1. Central regional conference of the SEE Media Observatory “Media and journalism in South East Europe – Captured by particular interests or turning to serve the public?” Tirana, 12-13 June 2014

2. Session 5 Journalists - Victims or constituents of structures and relations which obstruct democratic role of the media? Presentation by speaker: Balazs Weyer, President, Hungarian Editors Forum, Budapest

3. Vulnerability and lack of trust all over the place PublicOwners AdvertisersPolitics/regulators Journalists

4. Public The trust towards journalism is at historical low (since 1990) The expectations towards journalism are law Don’t believe the media See it as a part of the establishment and the polarized political field is itself polarized, disillusioned or ignorant won’t value the media won’t pay for journalism

5. Owners Owners with a transparent mission gradually replaced by oligarchs and other owners with shady motivations Can’t make much money any more so they use to support other kinds of businesses Ownership is growingly intransparent (strawmen) would do almost anything for revenues, more than before are vulnerable themselves have short term survival strategies

6. Advertisers Are vulnerable themselves Follow the government’s advertising patterns Seek good terms with the government Want the chinese wall between advertising and editorial content been demolished Increasingly spend on non- journalistic media, like Facebook, Google, events, etc. would take advantage of media’s vulnerability

7. Government/ regulator Makes laws to make media more vulnerable both legally and financially Becomes an ever more important advertiser distinguishes between friendly and non-friendly (meaning independent and really non- friendly) media Manages public media as own Puts pressure on independent and non-friendly media to withhold stories Uses advertising agencies and middlemen to send messages to newsrooms

8. Journalists Don’t believe in themselves, aren’t proud to be one Are increasingly polarized Value opinion over facts, personality over media brands, speed over accuracy Don’t organize themselves, no unions, no solidarity Lack job security Don’t trust anyone, including each other Don’t find their job rewarding Don’t have a long term vision (defensive strategies) Are under all kinds of pressure