res1848-63042015-05-0146860880Local Media and Democracy in Croatia: Wasted PotentialSuzana Kunac0Vesna Roller1The Electronic Media Council, Zagreb, CroatiaThe Electronic Media Council, Zagreb, CroatiaIn the paper we analyze a discrepancy between citizens’ perception about importance of political independence of local media and their clear understanding that local media are heavily dependent on local political elites. We interpret that contradiction in the context of local media empowerment for their democratic role, based on normative media theory of deliberative (civic) democracy and its assumption that the functioning of democracy requires an active involvement of citizens in public debate and that local media are highly important for the social communication in which citizens express their individual and collective views. The paper analyzes political (in)dependence of local media and local radio, as well as citizens´ attitudes, preferences and expectations regarding local radio programs content and their interest to participate in radio programs and their editorial policy. In empirical analysis, which supports our hypothesis, we use the data from the research conducted for the Agency for Electronic Media by Ipsos Puls in spring 2014. In order to enable local media to fulfill their deliberative function much stronger and more profoundly, media policy debate should include models of community media which can open the space for further democratization of media landscape in Croatia.http://www.centar-fm.org/inmediasres/images/pdf/6/S.%20Kunac%20i%20V.%20Roller%20-%20Lokalni%20mediji%20i%20demokracija%20u%20Hrvatskoj%20neiskoristeni%20potencijal.pdflocal mediaradiocommunity radiocommunity mediaparticipationmedia policycitizensdemocratizationCroatia
spellingShingle Suzana Kunac
Vesna Roller
Local Media and Democracy in Croatia: Wasted Potential
In Medias Res
local media
radio
community radio
community media
participation
media policy
citizens
democratization
Croatia
title Local Media and Democracy in Croatia: Wasted Potential
title_full Local Media and Democracy in Croatia: Wasted Potential
title_fullStr Local Media and Democracy in Croatia: Wasted Potential
title_full_unstemmed Local Media and Democracy in Croatia: Wasted Potential
title_short Local Media and Democracy in Croatia: Wasted Potential
title_sort local media and democracy in croatia wasted potential
topic local media
radio
community radio
community media
participation
media policy
citizens
democratization
Croatia
url http://www.centar-fm.org/inmediasres/images/pdf/6/S.%20Kunac%20i%20V.%20Roller%20-%20Lokalni%20mediji%20i%20demokracija%20u%20Hrvatskoj%20neiskoristeni%20potencijal.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT suzanakunac localmediaanddemocracyincroatiawastedpotential
AT vesnaroller localmediaanddemocracyincroatiawastedpotential