The big picture: comparative analysis of media in Romania

An analysis of the finances fueling the Romanian media during the past decade reveals a highly imbalanced market, with independent media struggling to survive and the government pumping millions of euros into politically aligned nationwide media groups. The local media market seems to thrive, with hundreds of news portals and small broadcasters competing for audiences. However, most of them operate on shoestring budgets, primarily serving the interests of local politicians…

By Iulian Comanescu The economic crisis in 2007-2009 and the rise of online platforms, particularly global social networks, had a significant impact on the Romanian media. Unlike in more developed markets where traditional media’s role as a watchdog of democracy is at risk, the Romanian press can no longer assert itself as the “4th power of the state” or as an important regulatory mechanism in society. The decline of print…

By Iulian Comanescu Back in the early 2000s, the Romanian media market was filled with excitement about the potential of the World Wide Web and the emerging field of mobile apps. There was talk of interactivity, vibrant animated content, real-time audience reporting, and detailed analytics. Additionally, the cost of publishing online was much cheaper than traditional print methods, with no need for prepress, printing, or physical distribution. The ability to…

An analysis of the financial and audience metrics of “entertainment” broadcasting as compared to all-news broadcasting By Iulian Comanescu Pioneered in 2001 by Realitatea TV, a network striving to become a “Romanian CNN”, the all-news television sector has emerged as a prominent segment in the Romanian media landscape. Serving as a platform for political discourse and propaganda, these broadcasters host a plethora of talk-shows featuring politicians, politically aligned commentators (referred…