Presentation Journal: Eastern Europe

Countries in Eastern Europe (more specifically: Poland, the Czech Republic, Russia and Moldova) appear to have some freedom of expression in their media, but they are hindered by forms of censorship that seem to loosen up a little each day. In Poland, journalism is viewed as very prestigious, with the primary outlet being the newspaper; the public, as a whole, is heavily involved and interested in the news. The Czech Republic is extremely advanced in technology compared to most countries in Eastern Europe. Their newspapers seem to contain more tabloid fodder than serious news to draw readers. The Czech Republic is also influenced by outside investors, like Germany and Switzerland, who own national and regional newspapers. Russia is a giant country, which makes it difficult for the media to reach all of the cities and towns. Many Russian citizens were illiterate, so the government used the media to spread propaganda to the masses and gain influence. But, the new leader, President Medvedev, is focusing on modernizing the country and encouraging more freedom. And lastly, one of the poorer nations, Moldova, has a lot of indirect censorship; journalists are widely censored by the government. Basically, Moldova has been held back from developing properly due to lack of money, poor management, and political and economic pressures.