Media policy in Croatia has been evolving as a result of the transitional systemic changes that have deeply affected the character and functioning of the media
Media policies and regulatory practices in a selected set of European countries, the EU and the Council of Europe: The case of Croatia, MEDIADEM, 2010
Updated media regulations in accordance with European provisions, that have taken into consideration contemporary technological changes and new services are clearly visible improvements in the contemporary Croatian media landscape.
However, there is a huge discrepancy between regulatory provisions and their practical implementation. Intensive changes in the functioning of social institutions, and frequent and fast regulatory changes, have created confusion as to which provision to follow and how to interpret them. The most serious consequence of this is that the rules are not even expected to be followed, which initiates a resignation and distrust of the functioning of public institutions and the legal system. At the moment the media landscape in Croatia is again troubled with the role and performance of the PSB television HRT, the precarious position of journalists, the domination of a few big media moguls, and occasional political pressures on journalists. Independent media, which had an important role in the democratization processes in Croatia, and contributed to the diversity of the Croatian media landscape, have a hard time to cope with the pressures of the market rules that they were faced with when international funding organization withdrew from the country in the beginning of the 21 century. The problem constantly emerging in free market economies is the financial aspect. The advertising industry, which is a crucial fuel for the media industry, necessarily influences the type of content. The avoidance of controversy is a rule many follows. In this context independent, alternative and critical discourses are hard to maintain.
Popović, H.; Bilić, P.; Jelić, T.; Švob-Đokić, N., Background information report: Media policies and regulatory practices in a selected set of European countries, the EU and the Council of Europe: The case of Croatia, MEDIADEM, 2010.