Public Opinion and Europeanization of Macedonia: A Communicational View on European Values (original) (raw)
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Reporting on the Europeanization in the Republic of Macedonia
Odsek za medijske studije, Filozofski fakultet, Novi Sad, 2013
From independence until today, one of the strategic goals of the Republic of Macedonia, especially important for its sustainable development is to become a member-state of the Euro-Atlantic structures as the best alternative for the future of the country and for the future of the Balkans. Therefore, as an imperative that leads to a better quality of life, on the path to the realization of this set objective, according to the researches carried out by the major public opinion research agencies 1 , the membership initiative has extensive support by a larger percentage of the Macedonian population 2 , which is mostly due to the media outlets, who play an irreplaceable role, reporting and presenting events associated with Europe, on how they are reflected in the country and vice versa. But at the same time, the Macedonian media outlets in recent years have faced and are still trying to overcome the profound professional and ethical crisis. This situation also negatively influenced the role that the media play in reporting on Europe, promoting its values and social construct, social, political, cultural ... reality, abusing their power and position to promote events from Europe for current and daily political purposes or to disguise or cover up certain domestic "big" events, aside from the focus of the watchful eye of the public. 6.2.2. Scope of the research These are the main motives for initiating and conducting of such a research, with the aim to scan and analyze the current (non)interest of the media and journalists in the Republic of Macedonia in terms of reporting on Europe, in order to get a full and comprehensive image of 1 IRI, SEP, IDSCS as well as Eurobarometar. In more details, look the analysis by Gorast Stojmenovski, "The support by the citizens to the process of accession of the Republic of Macedonia in the European Union", March 2010. http://www.idscs.org.mk/images/stories/upload/scientific/Analyses/Analiza\_Poddrskata\_na\_graganite\_na\_ procesot_na_pristapuvanje_na_RM_vo_EU.pdf. Accessed on: 02/08/2013. 2 This percentage is consistently high and ranges between 83% and 97% of the population.
Common and frequently used statement, which has strongly coloured the narrative on new European democracies’ accession in the European Union (hereinafter: the EU), is that Europeanization and democratization are actually one and identical process. For the purpose of this document and having in mind that demarcation of both terms is (and should be) subject of academic debates, it is sufficient to acknowledge that these terms have vague and multifold meaning. However, clarifying origins of this statement and context in which it has been given meaning should provide sufficient and solid introduction to the debate wherein complex dynamics of transition towards market societies, democratization and EU accession of new democracies are intersected.
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International Review of Management and Marketing, 2015
The region of South-Eastern Europe is unique in that it can demonstrate us all the stages of democratic transition, starting from the first democratic reforms in the 90-ies of XX century and down to accession to the European Union. The article describes the transformation occurred in the media systems of Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Serbia, and also the main results achieved in the process of democratic transition are revealed. Nowadays it is obvious that these countries face many problems during the transition. National media systems demonstrate a high degree of political parallelism and economic marginality. The South-Eastern European media are focused on covering political life, their political involvement is much stronger than in other European countries. As a result the media became an instrument of the political power, today it is hard to draw a line between political and journalistic activity. Another problem is the high level of political extremism in mass media. The a...