Abstract
A well-known problem with the media in Bulgaria is that most of the commercial media barely survive on purely market terms but rather operate as publicity and influence-generating devices of primarily domestic business groups. Instead of serving the citizens by promoting the values of freedom of speech and the freedom of information in a functioning democracy, the media in Bulgaria tend to engage in trading-in-influence practices, often serving other, non-media-related business interests of their owners. A brief overview of the characteristics of the Bulgarian media system (Hallin and Mancini, 2004) constitutes an optimum introduction to this key problem, exemplifying how the ‘business’ models in use have transformed the media into publicity departments of (often under-cover) business and political interests.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2014 Ruzha Smilova
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Smilova, R. (2014). The Media in Bulgaria: Business Enterprises or PR Divisions of Business Groups?. In: Psychogiopoulou, E. (eds) Media Policies Revisited. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137337849_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137337849_13
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-46387-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-33784-9
eBook Packages: Palgrave Media & Culture CollectionLiterature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0)