Media and Journalism in Romania

This books is the first standard introduction into the situation of the mass media and journalism in Romania, a country on its way into the European Union. It includes the historical, economic and political background necessary to understand the specifics of the latest process of transformation into a modern democracy. This is a study written by the two most outstanding experts on the system of public communication in Romania, one being a renowned international scholar from Romania, the other being one of the highest ranking specialists of international communication in the USA and a longstanding analyst of Romania and its neighbouring countries. The mass media system of Romania is shown in its essential elements: the legal framework, the economy of the media, the institutional structure of the printed press and of the audio-visual media, and the element of media education. Part of this analysis shows the kind of battles for control of the professional field among various interest groups, among them: media owners, managers, pundits, stars, reporters etc. This book gives full insight into the impressive evolution of the mass media in Romania. The context of the post-communist press and of the communist one is analyzed under such auspices. The study reveals elements of continuity both at the level of institutional structures, also of work routines and, particularly, of professional ideology. A remarkable point is made in showing the connections between the 19th century, and the beginning of the 20th century press. The emphasis here is on the kind of political culture: a high regard of the subjective, of a press of personal expression, of elitism. The connections to political parties and the awareness of a missionary role in creating a national identity through mass media are presented and reflected in view of the present day media system and its journalism.