First, the economic dimension. According to all relevant indicators, including the MPM results, the greatest risks to media freedom and pluralism in Croatia are found in the area of market pluralism. Put simply, regulation of the media market does not produce the expected effects in the public sphere. In economic terms, such a situation can be interpreted as market failure. This necessarily calls for well-designed and active public policies. Media and journalism cannot be treated merely as a creative industry dependent on project-based funding and unstable market revenues, but primarily as a public interest and a public good. At the same time, empirical data clearly show that large online platforms predominantly control the digital advertising market, with direct and harmful consequences for the economic sustainability of professional media. In such an environment, the race for advertising revenue often takes place at the expense of quality, fact-checking, and professional journalistic standards. The current draft law on the implementation of the EMFA should be expanded to include clearer regulation of the dominant position of platforms in the media market and, in particular, to further elaborate the media pluralism test as a tool in assessing media ownership concentration that also takes into account elements of editorial independence. 

Second, the political dimension. Structural economic problems cannot be addressed without strong, independent regulatory bodies and media outlets that are not primarily dependent on market mechanisms. Of particular importance is the existence of a public media service that enjoys both de facto and de iure a privileged social position, enabling it to represent the interests of the public independently of commercial and political pressures. Within the existing institutional framework, key regulatory and governing bodies—both in the case of the Agency for Electronic Media and within the public service broadcaster HRT—are to a large extent shaped through political appointment processes. In the preparation of the law on the implementation of the EMFA, discussion of possible alternative models for selecting these bodies was absent. The prevailing view within a large part of the professional community is that the existing models do not ensure a sufficient level of independence and that it is necessary to involve professional associations, civil society, and the academic community more strongly. 

Third, the socio-organisational dimension. Economic and political factors have very concrete consequences for the internal organisational culture of media organisations and their resilience to external pressures. It is precisely here that perhaps the most significant potential of the European Media Freedom Act lies: strengthening genuine editorial independence. In the Republic of Croatia, this area of regulation is extremely weak and largely declarative. Existing mechanisms, such as the so-called Media Statutes, are insufficient and rarely applied in practice. The system of self-regulation is fragmented, and various studies show that journalists identify advertisers as one of the main sources of external pressure, report commercial and political interventions in editorial decisions, and note that investigative journalists—especially at the local level—are exposed to campaigns of harassment and intimidation. These problems should not be viewed as isolated incidents, but as outcomes of structural economic and political relations. For this very reason, they should form an integral part of the so-called media pluralism test, particularly in procedures for assessing ownership concentration. 

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More information about the book is available at this link: https://brill.com/display/title/64825

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A PUBLIC COMPETITION

for the associate position of assistant in the scientific field of social sciences, area of sociology in the Department of Culture and Communications, Centre for Sociology of Media and Digital Society – 1 position (m/f).

The employment contract is concluded for a fixed term of five years for work on the Croatian Science Foundation’s DEVELOPER project (IP‐2022‐10‐2780). With a person who has already been employed in the position of assistant, the employment can only be established for the remaining time of up to a maximum of 5 years.

Gendered terms used in this announcement are neutral and apply equally to both male and female applicants.

Requirements:

• • meeting the requirements prescribed by Article 39, paragraph 6 of the Higher Education and Scientific Activity Act (Official Gazette 119/22);
  • completed university graduate studies in the field of social sciences, area of sociology with a total of 300 ECTS credits;
  • additional criteria prescribed by the Ordinance on additional criteria for the selection of assistants, appointment of mentors and assessment of the work of associates and mentors Class: 007-02/23-01/06, Reg. No.: 251-768-08-23-1 of 27 December 2023, which is available at https://irmo.hr/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Pravilnik-o-dodatnim-kriterijima-za-izbor-asistenata-imenovanu-mentora-i-ocjeni-rada-suradnika-i-mentora.pdf;
  • overall grade point average at previous levels of study that ensures enrollment in a doctoral study programme in the requested scientific field and area or enrollment in a doctoral study program in the requested scientific area;
  • excellent knowledge of Croatian and English in speech and writing.

Applicants are required to submit:

• • application for the competition, which includes the applicant’s data (name and surname, address, telephone or mobile phone number, contact e-mail address) and the position for which they are applying;
  • CV with a description of their previous work;
  • proof of the required level of education (copy of diploma, etc.);
  • proof of meeting the additional criteria prescribed by the Ordinance on additional criteria for the selection of assistants, appointment of mentors and evaluation of the work of associates and mentors Class: 007-02/23-01/06, Reg. No.: 251-768-08-23-1 of 27 December 2023;
  • proof of English language proficiency (certificates, certificates, copy of indexes, published works in a foreign language, etc.);
  • transcript of grades for candidates who have not enrolled in doctoral study programme or proof of enrollment in a doctoral studies programme in the requested scientific area and field;
  • electronic record or confirmation with employment data recorded in the database of the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute;
  • an applicant who has already been employed as an assistant is obliged to submit copies of previous employment contracts for the position of assistant or a confirmation from the employer/employers stating the period in which the candidate performed the duties of an assistant.

The employer may conduct testing of applicants who meet the formal requirements of the competition. Applicants will be informed about the dates and method of any testing via the email address provided in their application.

Interest in qualitative-interpretive methods and critical paradigm in sociological and social theory will be especially evaluated at the structured interview.

Persons of both sexes may apply for the competition on an equal basis.

Applications with evidence must be submitted within 30 days of the publication of the vacancy in the Official Gazette in electronic form, in one single document in PDF format, sent to the e-mail address: natjecaj@irmo.hr with a subject line of ” Application for assistant position in the Department of Culture and Communications”.

The processing of the applicant’s personal data is necessary for the application process. The data will be kept as long as necessary in accordance with the legal obligations of the Institute as the controller.

Incomplete and late applications will not be considered.

The selected applicant is required to present originals or certified copies of academic education documents prior to signing the Employment Contract.

Applicants will be notified of the results of the competition within the legal deadline via the Institute’s website (https://irmo.hr/natjecaji/) and will not be notified individually. By publishing the Notice of Selection or Cancellation of the Competition on the Institute’s website, it is considered that all applicants have been notified of the results of the competition.

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The focus was on the critical political economy of the media and on connecting theoretical and methodological approaches with research practices. Thirteen students presented various case studies dealing with digital commons, the regulation of online services, the political influence of influencers, digital labour, propaganda, and post-feminist approaches to aesthetic labour, media privatisation, precarious work in the media sector, youth digital literacy, sourcing practices, and related topics. Special attention was given to practical issues of methodological choices in media research and the challenges of combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. The importance of feminist and historical perspectives in critical reflections on technologies and media systems was highlighted. Throughout the program, discussions centred on digital labour, theories of value, and the socio-ecological challenges shaped and transmitted by the media.

Lectures and workshops were delivered by nine lecturers – Mandy Tröger (University of Tübingen, Germany), Micky Lee (University of Suffolk, USA), Thomas Allmer (University of Paderborn, Germany), Jernej Amon Prodnik and Sašo Slaček Brlek (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia), Benjamin Birkinbine (University of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA), Toni Prug (University of Rijeka, Croatia), and Jaka Primorac and Paško Bilić (Institute for Development and International Relations, Croatia).

As part of the school, a presentation titled “Students on the Streets, Propaganda on the Screens: RTS and the Student Movement in Serbia” was given by CULTMED project associate Lucija Gegić Stanić.

In addition to high-quality academic content, the summer school was marked by an open and dynamic atmosphere. The discussions encouraged the exchange of perspectives, and the constructive and supportive interaction with students was especially emphasised. The accompanying program offered additional opportunities for networking and collaboration, contributing not only to the development of participants’ research skills but also to the strengthening of professional ties at the international level.

See photos from the summer school below.

You can find more about the summer school here.

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Over four days, participants from Austria, Croatia, Germany, India, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States will engage in lectures and workshops that address key issues in contemporary media, including ownership, production, and regulation, as well as algorithms, platforms, and artificial intelligence. Special emphasis will be placed on understanding the role of media as central institutions of modern societies, as well as the challenges posed by neoliberal policies and digital platforms for freedom of expression, media pluralism, and the public interest.

Keynote lectures will be delivered by Mandy Tröger (University of Tübingen) on Archival Resistance: The Power of Historical Methods in Critical Inquiry and Micky Lee (Suffolk University) on Viewing AI from the Bottom: A Feminist Political Economic Critique. The program also includes workshops and lectures by both Croatian and international experts in the field of political economy of the media.

The full program is available here, and you can find other information about the summer school on its website.

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As part of the conference, Dr. Primorac gave a presentation titled “Platform-mediated creative labour on the digital peripheries”, while Dr. Bilić presented “Global Capital and Digital Statecraft in the European Union”. They also moderated several sessions, including the keynote lecture by Dr. Jarrett (Bilić).

The so-called mid-term conference of the RN18 research network is held every two years. Dr. Bilić currently serves as the chair of the board, while Dr. Primorac is a board member.

For more information about the conference, please visit the conference website.

The RN18 network website can be accessed at the following link.

You can look at the gallery here:

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Selected summer school contributions by attending doctoral students are now published in a special issue of the open-access Political Economy of Communication journal, co-edited by the course directors and indexed in Scopus. Tobias Stadler (University of Oldenburg, Germany) situates digital capitalism within longue durée processes of capitalist transformation. Thomas Zenkl (University of Graz, Austria) proposes a tactical approach to algorithmic resistance through breaching methodologies. Igor Išpanović (University of Belgrade, Serbia) analyses journalistic precarity in the context of Serbia’s media landscape. Corinne Weinstein (Rutgers University, USA) critiques the neoliberal instrumentalisation of identity politics in American television. Collectively, these contributions by emerging scholars offer an interdisciplinary, critical map of media power, inequality, and resistance.

All articles are available here: https://www.polecom.org/index.php/polecom

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Organised by the Centre for Sociology of Media and the Digital Society (CEMEDIG) at the Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO), a public forum titled “The European Union’s Digital Decade Policy: Regulation, Development, and Social Impact” was held on April 29, at the House of Europe. The event focused on analysing the comprehensive digital policies of the European Union and their impact on society, the economy, and public systems in Croatia.

The forum opened with the presentation of the first findings from the research project DEVELOPER – Digital Data, Infrastructure, and Development (HRZZ IP-2022-10-2780), which aims to contribute to the understanding and advancement of the digital society in Croatia. The findings were presented by project leader Paško Bilić from IRMO, along with collaborators Valentina Vučković from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Zagreb and Toni Prug from the University of Rijeka.

At the centre of the programme was the panel discussion “Key Dimensions of the Digital Decade in Croatia,” which brought together experts from public administration, academia, the private sector, and civil society. Panel participants included Boris Korbar (Ministry of Justice, Administration and Digital Transformation), Goran Đoreski (Croatian Data Centre Association), Martina Silov (CroAI), Žarko Čižmar (Telecentar / Algebra Media Lab), and Duje Prkut (Politiscope). The panel addressed four key areas of digital transformation according to the European framework: digital infrastructure, digital skills, business digitalization, and the digitalization of public services.

Participants raised questions about regulatory barriers in the private sector, the lack of institutional capacity in public administration and the education system, approaches to artificial intelligence, and the importance of protecting digital rights. Emphasis was placed on the need for inclusive, sustainable, and equitable development, while pointing to the lack of broader stakeholder participation in the implementation of existing digital policies and insufficient cross-sectoral coordination among the dimensions of the Digital Decade. The discussion was moderated by Emina Bužinkić from IRMO.

Recommendations

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Digital policies cover a broad spectrum of sectors—from education, healthcare, and industry to public services and the media—and present both major challenges and development opportunities for the Republic of Croatia. The event will focus on the European Union’s Digital Decade Policy (2022) and its implementation in the Croatian context through the Digital Croatia 2032 Development Strategy (2023) and the Digital Decade Policy Programme (2024). The discussion will address four key areas of European digital policy: infrastructure, digital skills, business digital transformation, and the digitalisation of public services. The introductory part of the event will feature the presentation of the first results of the research project Digital Data, Infrastructures and Development – DEVELOPER (HRZZ IP-2022-10-2780), which aims to contribute to a better understanding and advancement of digital society development in Croatia. The subsequent discussions will include experts from public administration, academia, the private sector, and civil society, with a focus on regulatory challenges, development potential, and the societal impacts of digital policies. The second panel will feature the following participants: Nikola Modrušan (MPUDT), Goran Đoreski (HRDCA), Martina Silov (CroAI), Žarko Čižmar (Telecentar/Algebra) and Duje Prkut (Politiscope). More information is available in the attached documents (detailed programme and policy recommendations). Participation is free of charge, but prior registration is required via the following link: https://tinyurl.com/ypk2w9br.

Program (croatian)

Recommendations v0.4 (croatian)

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