Rethinking Hallin and Mancini Beyond the West: An Analysis of Media Systems in Central and Eastern Europe

Authors

  • Laia Castro Herrero University of Fribourg
  • Edda Humprecht University of Zurich
  • Sven Engesser University of Zurich
  • Michael L. Brüggemann University of Hamburg
  • Florin Büchel University of Zurich

Keywords:

Central and Eastern Europe, media systems, international comparison, cluster analysis, political communication

Abstract

This study aimed to validate and extend Hallin and Mancini’s framework of comparison to discriminate empirical types of media systems in Central and Eastern Europe. We tested and complemented their original dimensions by using aggregated data from 11 countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia). Our study shows the strength of political parallelism and public service broadcasting as variables for comparison. It also found that press freedom and foreign ownership point to significant differences between media systems in the region. Finally, a cluster analysis revealed the existence of three groups of media systems and provides empirical support for the assertion that there is no unique type of East-Central European media system.

Author Biographies

Laia Castro Herrero, University of Fribourg

Research and teaching assistant at the Chair of Media Systems and Media Structure at University of Fribourg and a PhD student at the National Center of Competence in Research Democracy at University of ZürichDCM - Department of Communication and Media Research / University of FribourgPhone: +41 (0)26 300 84 23

Edda Humprecht, University of Zurich

Senior Research and Teaching AssociateIPMZ - Institute of Mass Communication and Media Research / University of ZurichPhone: +41 (0)44 635 20 42

Sven Engesser, University of Zurich

Senior research and teaching associateIPMZ - Institute of Mass Communication and Media Research / University of ZurichPhone: +41 (0)44 635 20 43

Michael L. Brüggemann, University of Hamburg

Professor of Communication Research, Climate and Science CommunicationUniversity of HamburgPhone: 040 - 428 38 7128

Florin Büchel, University of Zurich

Research and Teaching AssociateIPMZ - Institute of Mass Communication and Media Research / University of ZurichPhone: +41 (0)44 635 20 40

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Published

2017-11-13

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Section

Articles