Mass media in Slovakia and their role in shaping (post)consciousness about environmental problems and the promotion of critical thinking

Abstract

Despite the rise of social networks, mass communication media (mass media) continue to play an important and irreplaceable role in society. From disseminating information, to shaping public awareness, to relaxation and entertainment, this paper focuses on the role that the media in Slovakia have played and continue to play over the past 30 years in shaping (post)consciousness of environmental issues and in promoting critical thinking. In doing so, we note the changes that the mass media have undergone from the post-revolutionary period in the early 1990s through various developments up to the present day. We take a closer look at some of the environmental causes and their actors, as well as the attitude of key electronic and print media towards them. We seek to answer the question, which environmentally relevant issues have dominated and continue to dominate our media space? We chart the emergence, functioning and largely untimely demise of environmentally oriented media, shows, etc. We ask what happened to their protagonists, or who replaced them, and who is today a real or potential carrier of these topics in the Slovak media. We present the results of some recent research. We try to identify the main problems, obstacles and shortcomings that have hindered and prevented the media from fulfilling their role in this area more effectively and we propose some measures or solutions.