Internet and the Democratization of Media Content in Croatia: Content Analysis of Web Portals

Abstract

Consideration of the media as communication frame from a sociological perspective points to a complex area that affects the comprehension and understanding of the media in the context of contemporary social changes. Interactive media such as Internet offer a variety of information from a number of diverse sources, and provide opportunities for social and political debates at local, national and global level. At the same time, the variety of possible forms of communication points to the pluralism of the media space and contribute to a faster flow of information. In other words, the researching of the media is operationalized inside the process of transformation and democratization of media space and content. Web portals are becoming specific areas for discussing various social issues and problems. Therefore, they are significant sources of relevant information affecting the reconceptualization of media content and changes in communication. The aim of the research was to identify aspects of the transformation of the Internet space in the process of democratization of the media in Croatia on the example of the Referendum on the constitutional definition of marriage. The authors have analysed the articles on the most visited portals in the period from November to December 2013, which reported on the subject of the Referendum on the constitutional definition of marriage, Croatia the Referendum. The analysis showed differences in the number of published articles and in content among portals, as well as a significant representation of liberal attitudes.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n2s5p243