Media Pluralism in Latvia 2002–2020

Abstract

This paper offers an overview of specific characteristics of newspaper output and publishing trends in Latvia, aiming to assess whether the newspaper output in Latvia plays the roles theoretically ascribed to newspapers, namely, the roles related to democracy and community building. It is argued that media pluralism is crucial for executing these roles. The assessment of pluralism is based on an exploratory analysis of quantitative data on newspaper output in Latvia. The analysis is accompanied by a discussion of challenges experienced in the newspaper publishing field in Latvia and elsewhere that can potentially hinder the ability of newspapers to execute the roles theoretically ascribed to them. Finally, insights gained during the research process are shared regarding research required to further the analysis of newspaper output in terms of plurality in the sense of access to different news sources and, by extension, perspectives and public representation.