CSD Policy Brief No. 60: Медийната (не)зависимост: рискове и тенденции

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Bulgarian

The role of Bulgarian media in public life came under scrutiny after several media outlets were used as an instrument for triggering political crises and for political engineering (2013 – 2014). At that time, the Bulgarian media market was experiencing the impact of two negative trends. On the one hand, the economic crisis of 2009 – 2013 had cut advertising revenues by half. On the other, the old models of media financing were diminished by the use of digital technologies and the explosive growth of social networks and mobile communications. The loss of financial sustainability by the media presented unique opportunities for Bulgarian oligarchic groups. By accumulating a significant share of the media market, they reached an unprecedented level of political influence (including direct influence on the legislative, executive and judicial powers). The media was used as an instrument for state capture that could present severe security and economic risks.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - RUSSIAN INFORMATION CAMPAIGN AGAINST UKRAINIAN STATE AND DEFENCE FORCE

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

The report was executed for the NATO StratCom COE by the Centre for Applied Research under the Estonian National Defence College. The objective of this research is to identify how the Russian media portrays the Ukrainian military and security structures, including the policies of the Kiev government and their ‘collaboration’ with the West. The research group looks at how messages disseminated in the media attempt to construct attitudes and advocate behaviours in parallel to political and military events on the ground in Ukraine. The research covers the period from 1 April until 31 December 2014 and analyses the following Russian media: Regnum, Komsomolskaya Pravda and TV Zvezda. These media are important because they target not only Russian internal audience but also the Russian-speaking communities in the former territory of the USSR. The researchers used standardised content analysis in accordance to a specially developed Coding Manual and enriched the findings with data from 25 structured interviews with Ukrainian representatives (media, political and military experts, as well as soldiers and officers involved in the military conflict). From December 2014 the Russian military has adopted a new doctrine that explicitly states that information superiority is essential to achieving victory on the physical battleground in the modern war. It is crucial for NATO to draw appropriate conclusions from the on-going conflict in Europe in order to further strengthen the unity of the alliance and avoid such conflict scenarios between Russia and NATO in the future. Russia’s information activities have played a significant role in the overall military operations carried out in the territory of East Ukraine since 2014. Information operations were used at all levels starting with the political level (against the state of Ukraine, state structures, politicians) up to the tactical level for justifying military actions initiated by pro-Russian forces. Information confrontation and a variety of psychological operations continue to play a substantial role in the current crisis in Ukraine. Russia uses various media channels to conduct its operations against Ukraine, including governmental and private TV channels (e.g. Pervyi Kanal, Rossija 1, NTV, Russia Today, LifeNews), radio (e.g. Radio Mayak), mobile phone operators (e.g. KyivStar), Internet sources (including online publications, e.g. Regnum, TV Zvezda, Кomsomolskaya Pravda, Itar Tass, RIA Novosti ) and social media networks (e.g. YouTube, Facebook, Vk.com, odnoklassniki.ru). Some Ukrainian sources hold pro-Russian attitudes and can also be used to spread disinformation (e.g. Vesti). The separatist People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk have their own channels producing anti-Ukrainian propaganda (e.g. dnrnews.com, novorus.info). The current study has focused on the media channels that represent the Russian mainstream—Komsomolskaya Pravda, TV Zvezda, Regnum. These mass media channels are generally critical against the Ukrainian government and armed forces, but do not offer a critical view of the Russian government; they justify Russian policy in Ukraine and see the Ukrainian crisis as a battlefield between Russia and West, referring to the clash of civilisations with the West (primarily the US and NATO, but also the European Union) allegedly intending to advance its sphere of influence towards Russian borders.

References

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Háttal Európának. A kultúra, az oktatás, a tudomány és a média leépítése Magyarországon 2010-2019

Author(s): / Language(s): Hungarian

This report has been prepared by independent Hungarian intellectuals who wish to inform the Hungarian and international public as well as European institutions about the severe harm that the Orbán regime governing Hungary since 2010 has caused in the fields of education, science, culture, and the media. The reason for preparing the present report is that the acts of the successive Orbán governments consistently run counter to and consciously violate the fundamental principles, values, and norms of the European Union, not only as regards the rule of law and political and social rights, but also in the case of the cultural areas discussed here. In Hungary, important European values are being jeopardised, including cultural diversity, scientific and artistic autonomy, the respect for human dignity, access to education and culture, conditions for social mobility, the integration of disadvantaged social groups, the protection of cultural heritage, and the right to balanced information, as well as democratic norms like ensuring social dialogue, transparency and subsidiarity. By presenting the activities of the Orbán regime in the fields of culture, education, research, and the media, we provide information about areas little known to the international public. With our report, we wish to draw attention to the fact that an autocratic system has been constructed and consolidated in Hungary with the money of EU taxpayers and with the financial and political support of EU institutions. This system creates a worrying democratic deficit and severe social problems, while it also causes irreparable harm in the fields of education, science, and culture. The authors of the report are leading researchers, lecturers, and acknowledged experts, including several academicians, professors, heads of departments, and a former Minister of Culture. The undertaking was initiated and coordinated by the Hungarian Network of Academics

ROLUL ASERTIVITĂȚII ÎN PROFESIA DIDACTICĂ

Author(s): Ionica-Ona Anghel,Oana Jitaru / Language(s): Romanian Publication Year: 0

The present paper presents the results of a qualitative scientific research based on the focus-group method. The concept of assertive communication are delimited from the perspective of the latest theories and arguments are made regarding the need for the integrated development of communication skills, self-affirmation and self-management in future student teachers. The research focuses on several essential dimensions of assertive communication, namely, initiating communication, self-esteem, defending one's rights, expressing positive and negative emotions. Its results provide us with clarifications regarding students' personal perspectives on building the teacher-student relationship, on the models provided and the skills acquired, on the concrete strategies of self-affirmation that they consciously use, on the approach to conflicts and situations. injustice, as well as on the techniques used in managing emotions in the context of teaching relationships. Starting from the types of assertive behaviors manifested by students in communication, a structure of their training and personal development needs is elaborated, as well as a series of educational strategies that can meet the expectations of future teachers

MANAGEMENTUL COMUNICĂRII ASERTIVE ÎN ORGANIZAȚIA ȘCOLARĂ

Author(s): Elena Bîrsan / Language(s): Romanian Publication Year: 0

Starting from the premise that the management is the oldest of the arts and youngest of the sciences, it would mean that man has always been concerned with the act of leadership in various fields, including education. Perhaps it is within the school environment that it is necessary to know how to communicate effectively in order to achieve the objectives that will lead to the formation of a human personality needed in the society. The present article highlights the importance and the need for assertive communication within the school environment, emphasizing the advantages of assertive communication for human relationships. It also clarifies the meaning of management and managerial communication

MARGINAL, DAR DESCHIS COMUNICĂRII – SHAKESPEARE ÎN INTERIORUL COMUNITĂȚILOR. CAZUL TEATRULUI PENTRU EMIGRANȚI ȘI PENTRU VETERANI

Author(s): Ioana Petcu-Pădurean / Language(s): Romanian Publication Year: 0

Considering as premise the playwriting of William Shakespeare being one of the touchstones of humanities, in this study we will rise the question about the method through which the work of the classic writer became a way of the contemporary society to reflect some of its most polemized, keen, difficult or challenging topics. Going on, a necessary answer will be given regarding the fact that the plays of the English author get today rather the utilitarian aspect in the scenic approach or if, in fact, there are more nuanced positioning. And there are, as we can not put aside the way that artists are often perceiving the message in a whole, not only on the edge of social, documentary or politic theatre. Therefore, what is it transmitted to us and what do we transmit to history when Shakespearean plays are staged in refuges camps or when debating the veteran’s status. In our approach we will focus on some main artistic directions or forum theatre examples: Love’s Labour’s Lost directed by Corinne Jabel at Kaboul in 2005, the Hamlet Globe Théâtre's production directed on refuges camp in Calais, in 2016, and also Macbeth directed by Peter Callender or the one directed by Amy Attaway from 2019, both talking about the veteran’s or vulnerable groups status. But we believe that each of those visions are simply emphasizing the idea that the great literature fights for fundamental humanist and moral principles.

PARTICULARITĂȚILE APLICĂRII TEHNICII POLIGRAF LA ASIGURAREA ORDINII ȘI SIGURANȚEI PUBLICE

Author(s): Andrei Lungu,Iurie Odagiu / Language(s): Romanian Publication Year: 0

In this article we propose to analyze and evaluate some aspects related to the use of the polygraph technique in the process of ensuring public order and security. Attention will be given to the professional skills and competencies of a polygraph examiner, as well as the need to know the special procedures that may be applied during a polygraph test. We will focus on the need to use memorial traces from a forensic point of view. We will focus on the method and methodology of conducting a polygraph test and provide recommendations for further research in the field of polygraph application.

Thoughts in Cultural Awareness, Communication Skills and Vocabulary for International and China Focused Business Deals and Exchanges in the Contexts of a Complex Global System and the Belt and Road Initiative: Personal Statements by ECUPL Students

Author(s): Asen Velinov / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Global business and other activities of Chinese enterprises and stakeholders have been increasing in number, variety and significance – against the backdrop of the crucial importance and attractiveness of the Chinese market for MNCs and new actors from BRI countries, and overall ever more interconnected and complex global environment (further complicated by the pandemic and various other developments in the past years) and also influenced by landmark initiatives such as 17+1 (which constantly evolved) and the Belt and Road – of high importance to China but somewhat of a mystery to non-Chinese stakeholders. Communicating internationally in English in ways that achieve intended objectives is crucial but often affected by the widespread use of cliches and expressions that are not optimized to “speak” to the intended audience. Beyond examples from my practice, Chinese publications in English and foreign publications about Chinese business activity and the Belt and Road Initiative and identifying key differences between them, the negative outcomes they lead to, pointing out some communication and culture gaps and propose some solutions, I also look at straightforward primary examples – the Personal Statements prepared by over 200 ECUPL seniors. Global business and other activities of Chinese enterprises and stakeholders have been increasing in number, variety and significance – against the backdrop of the crucial importance and attractiveness of the Chinese market for MNCs and new actors from BRI countries, and overall ever more interconnected and complex global environment (further complicated by the pandemic and various other developments in the past years) and also influenced by landmark initiatives such as 17+1 (which constantly evolved) and the Belt and Road – of high importance to China but somewhat of a mystery to non-Chinese stakeholders. Communicating internationally in English in ways that achieve intended objectives is crucial but often affected by the widespread use of cliches and expressions that are not optimized to “speak” to the intended audience. Beyond examples from my practice, Chinese publications in English and foreign publications about Chinese business activity and the Belt and Road Initiative and identifying key differences between them, the negative outcomes they lead to, pointing out some communication and culture gaps and propose some solutions, I also look at straightforward primary examples – the Personal Statements prepared by over 200 ECUPL seniors.

Incidence of Fake News Shared on Social Networks and Risk Assumed by University Students

Author(s): Carlos Arturo TORRES-GASTELÚ,Joel Angulo-Armenta / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The objective of this paper is to analyze the perception of university students towards fake news by assessing the relationship between the incidence of fake news shared by themselves within their social networks and the risk assumed by students when sharing news they do not fully trust. Quantitative study through the application of a survey using a Likert scale applied to 313 students from different careers of the Faculties of Administration and Pedagogy of the Universidad Veracruzana in Mexico. Processing was carried out with descriptive and inferential statistics. The results point out the correlation between the risk assumed and the cases of false news shared indicating the existence of cases in university students with little predisposition to inquire into the reliability of the information, and who in turn, risk sharing it anyway. The variables of sex, age, semester, and educational program do not influence the risk that students assume when sharing news. However, students who claim not to share news they distrust also share fake news they do believe in on their social networks.