Wednesday 29 May 2019 – Lunchtime Seminar with Dr Lada Trifonova Price (Senior Journalism Lecturer, Department of Media, Arts and Communication, Sheffield Hallam University)

Title: Media corruption and issues of journalistic and institutional integrity in post-communist countries: The case of Bulgaria
Speaker: Dr Lada Trifonova Price (Senior Journalism Lecturer, Department of Media, Arts and Communication, Sheffield Hallam University)

Abstract
From a normative standpoint the media are usually seen as one of the pillars of a national integrity system, entrusted with the tasks of exposing and preventing acts of corruption and educating the public of the harm caused by corruption. Nevertheless, corruption continues to be one of the most significant challenges that Europe faces, undermining citizens’ trust in democratic institutions and weakening the accountability of political leadership.

Evidence suggests that in fragile EU democracies such as Bulgaria, despite more than eight years of full membership and numerous preventive measures, corruption is rife and the press is hardly capable of exposing abuses of power or authority.

On the contrary – drawing on in-depth interviews with 35 Bulgarian journalists – this talk will argue that since communism collapsed in the late 1980s the media in post-communist societies such as Bulgaria has gradually become an instrument to promote and defend private vested interests, and is plagued by corruption. Senior journalists and editors cast serious doubt over the ability of the post-communist free press and journalism to act as a watchdog for society.

Biography
Dr. Lada Trifonova Price is a Senior Journalism Lecturer in the Department of Media, Arts and Communication, Sheffield Hallam University, U.K. Her current research is focused on media and journalistic practice in transitional Eastern European democracies. She is examining threats to press freedom such as censorship and self-censorship, media corruption, ethical challenges to journalistic practice, and violence and intimidation against journalists.

Her recent published work includes chapters in Critical Perspectives on Journalistic Beliefs and Actions: Global Experiences (Routledge, 2018) and Public Service Broadcasting and Media Systems in Troubled European Democracies (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019).

She is currently the main Editor of forthcoming Routledge Companion to Journalism Ethics due to be published in 2020.

1.00PM-2.00PM
WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2019
CANTOR 9020a, CITY CAMPUS, SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY

See here for details of other seminars in the series.

All SHU staff and students are welcome to attend the C3RI Lunchtime Research Seminars. If you are from outside of the University and would like to attend a seminar, please email the C3RI Administrator to arrange entry.