Balkan Media Barometer : Bulgaria 2012

Published by: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Office Bulgaria P.O. Box 958 97, Knjaz Boris I Str. 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria Editor: Orlin Spassov Responsible: Regine Schubert Rapporteur: Nikoleta Daskalova Translation: Katerina Popova DTP: Pro Creative Studio Ltd. © Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung ISBN 978-954-2979-07-4 The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this volume do not necessarily reflect the views of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. BALKAN MEDIA BAROMETER BULGARIA 2012 Edited by Orlin Spassov Sofia, 2012 CONTENT Introduction 6 Executive Summary 8 SECTOR 1: 13 Freedom of expression, including freedom of the media, is effectively protected and promoted SECTOR 2: 29 The media landscape, including new media, is characterised by diversity, independence and sustainability SECTOR 3: 43 Broadcasting regulation is transparent and independent; the state broadcaster is transformed into a truly public broadcaster SECTOR 4: 59 The media practise high levels of professional standards Developments over the last few years 72 The Way Forward 74 Panel Members 75 BALKAN MEDIA BAROMETER BULGARIA 2012 5 Introduction The Balkan Media Barometer (BMB) follows the tradition of the Media Ba- rometers launched by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) in 2004. The Media Barometers are analytical tools designed to measure the state of media developments in a national context. Such assessments have been undertaken in more than 30 countries in Africa and Asia. The pilot Balkan Media Barometer was introduced in Bosnia and Herze- govina in September 2011. Bulgaria was the second country from South East Europe to initiate this survey. The first Bulgarian BMB assessment took place in April 2012. Unlike other media assessment methods, the BMB is a self-assessment exercise based on relevant homegrown criteria. The BMB consists of a set of 44 indicators derived from European standards referenced in European Union and Council of Europe documents. The methodology is based on an in-depth panel discussion which takes place for two days. The panel usually consists of five or six media professionals and an equal number of civil society representatives. In this way the panel offers both the views of media insiders and of experts detached from the media profession. The discussion combines the reflections of journalists and the perceptions of civil society activists to provide a rich and critical analysis of the media environment. As far as possible, participants are carefully selected to ensure a fair representation of society in its regional (capital – country- side), ethnic, religious and gender diversity. This principle by no means im- plies compromise with the quality of expertise of participants. Upon discussing each indicator, panelists allocate their individual scores to that respective indicator on a scale of 1 to 5. If a panelist thinks the country does not meet the indicator, his/her score is minimum 1, and if a panelist finds that all aspects of the indicator are met, the score is maximum 5, according to the following scale: 1 Country does not meet Indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of Indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of Indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of Indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of Indicator The sum of all individual indicator scores is divided by the number of panel members to determine the average score for each indicator. These average 6 BALKAN MEDIA BAROMETER BULGARIA 2012 indicator scores are added up to form average sector scores which then make up the overall country score. At the end of the discussion the panel members identify the positive and negative tendencies in the past few years and propose recommendations for media developments. This is a very important part of the whole process since the Media Barometer is not merely a data collection survey but an instru- ment for media reforms. As such, the first Bulgarian Media Barometer shall be used as a practical policy tool to trigger positive changes in the national media environment. According to the Media Barometer concept, the exercise is to be repeated every two or three years so that developments can be traced over time. This has already been a successful practice in other parts of the world. The moderation of the panel discussion as well as the editing of the report is done by independent consultants. The FES facilitates the process and guarantees adherence to the methodology. The content of the discussion and the report is owned by the panelists and does not necessarily repre- sent the view of FES. Regine Schubert Director Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Office Bulgaria BALKAN MEDIA BAROMETER BULGARIA 2012 7 Executive Summary Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic which began its transition to democracy and a market economy in 1989. The country’s current Constitution, which provides for a clear separation of powers, was adopted in 1991. Bulgaria was admitted to NATO in 2004 and to the European Union (EU) in 2007. Ac- cording to International Monetary Fund data, in 2011 Bulgaria’s per-capita GDP was BGN 10 129 (EUR 5179). For a country with a population of approximately 7.5 million, Bulgaria’s media market is very well-developed, even overdeveloped in some sectors. There are 16 national dailies. Although there are no official statistics on their exact number, there are many weekly newspapers, and weekly and monthly magazines. There are three licensed national, 24 regional, and 224 local radio programme services. Four television stations hold national analogue broadcasting licences. The number of registered cable or satellite television services is 149, and of digital terrestrial television services 33. The two leading television companies on the market are owned by major foreign companies (bTV Media Group is owned by Ronald Lauder’s Central European Media, and Nova Broadcasting Group by the Swedish Modern Times Group). Access to international radio and television is virtually unlim- ited (via cable or satellite), and the number of Bulgarian-language editions of international magazines is remarkable for a country like Bulgaria. In 2012 more than half (57%) of the population had access to the internet, leading to further growth in the consumption of media content. Against this background of oversupply of information and entertainment provided by public-service and private broadcasters from both national and international sources, the Bulgarian media environment has been the sub- ject of growing criticism. In the past twelve months, a number of prestigious international and Bulgarian organisations have voiced concern about the state of the media sphere in the country. The results of this Balkan Media Barometer (BMB) on Bulgaria are published at a time when the contradiction between oversupply of media content and growing criticism of the media environment is becoming ever more obvi- ous. What are the reasons for this, at first sight paradoxical, discrepancy? Why has media freedom in Bulgaria been declining alarmingly in the last few years despite the existence of a good regulatory framework that formally protects freedom of expression and the confidentiality of sources of information, and precludes censorship and interference in editorial policies? Which are the main developments that have led to the democratic deficit characteristic of many Bulgarian media outlets? These questions require us- ing precise analytical tools. 8 BALKAN MEDIA BAROMETER BULGARIA 2012 By examining the Bulgarian media landscape in depth, the BMB panellists have helped to identify a series of interconnected problems that make up the full picture. It is important to note that in the course of the discussion the Bulgarian media landscape was investigated in its systemic character: the BMB panellists identified the links between its various aspects as well as the causes for its present state. In their discussions, the BMB panellists diagnosed the existence of a formally good legal protection framework for fundamental human rights and media freedom. All EU statutory acts pertaining to this sphere are directly effective in Bulgaria. Yet the practical situation is very different because the relevant legal provisions are difficult to implement in the everyday operation of the media. The Bulgarian judicial system is in deep crisis and does not encourage obser- vance of the law. In addition, it is slow in resolving lawsuits, thus discouraging the quest for justice and protection. Against this background of weak protection, journalists are regularly subjected to economic, political and editorial pressure. Access to information is often impeded through the fabrication of pretexts of all sorts. In some cases the institutions are not competent in providing relevant information to the media or simply do not have such information. Protection of the confidentiality of sources of information is not infrequently a principle on paper only. For their part, professional journalism associations are weak and divided, and therefore incapable of providing adequate protection or of reacting adequately in cases concerning media freedom. Regarding the diversity and independence of the media landscape, this analysis has found that there is rather a formal pluralism based on the number of media outlets in Bulgaria. Abundance of content, though, does not necessarily imply diversity. Nor is it in itself a guarantee for quality media content. There is a severe shortage of both diversity and quality in Bulgaria. Most media outlets offer uniform content concentrated in the tabloid sector. Another problem that distorts the Bulgarian media market, especially in the sphere of the press, has to do with inequality in distribution, which is controlled by several key players. Concentration of media ownership is a serious but difficult to detect threat due to the frequent absence of clarity as to who really owns a particular media outlet. As the relevant public institutions are not sufficiently interested in finding a permanent solution to this problem, this leaves large loopholes for virtually anonymous promotion of interests.

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