Key elements of democracy include transparency, accountability, and openness. The press, broadly defined as any form of new source, be it online or in print, play a critical role in monitoring those functions. Presently, the media across the Balkans and in former Yugoslavia are doing badly, commercially and politically. Every year, Reporters without Borders, a journalists’ lobby, ranks some 180 countries for media freedom-- technically, media freedom is the freedom of communication and expression through various mediums, such as electronic media and published materials. Wherever such freedom exists mostly implies the absence of interference from an overreaching state; its preservation may be sought through constitutional or other legal protections. The highest spot in the Balkans this year goes to Slovenia, but only at 34th. Of the others, Serbia is 54th and Croatia 65th, with Bosnia, Kosovo, Albania, and Montenegro coming lower still and Macedonia way down at 123rd. For countries that are either in the European Union already (Slovenia and Croatia) or aspire to join, these lowly rankings are cause for dismay. The underlying problems facing the media in each country are similar; still, local circumstances create different contingencies that moderate media freedom. Of the following choices, identify the situations that you believe presents a situation that would suggest international executives should anticipate increased as opposed to less media freedom in the Balkans.
a. In Macedonia, one media firm was shut after a raid by tax inspectors who, it is believed, do look to closely at the financial records and budgetary books of pro-government companies
b. In Albania, says Remzi Lani, an analyst, the media are still “sandwiched between business and politics.”
c. In Slovenia, journalists have problems. Anuska Delic, who works for the daily Delo, has been indicted for revealing state secrets threaten the standing of public officials.
d. Montenegrin journalists working for media critical of the government risk being beaten up. Five vehicles belonging to the newspaper Vijesti have been set on fire in the past three years and a small bomb went off in its building last December.
e. In Croatia, political pressure is lower, but big business is a concern. “I can report on anything related to politics,” says one Croatian journalist, but she cannot touch anything to do with a big firm in business with her proprietor.
f. Serbia’s government has direct or indirect control of as much as 40% of advertising, much of it by state-owned companies.
Option e suggest of less political pressure where as rest all other options reflects that the media can be punished if they reflect upon government confidante. Option f shows less freedom since revenues for publishing house is mostly attributed from governmentt hence they have huge dependency on government. Hence option e is correct
Key elements of democracy include transparency, accountability, and openness. The press, broadly defined as any form...