Book Review: Journalism That Matters: Views From Central and Eastern Europe, by Michal Glowacki, Epp Lauk, and Aukse Balcytiene, eds

Abstract

Journalism That Matters: Views From Central and Eastern Europe. Michal Glowacki, Epp Lauk, and Aukse Balcytiene, eds. Frankfurt, Germany: Peter Lang, 2014. 214 pp. $46.00 hbk.This is an interesting, though disjointed, book that examines how media systems in almost one dozen central and eastern European nations changed in roughly 25 years since collapse of Communism in that part of world.Perhaps most important theme is that Western-based academics and journalists continue to evaluate media development there assuming that freedom of press and a watchdog function of journalism must be evident. As a result, they continue to explore Western-style educational programs that often are inconsistent with history and culture of these nations. In much same way that George W. Bush was criticized for attempting to force democracy into a part of world that had no experience with it, so, too, are Westerners open for criticism in demanding their media values be instilled in Central and Eastern Europe. The editors of this book acknowledge that many of these nations have been able to build up economic, political and media systems that, to a greater or lesser degree, correspond to Western ones, and joined European Union. But they add that the progress of democracy building, as well as media change, differs radically.Miklos Sukosd, who when he wrote his chapter was an associate professor at Journalism and Media Studies Center at University of Hong Kong, accurately outlines why media development in Central and Eastern Europe has been inconsistent. Four of them are listed here. First, media freedom, as ranked by Freedom House, remains lower in Central and Eastern Europe than it is in Western Europe. Next, quality of informational and other programs in that part of world continues to lag behind their Western neighbors. Third, political parties maintain a powerful influence over media, often using their authority to offer well-paid jobs to party and government supporters in exchange for past and future services. Fourth, oligarchs continue to consolidate ownership power over media properties. The effect of these and other reasons referenced here is that central and eastern European nations lack legislative, economic, and historical components needed to embrace and sustain Western-style media. Sukosd challenges anyone interested in media development in this part of world to not only look Westward, but [to] adopt a Janus-faced strategy by also including 'Eastern' comparative, causal and contextual perspectives. …