Infrastructures fulfil their social and developmental role when managed as a shared social resource that enables the distribution of private, public and social goods. The media are an intermediary infrastructure for numerous economic, political and cultural social activities. However, the social role of the media infrastructure in the Republic of Croatia is deeply unbalanced because, in the last thirty years, the management of this infrastructure has been left to uncoordinated and unplanned processes. Privatisation and liberalisation, despite initial expectations, have not contributed to media pluralism. Market conditions of competition with dominant global platforms further worsen media sustainability, while the political independence of key institutions has been seriously undermined.
Even though freedom of expression is a normative consensus based on the highest legal standards of liberal democracy, in many cases, it remains unfulfilled. The media sector faces numerous and well-documented challenges. The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) provides an opportunity to improve the balance between society, the state and the market. The media space is seen as a public communication infrastructure, regardless of the type of media, in which freedom of expression must be guaranteed. The implementation will start on August 8, 2025, in all EU member states. Implementing EMFA requires substantial amendments to the Media Act, Electronic Media Act, Croatian Radio and Television Act and several directly and indirectly related laws and regulations. However, in the Republic of Croatia, there are no defined processes or steps for the adequate implementation and harmonisation of local legislation. Due to the importance and scope of the necessary reform, success can only be expected through consensus and participation of all relevant stakeholders.
The introductory part of this public discussion will present the importance of EMFA at the European Union level and the role of the Media Pluralism Monitor project in defining key dimensions of the regulation and monitoring its implementation. Selected articles on the regulation of the digital political economy and very large online platforms, assessments of media concentration, the independence of the media regulator, the independence of the public service broadcaster and the editorial autonomy of the media will also be presented. We invite all interested parties to join the discussion, which will be held on February 20 (Thursday) in the Institute for Development and International Relations library, Ljudevita Farkaša Vukotinovića 2, starting at 10 am.
Speakers:
Iva Nenadić, PhD
Scientific Coordinator
Center for Media Freedom and Media Pluralism (CMPF),
European University Institute, Florence, Italy
Dr. Pasko Bilic
Head of the Center for Media Sociology and Digital Society (CEMEDIG),
Head of the Croatian team on the Media Pluralism Monitor project since 2015
Institute for Development and International Relations, Zagreb
Hybrid participation is also possible and is available at this link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85227984267?pwd=sUkXjrdmqrumhrsXGpaAEX61yUawa2.1
