Local media owners as saviours in the Czech Republic : they
save money, not journalism

C 2020

Local media owners as saviours in the Czech Republic : they save money, not journalism

WASCHKOVÁ CÍSAŘOVÁ, Lenka

Basic information

Original name

Local media owners as saviours in the Czech Republic : they save money, not journalism

Authors

WASCHKOVÁ CÍSAŘOVÁ, Lenka (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution)

Edition

1st ed. London, The Routledge Companion to Local Media and Journalism, p. 214-225, 12 pp. Routledge media and cultural studies companions, 2020

Publisher

Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Kapitola resp. kapitoly v odborné knize

Field of Study

50801 Journalism

Country of publisher

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Publication form

printed version "print"

References:

URL

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14230/20:00115521

Organization unit

Faculty of Social Studies

ISBN

978-0-8153-7536-4

Keywords in English

local media; media ownership; billionaire saviours

Abstract

V originále

Media ownership matters, as supported by analyses suggesting content changes significantly along with changes in ownership (Wagner – Collins 2014). Similarly, owner’s influence journalist (Cushion 2007) and journalists’ perception of ownership changes (Tejkalová et al. 2015; Hájek et al. 2015). Regarding the Czech media system, focus on changes in media ownership is relevant for three reasons: (1) print media ownership in 2015 resulted in a total replacement of recently dominant foreign owners with local businessmen, “billionaire saviours” (see Chittum in Wagner – Collins 2014), partly due to the continuing decline in print readership; (2) media ownership policy and development are specific for transitive media systems, but at the same time relevant for globalized international media framework; (3) the important, but concurrently fragile Czech local print media were part of the ownership changes and thus they can serve as typical examples of ownership change research. Based on long-term qualitative research (in-depth interviews conducted with journalists in 2009, 2015, 2016, 2017 and document analysis), this case study focuses on journalist perception of media ownership and on the shift in this perception after changes in ownership through analysis of the Czech dominant local media chain, Vltava Labe Media. Particular attention is paid to the owners’ impact on how journalists understand the owner’s role in the media house and how the changes in ownership impact professional journalistic practices. The findings suggest that respondents were unable to explain both the old and new owners’ role in the publishing house, as owners remained almost “invisible” to them. Instead, journalists spoke about past and present pressures on profit and cost savings or unacceptable merges in editorial and advertising work. Interestingly enough, the journalists do not associate these commercialization pressures with the owners, but rather with the constantly changing management. Journalists conceive either past or present media owners as money savers rather than saviours of journalism.

Files attached

Local_media_owners_as_saviours_in_the_Czech_Republic.pdf

Request the author's version of the file

Citovat

WASCHKOVÁ CÍSAŘOVÁ, Lenka. Local media owners as saviours in the Czech Republic : they save money, not journalism. In Agnes Gulyas, David Baines (eds.). The Routledge Companion to Local Media and Journalism. 1st ed. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2020, p. 214-225. Routledge media and cultural studies companions. ISBN 978-0-8153-7536-4.

@inbook{1645319,
   author = {Waschková Císařová, Lenka},
   address = {London},
   booktitle = {The Routledge Companion to Local Media and Journalism},
   edition = {1st ed.},
   editor = {Agnes Gulyas, David Baines (eds.)},
   keywords = {local media; media ownership; billionaire saviours},
   howpublished = {tištěná verze "print"},
   language = {eng},
   location = {London},
   isbn = {978-0-8153-7536-4},
   pages = {214-225},
   publisher = {Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group},
   title = {Local media owners as saviours in the Czech Republic : they save money, not journalism},
   url = {https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-Companion-to-Local-Media-and-Journalism-1st-Edition/Gulyas-Baines/p/book/9780815375364},
   year = {2020}
}

TY  - CHAP
ID  - 1645319
AU  - Waschková Císařová, Lenka
PY  - 2020
TI  - Local media owners as saviours in the Czech Republic : they save money, not journalism
VL  - Routledge media and cultural studies companions
PB  - Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
CY  - London
SN  - 9780815375364
KW  - local media
KW  - media ownership
KW  - billionaire saviours
UR  - https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-Companion-to-Local-Media-and-Journalism-1st-Edition/Gulyas-Baines/p/book/9780815375364
L2  - https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-Companion-to-Local-Media-and-Journalism-1st-Edition/Gulyas-Baines/p/book/9780815375364
N2  - Media ownership matters, as supported by analyses suggesting content changes significantly along with changes in ownership (Wagner – Collins 2014). Similarly, owner’s influence journalist (Cushion 2007) and journalists’ perception of ownership changes (Tejkalová et al. 2015; Hájek et al. 2015). Regarding the Czech media system, focus on changes in media ownership is relevant for three reasons: (1) print media ownership in 2015 resulted in a total replacement of recently dominant foreign owners with local businessmen, “billionaire saviours” (see Chittum in Wagner – Collins 2014), partly due to the continuing decline in print readership; (2) media ownership policy and development are specific for transitive media systems, but at the same time relevant for globalized international media framework; (3) the important, but concurrently fragile Czech local print media were part of the ownership changes and thus they can serve as typical examples of ownership change research. Based on long-term qualitative research (in-depth interviews conducted with journalists in 2009, 2015, 2016, 2017 and document analysis), this case study focuses on journalist perception of media ownership and on the shift in this perception after changes in ownership through analysis of the Czech dominant local media chain, Vltava Labe Media. Particular attention is paid to the owners’ impact on how journalists understand the owner’s role in the media house and how the changes in ownership impact professional journalistic practices. The findings suggest that respondents were unable to explain both the old and new owners’ role in the publishing house, as owners remained almost “invisible” to them. Instead, journalists spoke about past and present pressures on profit and cost savings or unacceptable merges in editorial and advertising work. Interestingly enough, the journalists do not associate these commercialization pressures with the owners, but rather with the constantly changing management. Journalists conceive either past or present media owners as money savers rather than saviours of journalism.
ER  -

WASCHKOVÁ CÍSAŘOVÁ, Lenka. Local media owners as saviours in the Czech Republic : they save money, not journalism. In Agnes Gulyas, David Baines (eds.). \textit{The Routledge Companion to Local Media and Journalism}. 1st ed. London: Routledge, Taylor \&{} Francis Group, 2020, p.~214-225. Routledge media and cultural studies companions. ISBN~978-0-8153-7536-4.

Detailed Information on Publication Record