June 29th-30th 2023

The Department of Media Studies and Journalism at Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic, in cooperation with the ECREA Central and East European Network is organizing the 14th Central and Eastern European Communication and Media Conference CEECOM 2023 for June 29-30, 2023 in Brno, Czech Republic.

Conference theme

The theme of the 14th Central and Eastern European Communication and Media Conference is Threats, Challenges and Opportunities in the Changing Central and Eastern European Media Environments.

In recent years the countries in the Central and Eastern European region, similarly to countries worldwide, face various challenges regarding their media systems. Digitalization has provided the public with diverse choices and more media products than ever before, and media routines and the repertoires of audiences have been changing continuously. New information environments in many countries are more fragmented and polarized, followed by the growth of divergent alternatives. Legacy media and journalists in many countries in the CEE region struggle with declining trust, increasing politization and growing pressure and political interference in the autonomy of journalists. The rise of illiberal tendencies, populist and radical political actors and populists and radical communication is associated with the increased political hostility towards knowledge-producing elite institutions. In populist discourses, established professional media are typically labeled as ‘fake news’ or as ‘a part of liberal propaganda’, and professional journalists, as enemies of people.

Moreover, during last two years the countries in the region were greatly affected by two crises – COVID-19 and the Russo-Ukrainian War taking place in the region itself. Therefore, the aim of the 14th Central and Eastern European Communication and Media Conference CEECOM 2023 is to address the current issues in the region, the threats and challenges the countries face, and to consider what future development and opportunities are possible.