CZECHIA. Critical junctures in the media transformation process.
Date
2022
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Abstract
Description
There are several critical junctures that arise from the context of the social, political, economic,
and technological developments within the media in Czechia between 2000 and 2020. We identify
these seven: (1) the consequences of the social transformation after 1989, which lasted until
the beginning of the 21st century; (2) the emergence of new media, whose production and user
development occurred mainly after the year 2000; (3) the economic crisis in 2008; (4) the
emergence of new political movements after 2011; (5) the refugee crisis in 2015; (6) the polarisation
of society; and (7) the pandemic of Covid-19 as a complex phenomenon after 2019. With
focus on the agency of different actors in propelling certain risks and opportunities at the outlined
critical junctures, these are the groups with either specific knowledge of the Czech media
development or with a long professional history: (1) media industry representatives (e.g., media
owners, media managers, journalists, journalists’ professional unions); (2) communication
researchers and lecturers; (3) media analysts and analytical companies; and (4) NGOs. As
shown by our analysis of the Czech media system between 2000 and 2020, the critical junctures,
risks, and opportunities, have not contributed to the development of deliberative communication
and democracy in Czechia. On the contrary, we conclude that the changes just after 2000
led to an illiberal turn that stems from the social, political, economic, and technological development
of both society and the media system.