Slovak media role in promoting cultural diversity

Abstract

With the impressive development in the fields of information and communication, considerable attention has been paid, in recent times, to cultural diversity in the media as a means of preserving the identity or social relations between communities and cultures, while promoting local cultural expression and local languages. Nowadays, the media environment offers more choices, provides opportunities for cultural expression and dialogue, and facilitates the exchange of information at a global level. Several policies have been developed with the objective of promoting cultural diversity in the media, which clearly highlight the importance of promoting the production, safeguarding and dissemination of diversified content in the media and in global information networks. Cultural diversity, through the use of the media, has historical, linguistic, philosophical, ethical, sociological, political and economic foundations. It is part of the domestic policy of each state. The paper deals with the policy of the Slovak Republic in relation to cultural diversity, based on the fact, that Slovakia is a multiethnic country, which officially recognizes 13 national minorities. Minority culture is, at the local, regional and national level being developed through the work of national professional theatre and dance groups, national museums, broadcasting for national minorities, periodical press in the languages of national minorities, as well as educational activities. The most important source of financial support for the culture of national minorities and ethnic groups is a program called «Culture of National Minorities » of the Government Office of the Slovak Republic. The paper also considers the current role of the media with regard to national minorities in society, in particular the preservation of national identity, language and ancestor’s traditions.