BULGARIA

MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2019 Tracking Development of Sustainable Independent Media Around the World AT A GLANCE GENERAL MEDIA-SPECIFIC ▶▶Population: 7,050,034 (CIA World Factbook, ▶▶Languages: (% of population): Bulgarian ▶▶Number of active print outlets, radio ▶▶Broadcast ratings: bTV: 24.27% share, Nova July 2018 est.) (official) 76.8%, Turkish 8.2%, Romani 3.8%, stations, television stations: TV: 21.65% share, BNT Channel 1: 4.03% ▶▶Capital City: other 0.7%, unspecified 10.5% (CIA World ▶▶Print: 245 newspapers, 603 magazines share source: Nielsen Admosphere Bulgaria, Factbook, 2011 est.) October 2017 ▶▶Ethnic groups: (% of population): Bulgarian (National Statistical Institute, 2017); Radio 76.9%, Turkish 8%, Romani 4.4%, other 0.7% ▶▶GNI: (2016 - Atlas): $53.69 billion (World stations: 85 (Council of Electronic Media, ▶▶Internet usage: 72.1% of households (including Russian, Armenian, and Vlach), Bank Development Indicators, 2017) 2018); Television stations: 113 (Council of (National Statistical Institute, 2018) other (unknown) 10% (CIA World Factbook, ▶▶GNI per capita: (2016 - PPP): $17,880 (World Electronic Media, 2018) 2011 est.) Bank Development Indicators, 2017) ▶▶Newspaper circulation statistics: 196,288 ▶▶Religions: (% of population): Eastern ▶▶Literacy rate: 98.4% (male 98.7%, female total (National Statistical Institute, 2017); Orthodox 59.4%, Muslim 7.8%, other 98.1%) (CIA World Factbook, 2015 est.) certified individual newspaper circulations not available (including Catholic, Protestant, Armenian ▶▶President or top authority: President Apostolic Orthodox, and Jewish) 1.7%, Rumen Radev (since January 22, 2017) ▶▶News agencies: Bulgarian News Agency none 3.7%, unspecified 27.4% (CIA World (state), Focus News (private), BGNes (private) Factbook, 2011 est.)

MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX: BULGARIA SCORE KEY Unsustainable, Anti-Free Press (0–1): Country does not meet or only minimally meets objectives. Government and laws actively hinder free media development, professionalism

SUSTAINABLE is low, and media-industry activity is minimal.

Unsustainable Mixed System (1–2): Country minimally meets objectives, with segments of the legal system and

NEAR government opposed to a free media system. Evident progress in free-press advocacy, increased professionalism, and new SUSTAINABILITY 2.35 2.33 media businesses may be too recent to judge sustainability. 2.19 2.16 2.16 2.18 2.11 2.11 2.11 2.07 2.06 2.04 2.02 1.97 1.94 1.95

1.91 Near Sustainability (2–3): Country has progressed in meeting 1.90 1.76

1.75 multiple objectives, with legal norms, professionalism, and the 1.70 1.64 SUSTAINABILITY 1.58 business environment supportive of independent media. Advances 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.48 1.44 MIXED SYSTEM

UNSUSTAINABLE have survived changes in government and have been codified in 1.35 1.33 law and practice. However, more time may be needed to ensure that change is enduring and that increased professionalism and the media business environment are sustainable.

Sustainable (3–4): Country has media that are considered 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 UNSUSTAINABLE ANTI-FREE PRESS generally professional, free, and sustainable, or to be approaching FREE PROFESSIONAL PLURALITY OF BUSINESS SUPPORTING SPEECH JOURNALISM NEWS SOURCES MANAGEMENT INSTITUTIONS these objectives. Systems supporting independent media have survived multiple governments, economic fluctuations, OBJECTIVES and changes in public opinion or social conventions.

Scores for all years may be found online at https://www.irex.org/msi he year of 2018 began with Bulgaria taking the In its most recent annual report on judicial reform OVERALL helm of the European Union (EU) for a rotating and in Bulgaria, the EU said the SCORE six-month term. Among its priorities was to country’s deteriorating media environment has advance Western Balkan countries’ links to particular obstacles with transparency, accountability, the EU and their eventual membership in the and the public’s access to reliable information. 1.89 bloc. By midyear, just after relinquishing the EU Further, the 2018 European Media Pluralism Monitor, Tpresidency, Bulgaria had refused to ratify a Council of conducted by the Centre for Media Pluralism and Europe convention meant to combat domestic violence. Media Freedom, concluded that pluralism in Bulgarian While participants in the Bulgaria In the fall, an investigative reporter was murdered media was imperiled by highly concentrated media MSI discussion have continued in the northern city of Ruse, leading to speculation ownership, media owners’ improper influence, and to give low grades to the media that she was killed in retaliation for her work. That an unregulated system for placing state advertising. environment across all five speculation ended, however, when police in Germany The Monitor also cited the dangers of “soft censorship objectives, Bulgaria’s overall score arrested a Bulgarian man who confessed to the crime and self-censorship; manipulation of editorial content; increased from 1.81 in last year’s as a random attack. In November, Bulgarian authorities media market deformation; use of EU funds for buying study to 1.89. Despite this modest arrested high-ranking officials and accused them of media compliance and paying for smear campaigns gain, the country remains in the selling false documents to people from nearby non-EU against political opponents.” unsustainable MSI classification. countries. The intent was to enable them to obtain In 2018, Bulgarian politicians continued to try to grab Objective 1 (freedom of speech) Bulgarian passports, with which they could live and the reins of public media. Vezhdi Rashidov, chair of saw a decline, reflecting a work in any EU country. A short time later, a deputy parliament’s Culture and Media Committee, suggested general weakness of the rule prime minister stepped down after weeks of protests consolidating the three public outlets (Bulgarian of law and uneven application spurred by his insults of activists for the disabled. of laws and protections that National Television (BNT), Bulgarian National Radio do exist, among other factors. The summary above reflects the environment in which (BNR), and the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA)). Additionally, as Bulgaria’s Bulgarian journalists work. It’s a country making fitful Journalists and other media professionals have media scene is a patchwork progress, held back sometimes by a decades-old repeatedly rejected the idea, fearing that that structure of outlets used to advance history of corruption and often wracked by political would be more vulnerable to government control owner interests and handicap protests. Moreover, Bulgaria has seen a steep decline than three separate public entities, each with its own rivals, professional standards in media freedoms since it joined the union in 2007. governance structure. suffer. Journalists increasingly In just over a decade, it has plummeted from 36th to practice self-censorship to 111th place in Reporters Without Borders’ ranking for protect themselves from political, freedom of the media. corporate, and criminal pressure.

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OBJECTIVE 1: These issues have eroded citizens’ confidence properties to attack rivals or to court favor with the FREEDOM OF 2.02 in the media. A September 2018 study by the government. SPEECH respected Alfa Research agency found that only Broadcasters in Bulgaria must be licensed 10 percent of trust journalists and by the Council for Electronic Media (CEM). The Freedom of speech is protected by the Bulgarian 63 percent do not believe the country’s press is president appoints some of the council’s members, constitution and legislation. The constitution independent. and parliament chooses others. According to the states that “the press and other media are free Panelists noted that despite the clear conflict of panelists, there is a widespread belief that the and not subject to censorship.” Nevertheless, the interest, some parliament members that own media appointment process is politicized. country suffers from a general weakness of the properties sponsor media-related legislation. One rule of law and authorities do not always apply of the most brazen is Delyan Peevski, a member of Legal and social norms protect and promote these norms and protections. the Movement for Rights and Freedoms. Peevski free speech and access to public information. owns the Monitor, Telegraph, Politics, Meridian Match, European legal standards have been incorporated and Borba newspapers and holds sway over others. FREE-SPEECH INDICATORS into Bulgarian media law, but the law is often Last year, he pushed through parliament a law ▶▶Legal and social ▶▶Libel is a civil law issue; circumvented or even changed to favor powerful requiring media properties to disclose their sources protections of free public officials are held speech exist and to higher standards, interests, said panelist Nelly Ognyanova, a professor of funding aside from their own business activities. are enforced. and offended parties at Sofia University. What is more, bodies that would The law’s reach is highly selective: it does not must prove falsity traditionally defend the integrity of media law are require disclosure of the business model behind his ▶▶Licensing of broadcast and malice. media is fair, competitive, themselves compromised. “The independence own media empire (funded largely by government and apolitical. ▶▶Public information of the judiciary is problematic, which makes the advertising) but targets the business model of his is easily accessible; ▶▶Market entry and tax right of access to judicial protection of media freedom problematic,” competitors, who now must declare donor grants structure for media are Ognyanova said. and individual donations. In its most recent annual information is equally fair and comparable enforced for all media Panelist Stoyana Georgieva, editor-in-chief assessment of media independence, Reporters to other industries. and journalists. of the Mediapool news website, summed up the without Borders called Peevski “the most notorious ▶▶Crimes against ▶▶Media outlets have problem in this way: “The media have become both embodiment” of the “aberrant state” of Bulgarian journalists or media unrestricted access a victim and an instrument of sham democracy media. outlets are prosecuted to information; this is vigorously, but — a victim because they have been neutered by Among the many examples of improper equally enforced for all occurrences of such media and journalists. oligarchic interests, and an instrument because influence on the Bulgarian media, panelists cited the crimes are rare. many now serve these interests, misleading society.” case of Anton Todorov, a parliament member from ▶▶Entry into the ▶▶State or public media do Politicians and other public officials often the ruling GERB (the Bulgarian acronym for Citizens journalism profession not receive preferential is free, and government pressure journalists and block access to information. for European Development of Bulgaria) party, and legal treatment, and imposes no licensing, According to Georgi Lozanov, a senior editor at his live interview on the highly rated Nova TV. Under law guarantees editorial restrictions, or special the BTA News Agency, Bulgarians have come to tough questioning from journalist Victor Nikolaev, independence. rights for journalists. question the value of free speech, thanks to a Todorov told Nikolaev that he would be yanked conservative-nationalist attack on liberalism. “We’ve off the air if he did not ease up, just as one of his come to the point where the unenviable place of journalist colleagues had been. The resulting outcry Television and radio programs distributed via Bulgaria in the international charts of freedom of led to Todorov’s resignation from parliament. cable and satellite are subject to a much looser speech is being blamed on the organizations that Panelist Ilia Valkov, a reporter for the Club registration process, as they do not use publicly make them,” he said. Z website, said that media owners also use their administered broadcast frequencies. In 2017 and

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2018, 21 new cable radio channels were licensed, two journalists were arrested and briefly held government officials against local reporters covering nearly all by the handful of private networks that near the western town of Radomir in September. corruption or mismanagement. Panelist Vessislava own the majority of Bulgaria’s broadcast radio Bulgarian reporter Dimitar Stoyanov from the Bivol Antonova, a Capital reporter, cited two such cases. stations. These large companies have rushed in to fill investigative website, and Attila Biro, his Romanian One involved the mayor of Cherven Bryag against the void created by the independent, local broadcast colleague from the RISE investigative project, were Hristo Geshov (whose attack is mentioned earlier) radio stations that have closed or been sold. looking into the misuse of EU funds, based on for an article exposing the alleged misuse of city Panelists said that the government places no documents Bivol had received. After their first story funds, and the other was brought by a Blagoevgrad’s significant political restrictions on licensing. Notably, was published, Bivol received a tip that the organi- City Council member against Marieta Dimitrova the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party received a zations involved in the transactions were getting for an investigation into alleged abuse of national license for a cable TV channel, which went on the rid of their computers and destroying documents. energy efficiency funds. Courts have generally ruled air in 2019. While political parties are not banned Bivol reported the tip to Bulgaria’s anti-corruption for reporters in such cases, but the proceedings from establishing their own broadcast media, the police. But the reporters, unconvinced the authorities can be lengthy and expensive, and powerful people practice so far has been limited to smaller nationalist would act, went with a lawyer to the field outside often use lawsuits to intimidate local media. parties such as Ataka (Attack), which owns the Radomir where the papers were being burned, For more than a decade, Bulgaria has had Alpha channel. CEM closely monitors Alpha and has and police took them into custody. Finally, Ivo a freedom of information law that meets interna- sanctioned the channel repeatedly for hate speech Prokopiev, owner of the Capital weekly and Dnevnik tional standards and has generally been enforced. In and promoting ethnic intolerance. website, is being prosecuted for money laundering early 2019, however, parliament broadened the legal Market entry and tax laws for media are fair in what Reporters Without Borders called “judicial definition of personal data that could be protected and comparable to other industries. The media harassment.” Prokopiev said he is being punished from freedom of information requests. The ruling has receive neither specific taxes nor tax benefits. for a report in Capital about alleged misappropriation made media use of personal information subject to Broadcast radio and television stations pay of state property by a business owner close to the regulators’ scrutiny. reasonable license and registration fees to the CEM, government. and they pay fees to telecommunication companies Bulgarian law treats libel and defamation as that broadcast their signals. However, because the criminal offenses “of a private nature,” meaning that “The independence of the judiciary is broadcast media market is relatively small and cases are brought by a plaintiff, not a prosecutor. problematic, which makes the judicial crowded, there has been little interest in launching Libelous or defamatory claims made via the media protection of media freedom problematic,” new channels lately. Experts on the television or about public officials in relation to their positions advertising market have said that Bulgaria’s national are punishable by fines of BGN 5,000 to BGN 15,000 Ognyanova said. scale can support only the three current nationwide ($2,900 to $8,600). channels. In a landmark case in 2000, the Supreme Court Panelist Petko Georgiev, director of the BTC Though officials find various petty ways to of Cassation ruled that if journalists have checked ProMedia Foundation, said the interpretation of harass journalists, occasionally reporters are the their facts using available and accessible sources personal data in the new law, which was pending targets of serious violence. Reporter Hristo Geshov of information, they should not be deemed to have at the time of the 2018 panel discussion, reaches was attacked in May in front of his house in broad acted with malice or negligence and should not be beyond its stated purpose. He said the intent is daylight, for his investigation of officials in the small found guilty of libel. The same ruling said that public to align Bulgarian law with the EU’s General Data northern town of Cherven Bryag misusing public figures may be subject to a higher level of public Protection Regulation (GDPR), but it might pose a funds. Before the attack, Geshov had received criticism than private citizens. danger to journalists. Antonova noted that a lawyer veiled threats, including the comment “Rest in Libel plaintiffs may also sue under civil law for for the Access to Information Program, a leading Peace” posted on his Facebook page. Additionally, damages. Most such lawsuits are brought by local transparency group in Bulgaria, had warned that

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violations are defined too generally in the law and Panelists said that propaganda is often presented Journalism meets professional could lead to censorship. as news in Bulgaria. “An aggravating circum- standards of quality. Authorities do not restrict access to interna- stance in the country is the living social memory of tional news or news outlets. Media and citizens can communism, when journalism was officially replaced PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM INDICATORS freely use the internet to gather information about by propaganda,” said Lozanov of the BTA News ▶▶Reporting is fair, ▶▶Entertainment international events. Media access to international Agency. objective, and programming does well sourced. not eclipse news news agencies is limited only by ability to pay the Georgieva, of the Mediapool news website, and information subscription fees. Most professional media pay for said that only a handful of independent media ▶▶Journalists follow programming. photographs and video content and use proper try to practice honest and objective journalism recognized and accepted ethical standards. ▶▶Technical facilities attribution. with verified sources. “The majority of the print and equipment for The law allows anyone to work as a journalist media, most of which are owned or controlled by ▶▶Journalists and editors gathering, producing, do not practice and distributing or study journalism, and reporters are not subject Delyan Peevski, and their websites conduct open self-censorship. to licensing to carry out their jobs. Freelancers propaganda campaigns against politicians, public news are modern and efficient. and bloggers are not denied access to events for figures, magistrates, publishers, journalists, and civil ▶▶Journalists cover key events and issues. lacking journalism credentials. However, covering society activists who criticize the government or ▶▶Quality niche reporting and programming state institutions is subject to accreditation. The expose the links among oligarchs, people in power, ▶▶Pay levels for journalists and other media exists (investigative, number of accreditations a media organization may and the judiciary,” she said. professionals are economics/business, obtain is limited, but that has not been used as a Ognyanova corroborated by saying, “The media sufficiently high to local, political). means to restrict media coverage. Freelancers and surrounding … Delyan Peevski spread rumors about discourage corruption. bloggers must apply in advance to cover particular people whose views are critical of ruling figures events at state institutions and can usually get a like Peevski himself, or of the unlimited power of temporary accreditation. According to media analyst the prosecutor general.” She also cited the program Bulgaria has a media ethics committee Nikoletta Daskalova from the Media Democracy “More from the Day” on public broadcaster BNT1 as that receives complaints, but its work has had Foundation, access to the journalism profession is “an example of a campaign against critical voices on no appreciable effect on the field. According to free, but national and local officials favor or freeze the public media screen.” the committee’s latest available report1, the most out certain journalists based on whether they think Anna Tsolova, a Nova TV presenter who left common transgressions include discrimination the journalists’ outlets are friendly or hostile. the airwaves last year, told the Dnevnik website a against minority groups, inaccuracies in the print month before her departure, “Every day, efforts are media, and violations of privacy. underway to make journalism a dirty and disrep- Ognyanova said that “there are still many OBJECTIVE 2: utable profession. There are people who call violations,” but noted that standards are respected PROFESSIONAL 1.64 themselves journalists who are in fact peddlers by broadcast media, which are regulated. Valkov JOURNALISM of propaganda. These so-called journalists are on said newsroom layoffs have made it more difficult retainer for the powerful of the day. They twist the Given that Bulgaria’s media scene is a collection truth and have no problem with flat-out lying.” of outlets used to advance owner interests and Official circulation figures are not available, but 1 http://mediaethics-bg.org/wp-content/upload handicap rivals, professional standards suffer. a survey by the Media Links agency in 2018 found s/2016/11/%D0%9E%D0%A2%D0%A7%D0%9 Journalists increasingly practice self-censorship that Peevski’s Telegraph was the country’s most-read 5%D0%A2-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B4%D0%B5% D0%B9%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8 to protect themselves from political, corporate, newspaper. Roughly 15 percent of Bulgarians over 18 2%D0%B0-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%9D%D0%A1%D0%9- and criminal pressure. said they had read it at least once in the past year. 6%D0%95-%D0%B7%D0%B0-2016-%D0%B3..pdf

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to check information, and now “copy-paste stick their necks out to oppose editorial decisions or Slavi’s Show host was roundly criticized for being journalism is at its height.” Still, Lozanov said, defend professional principles. unprepared and asking shallow, softball questions national broadcast media are more serious about Panelists said that media either do not cover in an interview with Prime Minister . standards than the proliferation of websites that are certain stories and personalities, or cover them “We’ve reached a point where the anchor of a obvious propaganda vehicles. A similar, and growing, solely in a misleading or negative light. Lozanov satirical show, Slavi Trifonov, has been blasted by problem is reporters’ use of social media posts as said that journalists at most outlets could lose their media critics for not asking the right questions in unverified information sources. jobs by violating this unwritten rule. “The risk is not his interview with the prime minister, rather than for Self-censorship often determines what so much in entirely excluding events and problems pretending to be a political journalist,” Lozanov said. reporting sees the light of day, as the Association from media coverage, as in discounting their signif- Panelists said that Internet access is not a of European Journalists – Bulgaria noted in its icance,” he said, adding that citizen journalism, problem for journalists or their consumers, but October 2017 report on freedom of the press2. typically blogs or social media posts, tends to fill in strained budgets put the latest equipment and “Self-censorship is a constant companion and the areas ignored by traditional reporting outlets. technology out of reach for many media. Digitization part of reality for many media and journalists. Panelist Ivan Radev of the Association of of public media archives is one task that remains Economic uncertainty is an important factor in European Journalists said that the profession is not undone for the lack of technology. this respect,” said panelist Katerina Buyuklieva, respected, salaries are low, and reporters live in As funds dwindle throughout the media sector, director of the Media Connection ad agency. The economic insecurity. According to a survey by his many outlets give up covering certain beats. Public problem is especially acute in regional media, which organization, the average monthly pay for a reporter media still support more specialized reporting, make money by publishing announcements and is BGN 1,000 to BGN 1,500 ($580 to $870), around but even their beat reporters sometimes lack the advertising from local governments. the national average (BGN 1,190, $650). Further, necessary skills or knowledge. The same reporter he said, media members make little investment in might cover crime, politics, energy issues, or protests training and professional development. People are in Roma neighborhoods. As a result, reports can “Every day, efforts are underway to make leaving the profession, and most journalism school lack the depth that a knowledgeable niche reporter journalism a dirty and disreputable graduates opt for careers in public relations or can bring, and they are more prone to inaccuracies. profession. There are people who call communications. Genuine investigative reporting is rare and is Current affairs programming and analytical often ignored by those with the power to implement themselves journalists who are in fact journalism is eclipsed by entertainment formats. reforms. Panelists said that the few investigations peddlers of propaganda. These so-called “Serious journalism is increasingly giving way to that do appear in pro-government media are usually journalists are on retainer for the powerful so-called infotainment, especially in the electronic spurred by a controlled leak of information to media,” Valkov said. The morning talk shows of achieve a certain political or commercial objective of the day. They twist the truth and have no national TV channels, long devoted to politicians and — perhaps to target an opposition figure or harm a problem with flat-out lying,” Tsolova said. political issues, have turned to crime reports and competitor. lifestyle formats. The labor market for journalists in Bulgaria is in A conflation of journalism and entertainment serious crisis, with an overabundance of low-quality has further eroded standards. For example, the media paying meager wages. Journalists are loath to highly rated Lords of the Air on Nova TV and Slavi’s Show on bTV present entertainment content but often take on the functions of investigative or current 2 http://www.aej-bulgaria.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ Голямото-завръщане-на-политическия-настик-2017.pdf affairs programs. They air superficial commentary alongside serious topics. Recently, for instance, the

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OBJECTIVE 3: ruling majority. “The content of the state/public Swedish Modern Times Group (MTG), last year tried PLURALITY 2.16 _ media changes very slowly and doesn’t meet the to sell it to an investment company owned by Czech OF NEWS needs of the audience. That’s why it’s losing viewers billionaire Petr Kellner. The €185 million ($208.5 and it’s no longer a serious factor in shaping public million) deal fell through due to objections from the Bulgarians have unrestricted access to a opinion,” Buyuklieva said. anti-monopoly regulator. Antonova, of Capital, said good variety of media, whether cable, online, BNT was once an independent-minded that sources told her magazine that Kellner had broadcast, print, domestic, or foreign. In addition channel, but panelists said the government brought been nudged by someone acting on behalf of the to traditional media, more than 2 million it to heel with the 2017 appointment of General government to include a Bulgarian partner in the Bulgarians are on Facebook. “The number of Director Konstantin Kamenarov. He is close to a deal for Nova TV, and when Kellner refused, the media channels is very large for the size of the high-ranking member of the ruling GERB party. regulator vetoed the sale. Observers are speculating Bulgarian market,” Buyuklieva said. Upon his appointment, Kamenarov made obvious, that the Bulgarian partner in question was business pro-government changes and hired journalists linked owner Kiryl Domuschiev, who reached a deal to buy Access to media is affordable, even for consumers to the Peevski media group. They included Program Nova in early 2019. on social assistance, panelists said. Most households Director Emil Koshlukov, who hosts a daily talk show have Internet access and subscribe to a cable promoting the government’s point of view. “Regional journalism is disappearing. operator, and thus receive a huge variety of Large news agencies focus primarily on channels. Television is the most consumed medium government events and viewpoints. BTA is funded Information from Facebook posts is in Bulgaria, with people usually spending more by the state, and comments by parliament’s Media increasingly used as news stories. Citizen than three hours a day watching. The most trusted Committee Chair Vezhdi Rashidov suggested that journalism is replacing traditional reporting, news source is public radio, and Facebook is the people in power consider the agency their exclusive but at the expense of professional media most widely used social network. Telegraph, owned outlet. Further, Ognyanova said, “BTA gets paid for by Peevski, is the most popular and cheapest daily its information. This in practice calls into question standards,” Valkov said. newspaper. its public character.” The other big agency in the However, a variety of media has not translated market, Focus, receives a steady flow of European bTV’s owner, Central European Media into a variety of viewpoints. “The large number of funds and subscriptions from state institutions. Enterprises, has long been suspected to be media outlets does not mean pluralism – most are Private television stations produce their own shopping it around. tabloids and sensationalistic media,” Ognyanova news programs, while self-produced news is In addition to owning several newspapers, said. Georgieva said the most-watched and thus disappearing from radio. The first private national Peevski controls the two largest printing houses most influential outlets, the private Nova and bTV, radio station, Darik, and a few smaller stations do in Bulgaria. One prints the newspapers believed to along with state-owned BNT, all follow editorial lines their own newscasts. However, about 80 percent of have the highest circulations – Telegraph, Monitor, 24 friendly to the government and big advertisers “and Bulgarian radio stations play only music. Chasa, Trud, and, until November 2018, Standard. thus represent no threat to the centers of power.” Media are required to disclose their owners, Peevski is also widely assumed to be the owner Foreign media are not censored, but the but those names are often fronts for others who of TV Channel 3. While the channel formally belongs language barrier prevents some consumers from actually control the outlets. Some print media are to the Media Investment Organization Co., it follows taking advantage of them. As a result, not everyone registered in foreign countries (which is forbidden closely the editorial line of Peevski’s newspapers. In in the country enjoys equal access to information, for broadcast media) or are also formally owned by addition, he is considered the actual owner of the panelists said. front figures. Most online media have hidden and second-largest radio group in Bulgaria, BSS, which Public television fails to offer a variety of views. unclear ownership. broadcasts popular music stations such as The Instead, it frequently features politicians from the The owner of the Nova Broadcasting Group, the Voice, Veselina, Vitosha, and Magic FM.

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Multiple news sources provide citizens Convention. The topic polarized public opinion Bulgaria has no single, objective source of with reliable and objective news. and was the subject of hate speech, including by information about advertising budgets, which politicians and opinion leaders. Antonova said that leads to confusion. The Bulgarian Association of PLURALITY OF NEWS SOURCES INDICATORS an analysis of articles in the country’s most popular Communication Agencies (BACA) put the size of the ▶▶A plurality of affordable ▶▶Independent broadcast online media found frequent misrepresentation of market in 2017 at a near-record BGN 370.3 million public and private media produce their the convention promoting a “third gender.” She said ($215.76 million), 8 percent higher than the previous news sources (e.g., own news programs. print, broadcast, that this likely contributed to Bulgarians’ refusal to year. Internet) exists. ▶▶Transparency of media ratify. BACA sources said that television advertising ownership allows News from outside the capital is becoming in 2017 reached BGN 220.2 million ($127.95 million), ▶▶Citizens’ access consumers to judge to domestic or objectivity of news; rare. “Regional journalism is an endangered species,” about 59 percent of the total advertising market. international media media ownership is Radev said. “National media focus on local or But the Pierrot 97 advertising agency said television is not restricted. not concentrated in a regional stories only if they’re about crime, violence, took 79 percent of ad spending in 2017. Print few conglomerates. ▶▶State or public media or some tragedy.” According to Valkov, shrinking came second, with just six percent of the market; reflect the views of ▶▶A broad spectrum of newsrooms means a narrower variety of news followed by radio and online, each with four percent, the entire political social interests are and reports. “Regional journalism is disappearing. according to Pierrot 97. spectrum, are reflected and represented nonpartisan, and serve in the media, including Information from Facebook posts is increasingly On the other hand, a survey published at the the public interest. minority-language used as news stories. Citizen journalism is replacing first Communication Industry Forum in May 2018 information sources. ▶▶Independent news traditional reporting, but at the expense of profes- estimated the size of the online advertising market agencies gather and ▶▶Broadcast ratings, sional media standards,” he said. as BGN 75.1 million ($43.64 million), which would distribute news for print circulation figures, The public BNT2 channel used to have a give it a significantly larger slice of the pie than and broadcast media. and Internet statistics regional focus, but new management converted either BACA’s or Pierrot 97’s single-digit estimate. are reliable. it into a cultural channel. Some panelists cited That survey said Facebook and Google take 50 research published last year by the journalism percent of the online advertising market and that department of Sofia University that shows Bulgarians investment in mobile ads is growing faster than Bulgarian media have persistent blind spots are losing interest in news from abroad. other types of online spots. about some social issues and minorities, especially Buyuklieva said the advertising market is people with disabilities. Media in minority languages solidly developed and structured, and the media struggle and tend to go bankrupt. In 2014, Bulgarian OBJECTIVE 4: manage their advertising content well. She said that National Television cancelled its Turkish-language BUSINESS 1.70 prices for television advertising are affordable and MANAGEMENT broadcasts after 15 years, as managers of the largest TV stations actually try to preferred to tune in to broadcasts coming directly limit the amount of advertising, especially in prime from neighboring Turkey. Bulgaria’s private media are generally time, to avoid annoying audiences. Bulgaria has no media in Romani, and only a well-managed, and the country has a robust Growth in the advertising market is healthy, few in Turkish. As an example of where the media advertising market, according to panelist though not spectacular. The market is expanding have failed a vulnerable population, panelists Buyuklieva. Bulgarian media have multiple by varying levels in television, online, and radio. cited the controversy last year over the country’s and diverse sources of income: advertising, However, in 2017 print ad spending fell by 17 percent impending ratification of the Council of Europe advertorials, subscriptions, donors, and nongov- to BGN 15.1 million ($8.77 million), according to convention on violence against women and ernmental organizations, plus revenues from BACA. Telemarketing and product positioning are domestic violence, better known as the Istanbul cable operators, events, and ads from Google. also well-developed in Bulgaria.

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Independent media are well-managed and Nova, according to filings with the Commercial agencies to pro-government media. “A typical businesses, allowing editorial independence. Register. example is state support for tabloid media, even for Print media are another story. Most newspapers those with anti-European articles,” Ognyanova said. BUSINESS MANAGEMENT INDICATORS and magazines do not sell enough ads to support Ognyanova also commented that there is no ▶▶Media outlets and ▶▶Independent media themselves. The exceptions are the widely read official effort to ensure that the public media use supporting firms operate do not receive Telegraph and Weekend, which get significant government funds to create content in the public as efficient, professional, government subsidies. and profit-generating revenues from sales, and some specialized interest, rather than a guaranteed specific editorial businesses. ▶▶Market research is publications making money from niche advertising. viewpoint. used to formulate Some publications, including the respected Capital Large media groups use professional market ▶▶Media receive revenue strategic plans, from a multitude enhance advertising weekly, have diversified sources of revenue but research to formulate strategic plans, boost of sources. revenue, and tailor still need the support provided by the America advertising revenue, and tailor content to their products to the for Bulgaria Foundation. Many others survive on audiences. Smaller and regional publications cannot ▶▶Advertising agencies and needs and interests related industries support of audiences. a mix of opaque corporate funding and indirect afford market research and instead depend on a few an advertising market. government subsidies, mainly from EU structural local advertisers, which notably shape the content ▶▶Broadcast ratings funds. and often the editorial line of local media. ▶▶Advertising revenue as and circulation a percentage of total figures are reliably In its latest annual survey, Reporters Without Although it has a relatively small TV audience, revenue is in line with and independently Borders said that public funds are used to keep the Bulgaria is home to two ratings agencies: GARB, accepted standards at produced. commercial outlets. media in check: “The government’s allocation of EU which works with bTV; and Nielsen Admosphere funding to certain media outlets is conducted with a Bulgaria, which works with Nova. Each measures complete lack of transparency, in effect bribing them all networks’ audiences, but they often arrive at to go easy on the government in their reporting or different conclusions, to the frustration of advertisers. BACA predicted that the advertising market refrain from covering certain problematic stories The media have no reliable figures on print would grow by nearly nine percent in 2018, with altogether.” circulation — which is not audited, and is considered similar growth in television; and online advertising, one of the best-kept secrets of the print media. As especially on social networks and mobile telephony, Ognyanova also commented that there is no the print industry could not agree on models to would grow by 16 percent. support it, the audit bureau of circulation closed in Retailers, pharmaceutical companies, food official effort to ensure that the public media 2010. The Commission for Protection of Competition producers, furniture retailers, fast-moving consumer use government funds to create content in has acknowledged a lack of relevant data on print goods, and cosmetics companies are the biggest the public interest, rather than a guaranteed circulation. advertisers. International advertising agencies such specific editorial viewpoint. The online audience is measured by Gemius, as Publicis One, Dentsu Aegis Network, Ogilvy with metrics for Google, Facebook, and other social Group Bulgaria, and Havas Group – Bulgaria operate media sites also available separately. Advertisers in the Bulgarian market. Public broadcasters BNT, BNR, and BTA depend buying from agencies have access to all of this data. Large media conglomerates, such as the Nova on their annual appropriations from the state budget. Broadcasting Group and the bTV Media Group, Regional media rely on local politicians and local have diversified their portfolios to include broadcast businesses, especially in smaller cities. Panelists and online channels. They enjoy stable revenue agreed that other public funding for announcements streams, including advertising, subscriptions, and or advertising, whether from national coffers or EU sponsorships. Revenues are on the rise for bTV funds, is allocated by ministries and government

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OBJECTIVE 5: Information Program. “AEJ is an active nongovern- because Peevski controls the biggest distribution SUPPORTING 1.94 mental organization of a new type; proactive and in company. In 2017, for example, the publishers of INSTITUTIONS support of journalists,” Ognyanova said. the satirical Prass-press (which targets Peevski, Journalism remains more among others) started hearing complaints on social Two of Bulgaria’s stronger media associations theoretical than practical, and most universities media that readers could not find any copies. The are the Union of Publishers, which unites some lack the equipment to provide hands-on training. publishers learned that much of their initial print run mainstream print media and hosts the media Georgiev, of the BTC ProMedia Foundation, said that of 10,000 had vanished, and only a few newsstands ethics commission, and the Association of the low number of prepared young reporters is a in central Sofia had received one or two copies from Bulgarian Broadcasters, which protects the worsening problem for media outlets. Ognyanova the distributors. In all, fewer than 1,000 copies had interests of the radio and television industries. said that journalism teachers are paid poorly and been distributed across the country, with large cities some still approach academics in a Soviet manner. like Varna and Plovdiv receiving no more than 15 Journalists have the Union of Bulgarian Journalists; But she added that “there are many professors who copies. Prass-press’s owners were left searching for however, it supports the government, and its current work in good faith and with dedication. When there other means of distribution, via their own network chairperson is a former informant for the communist are motivated students, the combination produces a of fans at bookstores, cafes, and libraries. It is secret police. “If this organization doesn’t change good result.” still absent from newsstands owned by Peevski’s its policy, its days are numbered,” Ognyanova The University of Sofia participates in the company. said. Lozanov said there is little solidarity among EU’s Erasmus and Erasmus + exchange programs, Bulgaria’s benighted journalists because they which help expose many journalism students to Supporting institutions function in the cannot afford to alienate media owners. “With few other media environments and different levels of professional interests of independent media. exceptions, the professional organizations don’t professional standards. Ognyanova said that many function,” said Radev, of the Association of European enrollees want to study journalism, but most go into SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS INDICATORS: Journalists – Bulgaria (AEJ). public relations upon graduation. ▶▶Trade associations ▶▶Quality journalism represent the interests degree programs AEJ conducts training programs to help of private media that provide journalists update their skills, learn specialized owners and provide substantial practical Ognyanova said that journalism teachers reporting, and discuss ethical issues. Last year, AEJ member services. experience exist. are paid poorly and some still approach produced a handbook on ethical coverage of child ▶▶Professional ▶▶Printing facilities academics in a Soviet manner. But she added abuse. Most of AEJ’s work is funded on a project associations are in private basis by the America for Bulgaria Foundation, which work to protect hands, apolitical, journalists’ rights. and unrestricted. that “there are many professors who work in puts into question the sustainability of its efforts: good faith and with dedication. When there once the project is over, the training programs and ▶▶Short-term training ▶▶Channels of media publishing will end. and in-service distribution (kiosks, are motivated students, the combination training programs transmitters, Internet) Bulgarian media have unrestricted access to allow journalists to are private, apolitical, produces a good result.” technical equipment and newsprint. The printing upgrade skills or and unrestricted. acquire new skills. house that handles most newspapers is owned by ▶▶Information and Some non-governmental organizations promote a foreign company with unknown shareholders— ▶▶Sources of newsprint communication professionalism and work to protect the rights of potentially problematic for newspapers. No press NGOs support technology­ infra- journalists, but they tend to labor in obscurity and outlets have reported being denied print service free speech and structure sufficiently independent media. meets the needs of their impact is limited. Among them are AEJ, the because of their political editorial line. media and citizens. Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, and the Access to Distribution of print media is precarious

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Bulgaria has a quality communications List of Panel Participants infrastructure. According to Bulgaria’s National Miroluba Benatova, journalist, Nova TV, Sofia Statistics Institute, overall Internet household penetration in the country is 72 percent. According Katerina Buyuklieva, director, Media Club ad to research by The Economist, Bulgaria ranks 17th agency, Sofia globally for Internet inclusiveness (measured in Nikoleta Daskalova, researcher, Media Democracy accessibility and cost of an Internet connection, the Foundation, Sofia amount of information produced within the country, and the cultural acceptance of the Internet). Still, Marieta Dimitrova, editor in chief, Blagoevgrad Bulgaria has a visible digital divide, with a relatively News, Blagoevgrad large portion of its population not online and the Petko Georgiev, director, BTC ProMedia Foundation, price of a connection out of reach for some. Sofia Mobile devices are widely available and access to media content through them is highly developed. Stoyana Georgieva, editor in chief, Mediapool news Mobile phone networks with 3G technology are website, Sofia accessible nearly throughout the country, panelists Nelly Ognyanova, professor, Sofia University, Sofia said. Joana Levieva-Sawyer, journalist, Bulgarian National Television, Sofia Georgi Lozanov, senior editor, BTA News Agency, Sofia Ivan Radev, board member, Association of European Journalists, Sofia Ilia Valkov, reporter, Club Z website, Sofia Ivaylo Vasilev, producer, Bulgarian National Radio, Sofia

Moderator and Author Vessislava Antonova, reporter, Capital weekly, Sofia The panel discussion was convened on December 7, 2018, in Sofia.

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