Papers, Academic articles by Marius Dragomir
Center for Media, Data & Society (CMDS), 2021
This article is based on responses from 30 fact-checking organizations to a questionnaire that wa... more This article is based on responses from 30 fact-checking organizations to a questionnaire that was sent to a total of 102 fact-checking organizations in the world as following: 33 in Europe, one in Australia, 11 in Africa, 30 in Asia, 14 in North America and 13 in South America. They were asked to indicate the importance of the listed impact-related challenges on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning “not at all important”, and 5 meaning “very important.” The goal of our survey was to understand the needs and challenges of fact- checking organizations related to the impact of their work as a base for a series of upcoming webinars with fact-checking groups aimed at helping their efforts that the Center for Media, Data & Society (CMDS) is planning to organize in 2021.
Center for Media, Data & Society (CMDS), 2021
Studying the complexity of today’s state media requires sophisticated research methods and tools ... more Studying the complexity of today’s state media requires sophisticated research methods and tools as well as new categories able to capture the variety of existing state media and offer an understanding of how the way they are established and operated affects their editorial performance. This paper has two goals. One is to introduce a new taxonomy for state media that takes stock of the latest developments in the media and communication field. The second is to present the latest trends in state media globally, with a focus on how these operations are funded and managed, and how their editorial autonomy is protected. The paper draws on data and information on state media in 151 countries collected over the course of the last four years as part of the Media Influence Matrix project of the Center for Media, Data & Society (CMDS). It also uses historical data collected by the paper’s main author, Marius Dragomir, through older research projects including Television Across Europe and Mapping Digital Media.
Center for Media, Data & Society (CMDS), 2021
Despite growing up in the digital world, today's teenagers are easy prey to disinformation, espec... more Despite growing up in the digital world, today's teenagers are easy prey to disinformation, especially on their favorite social media platforms. Some fact-checking and media literacy outfits are struggling to fix that.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 2020
Reporting Facts: Free from Fear or Favour provides a comprehensive overview of the ways in which ... more Reporting Facts: Free from Fear or Favour provides a comprehensive overview of the ways in which independent media are being undermined by both powerful external actors and decision-making structures or individuals within media organizations. Among the developments tracked is media capture, a form of media control achieved through a series of premeditated steps taken by governments and powerful interest groups, which undermines the ability of journalism to serve as a public good. These include taking over regulatory control, state-owned media operations, public advertising, and politically linked ownership of private media.
Council of Europe, 2019
The purpose of this report is twofold: to provide an expert opinion on the existing model of fina... more The purpose of this report is twofold: to provide an expert opinion on the existing model of financing the public service broadcaster UA:PBC in Ukraine; and to explore possibilities for creating an alternative financing model that would secure adequate funding for UA:PBC to fulfil its public service mission. The exercise was requested by the Ukrainian Parliament Committee on Freedom of Speech and Information Policy and supported by the UA:PBC Management and Supervisory Board, which developed, with the assistance of the Council of Europe, and approved the concept of a new funding model based on revenue from fees charged for the use of radio frequencies.
Center for Media, Data & Society (CMDS), 2019
Romania has one of the most competitive technology markets in the world. But who benefits from it... more Romania has one of the most competitive technology markets in the world. But who benefits from it? The tools Romanians use to access the internet reflect larger trends in technology and digital media. Smartphones are now ever-present; the internet is used by more than two-thirds of the population, a significant increase from less than 40% in 2010. Specific for Romania is the country’s sometimes surprisingly performant and accessible technology: the speed of the internet often reaches high levels and data and mobile packages are affordable for many. If access were measured strictly on technical terms, Romanians would look like a highly privileged people. Nevertheless, the digital divide in the country remains wide to the disadvantage of the elderly, the Roma, women and other vulnerable groups living in rural areas, according to this report.
Open Society Institute, 2008
„Telewizja w Europie – raporty powtórne 2008” przedstawia najważniejsze zmiany w prawodawstwie me... more „Telewizja w Europie – raporty powtórne 2008” przedstawia najważniejsze zmiany w prawodawstwie medialnym, polityce i na rynku, które miały miejsce w ostatnich trzech latach. Ocenia także postęp lub jego brak, jaki zrobiły analizowane kraje w dążeniu do niezależności i pluralizmu swoich nadawców. Obecny raport, podobnie jak pierwotny z 2005 roku, skierowany jest do polityków, przedstawicieli społeczeństwa obywatelskiego, środowisk naukowych po to, by tam, gdzie to możliwe, wywołał on potrzebne zmiany.
Center for Media, Data & Society (CMDS), 2020
Slovaks have access to a plethora of news platforms, but many of them are in the hands of powerfu... more Slovaks have access to a plethora of news platforms, but many of them are in the hands of powerful financial corporations, closely linked with political groups. Powerful financial groups such as Penta Investments and J&T, and a handful of magnates including Ivan Kmotrik and Andrej Babis (who is also Czech Republic’s prime minister) exert decisive influence in the ownership of most major media companies. They are also close to politicians (if they are not themselves one), which means big leverage in regulatory affairs. The entry on the Slovak market of PPF, a Czech financial group led by another wealthy oligarch, Petr Kellner, which bought Markiza TV in 2019, is further cementing the oligarchic control in the country’s media. Nevertheless, swelling demand for accurate, quality information boosts the country's independent journalism.
Center for Media, Data & Society (CMDS), 2019
A new generation of brash journalism outlets challenge the highly concentrated media system in Ro... more A new generation of brash journalism outlets challenge the highly concentrated media system in Romania. But many of them remain highly vulnerable, according to this report, the most comprehensive analysis of the country’s media in decades. In Romania, media outlets able to generate sufficient cash on their own can afford to be apolitical. But only a few major television chains and best-selling tabloids newspapers are in that position. The rest, particularly print media and outlets serving local communities, are highly vulnerable to pressures coming from all directions: politicians and political parties, government and municipalities or local businessmen.
Center for Media, Data & Society (CMDS), 2019
Romania’s media market seems vibrant and diverse, but in reality, the local environment hardly en... more Romania’s media market seems vibrant and diverse, but in reality, the local environment hardly enables independent journalism to thrive. Independent journalism survives thanks to a string of small online outlets that are struggling financially and grappling with a low level of trust and a public unwilling to pay for media content. Media consumption in Romania shows similarities with European trends, but differs in a few important aspects. First, in Romania, television is by far the most used medium for media content consumption. That contrasts with a more balanced use of media in Europe, according to this book.
Center for Media, Data & Society (CMDS), 2019
The secret service, government officials and the royals shape Jordan’s media policy. The conseque... more The secret service, government officials and the royals shape Jordan’s media policy. The consequences for the country’s journalism are dire. The General Intelligence Directorate (GID), Jordan’s powerful secret service, has often been praised for its professionalism. Credited with foiling a number of terrorist attacks both in Jordan and abroad, it is one of the most effective intelligence agencies in the Middle East. But GID’s powers extend far beyond security, making it one of the most influential players in Jordan’s media policy as well, according to this report from the Center for Media, Data and Society (CMDS).
Center for Media, Data & Society (CMDS), 2020
The Italian media market is increasingly characterized by a strong cross-mediality: the dizzying ... more The Italian media market is increasingly characterized by a strong cross-mediality: the dizzying growth of the online sector is transforming the dynamics of the industry, revolutionizing both the way information is produced and the business models themselves. Not only have algorithmic sources and the consumption of information via the web become increasingly important in the media diet of Italians, in spite of their growing awareness of the dangers posed by online propaganda and manipulation, but for the first time in Italy’s media history, online advertising revenues exceeded television ad spend in 2019. New players have appeared in the market in recent years, further spurring competition in the news business. This report analyzes in-depth the sources of funding in Italy's news media and journalism.
Center for Media, Data & Society (CMDS), 2019
In a country where media heavily rely on government funding and informal payments, there can’t be... more In a country where media heavily rely on government funding and informal payments, there can’t be much independent reporting. Kyrgyz journalists attest to that. That media outlets in Kyrgyzstan take informal payments from politicians and state officials is not a secret anymore. The list includes prime ministers, mayors, MPs, current and former presidents. They sponsor content in their own media outlet, if they have one, or pay journalists from other news outfits to cover the topics they need to be covered. Some of them even fund websites that crank out bunkum about their enemies. Examples of spineless journalists taking money to spin content are found everywhere. But in Kyrgyzstan, informal payments are one of the three major sources of financing the media. The other two are the state budget and advertising. But it is informal payments and the state money that keep most of the media afloat in the country, an environment totally unconducive to independent reporting, according to this report.
Center for Media, Data & Society (CMDS), 2020
With a myriad of authorities treading on each other’s toes, the Israeli media regulation is marre... more With a myriad of authorities treading on each other’s toes, the Israeli media regulation is marred by unnecessary duplications, ambiguous enforcement and a waste of public funds. The Israeli media system is characterized by a multiplicity of regulatory authorities whose activity is governed by specific laws. Still, Israel does not have a press law per se. A British Mandate Press Ordinance from 1933 was finally revoked in 2017, making it possible, for the first time in Israel’s history, to publish a newspaper without a government-issued license. Yet, legal experts argue, by discontinuing the ordinance, which was the only source of definition of the terms and essence of “what a newspaper is”, a legal vacuum was created, according to this report from the Center for Media, Data and Society (CMDS).
Center for Media, Data & Society (CMDS), 2019
Since 2017, the Media Influence Matrix Project researched the changing landscape of: Government a... more Since 2017, the Media Influence Matrix Project researched the changing landscape of: Government and policy space, with a focus on the changes in the policy and regulatory environment; Funding, with a focus on the key funding sources of journalism and the impact on editorial coverage; Technology in the public sphere, with a focus on how technology companies, through activities such as automation and algorithm-based content distribution, impact news media and journalism. The project emphasizes news media in particular, including newly emerged players. The study is neither aimed at exhaustively mapping the entire media industry nor is it intended to target specific media sectors. Instead, we map the most popular and most influential news media on a country-by-country basis and analyze their changing relations with politics, government and technology companies. This is the report about media and technology in Indonesia.
Center for Media, Data & Society (CMDS), 2018
Freedom of speech and press is a relatively new phenomenon in Russia, guaranteed by the Constitut... more Freedom of speech and press is a relatively new phenomenon in Russia, guaranteed by the Constitution adopted in 1993. According to the document, censorship is expressly prohibited and freedom of speech, thought and mass communications is warranted. Freedom of expression and the right to information can only be restricted by a federal act and only if such a measure is needed to protect fundamental principles of the constitutional system, morality, health, the rights and lawful interests of other people, for ensuring defense of the country and security of the State. As a member of many international organizations Russia formally recognizes the supremacy of international law, but its officials and Members of Parliament have repeatedly tried to reconsider their obligations. Thus far, they have not succeeded, according to this report.
Center for Media, Data & Society (CMDS), 2020
Georgia has a liberal and progressive legal framework governing its media. The Constitution prote... more Georgia has a liberal and progressive legal framework governing its media. The Constitution protects media freedom and access to public information is guaranteed. However, that is only the surface. The news media in Georgia operates in a highly polarized and politicized environment with regulators under the government’s thumb, the market concentrated in the hands of a few powerful groups, also close to politicians, and independent news outfits struggling to stay afloat. This book is part of the Media Influence Matrix Project, run collaboratively by the Media & Power Research Consortium, which consists of local as well as regional and international organizations. The consortium members are academic institutions (universities and research centers), NGOs, journalism networks and private foundations.
MDIF, 2019
The collusion between political class and media owners has reached unprecedented levels, leading ... more The collusion between political class and media owners has reached unprecedented levels, leading to a phenomenon known as media capture, a situation where most or all of the news media institutions are operating as part of a government-business cartel that controls and manipulates the flow of information with the aim to protect their unrestricted and exclusive access to public resources. This paper analyzes the key components of this phenomenon.
Center for Media, Data & Society (CMDS), 2018
During the past decade, the Czech media market has undergone major shifts that have radically cha... more During the past decade, the Czech media market has undergone major shifts that have radically changed the country’s journalism. Much of that was caused by technology. But changes in the country’s media ownership played an equally big role. This report is part of the Media Influence Matrix Project, run collaboratively by the Media & Power Research Consortium, which consists of local as well as regional and international organizations. The consortium members are academic institutions (universities and research centers), NGOs, journalism networks and private foundations.
Center for Media, Data & Society (CMDS), 2018
Slovaks have access to a plethora of news platforms, but many of them are in the hands of powerfu... more Slovaks have access to a plethora of news platforms, but many of them are in the hands of powerful financial corporations, closely linked with political groups. Powerful financial groups such as Penta Investments and J&T, and a handful of magnates including Ivan Kmotrik and Andrej Babis (who is also Czech Republic’s prime minister) exert decisive influence in the ownership of most major media companies. They are also close to politicians (if they are not themselves one), which means big leverage in regulatory affairs. The entry on the Slovak market of PPF, a Czech financial group led by another wealthy oligarch, Petr Kellner, which bought Markiza TV in 2019, is further cementing the oligarchic control in the country’s media. Nevertheless, swelling demand for accurate, quality information boosts the country's independent journalism.
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Papers, Academic articles by Marius Dragomir