Changes in media culture of minorities in Slovakia between 2004 and 2017 on the basis of questionnaire research
Changes in media culture of minorities in Slovakia between 2004 and 2017 on the basis of questionnaire research

Summary/Abstract: The development and associated life conditions of members of national minorities in Slovakia is influenced by several factors. This article’s hypothesis is that one of the significant factors determining the quality of life of national minorities is the degree to which minorities follow media output focussed on them. This article interprets the scale of minorities’ engagement with selected media categories (in print, radio and television) using questionnaire collection data in the APVV project. Additionally, the aim of this contribution is to monitor the development of the culture of national minorities in the media sphere through comparing the current research results with the research of the previous project from 2004. Due to the national heterogeneity of Slovakia, an important step by Slovak governmental organizations has been the monitoring and subsequent support and further development of nationality cultural activities. Besides a number of organizations, associations, theatres, museums, associations, civic groups and national minorities groups which organize many cultural activities, the minority culture is also supported by regular radio and television broadcasts on Slovak Radio and Television stations (RTVS) – which was established as a public, national, information, cultural and educational institution. Using the assumption that following the national minorities’ media output plays a major influence on the quality of life of national minorities in Slovakia, we analysed this area in research with the question "To what extent do your minority members follow minority representation in the press and in broadcasting through Slovak Radio and Slovak Television?". The analysis of the results of the questionnaire from the current APVV project (Tendencies of development of ethnic relations in Slovakia (comparative research of ethnic issues in the years 2004 – 2020) – TESS2) confirmed the statistical significance of the minority factor both in relation to the minority press as well as in relation to the minority broadcasting of RTVS on both the radio and television. In 2017, for all the analysed minorities, except Ruthenians, the most followed medium was STV broadcasting. This marked a change especially for Roma and Ukrainian minorities away from favouring radio broadcasting in 2004 towards television broadcasting in 2017. The Ruthenian minority, as in 2004, most frequently followed radio broadcasting. On the basis of the calculated average, we may summarize the research findings that following minority press and TV broadcasting by minority members is rising gradually, while radio broadcasting is declining.

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