The objective of the present study was to investigate the transformation of the media landscape in the countries of transition and, specifically, Hungary, Poland and Czechia. The major societal transformation underway in all countries since 1988/1989 has spelled a fundamental process of restructuration which is evident in all spheres of public life. The restructuring of the media sector is particularly illustrative of the tensions and dilemmata intrinsic in the process of transition. This is no surprise, given the inextricable connection of the mass media to the political system. Especially relevant with this respect is the role of the international factor. In accordance with this one of the main aims of the project has been the investigation of patterns of foreign investment in the media sectors of the countries in question.
Three interrelated factors could be said to define the framework of media restructuration in the countries of transition: (a) the issue of ownership, (b) the issue of regulation and (c) the issue of control. In similar, albeit distinct, ways these three factors determine the developmental profile of both the print and audio-visual sectors in the countries of transition.
The report is organized in three main chapters corresponding to each of the three countries under investigation. The chapters are organized in a similar fashion. Section 1 discusses the political and economic context of the transformation process. Section 2 describes the process of transformation of the media landscape beginning with a brief excursion on the situation prior to transition and continuing with analysing the basic trends in the time immediately afterwards. Section 3 focuses on the subject of regulation and, specifically, the process of defining a legal framework for both the print and the audio-visual sector. Section 4 delineates the main characteristics of the contemporary media landscape in each of the three countries with examples and data. Finally section 5 describes the situation of journalists.
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Akademia Ekonomiczna w Krakowie; Poland
