Publications

KAS Media Programme Publishes New Book: Narratives. Experiences from Southeast Europe and Beyond

The KAS Media Programme is pleased to announce the publication of its latest book "Narratives. Experiences from Southeast Europe and Beyond".

Fact-Checking Organisations in the Balkans after US Funding Cuts

On the 7th of January 2025, Meta announced the shutdown of its third-party fact-checking programme in the US only. Its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, said they have no immediate plans for a cancellation in the UK and the EU. Besides that, the new policy of Meta cannot be implemented there due to regulations such as the Digital Services Act. This forces very large online platforms to take more responsibility for their content, with a failure to do so making them liable to be fined. It is time to get back to our roots around free expression on Facebook and Instagram, Zuckerberg said in a video statement. Donald Trump and his Republican allies have been qualifying fact-checking as a form of censorship. Not surprisingly, Zuckerberg’s decision came shortly before the inauguration of the 47th US President.

Adenauer Journalism Scholarship

The KAS Media Programme South East Europe starts a new call for its scholarship programme for journalism Bachelor (B.A.) students. And for Master (M.A.) students of all majors with а parallel proven engagement at a media outlet. The scholars will receive a monthly grant. Moreover, they will have the opportunity for exchange with distinguished media experts and peers from the region and beyond. The Adenauer Journalism Scholarship is intended for students enrolled at universities in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania and Serbia.

On the Self-inflicted Causes of the Crisis in Journalism

The Sun Rises in the Morning, Not in the Evening

The economic hardships facing many media outlets are currently stifling any discussion about these organisations’ own culture of error and the urgent need for humility among journalists. However, journalism can only survive if it gets back to basics by refocusing on its core responsibilities and distancing itself from mere propaganda, activism and sensationalism.

Exploring the Security Landscape of Telegram: Insights and Concerns

by Dr. Nikola Tulechki, Martin Stamenov

In a rare public appearance on 17 April 2024, on popular US right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson’s podcast[1], we saw a smiling and optimistic tech prodigy, Pavel Durov, explaining the unique features of his social media platform Telegram. Through the lens of Durov’s libertarian world views, Carlson enthusiastically pitched Telegram to his millions of followers as the place to be if one wants to communicate freely in an unmoderated environment. Durov on the other hand celebrated how easy it is to do business in his new home, Dubai, and how freedom is his core personal value. Both skilfully dodged the thorny issues of the platform’s cooperation with autocratic governments and the details of the encryption paradigms used. These issues combined cast severe doubt on Telegram’s safety. In this article, we will explore the history of Telegram and its security landscape. We will focus on the risks it poses to the user and to society as a whole.

“AI could be a game changer for strengthening Europe’s security” says Bulgarian MEP Eva Maydell

by Martina Kazakova

In the third interview on the upcoming European elections, our Alumna Fellow Martina Kazakova dives into the vast world of Artificial Intelligence. What role will AI play in EU security in the coming years? How will the EU's fundamental AI law be implemented across the EU? What is the place of media literacy in the fight against disinformation produced by AI technologies? We sought answers to these questions from Eva Maydell, Bulgarian MEP from the EPP Group. Maydell was first elected to the European Parliament in 2014 at the age of just 28, making her the youngest member of the EPP Group at the time. She was re-elected in 2019 and is serving her second term as an MEP. Maydell is a member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs.

“We should train the EU citizens to develop a sensitivity towards disinformation”

says German MEP Michael Gahler

by Martina Kazakova

Russian Disinformation & the 2024 European Elections: Understanding Strategies, Actors and Messages

by Christopher Nehring

The elections for the European Parliament in June 2024 will mark the first peak of the global super election year in Europe. In many countries, such as Bulgaria, national elections will also take place on the very same day. As election day approaches, it is crucial to address a significant and growing threat: Russian disinformation. In April 2024, the European Parliament issued a clear warning that Russia is once again using disinformation to influence the upcoming European elections.

“Political indifference can be very costly” says Director of KAS European Office

by Martina Kazakova

In less than a month, the EU citizens will have to exercise their democratic duty by electing the next members of the European Parliament. Politicians who, for the next five years, will represent the interests and respond to the problems of the same citizens who voted for them. Well, the European elections should be a very important event for every EU citizen, yet they are often underestimated and perceived as secondary - especially in some countries in South East Europe.

Two years later: Why are Sputnik and RT still accessible within the EU?

Since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine in 2022, the European Union adopted 13 sanction packages against Russia. Five of them include restrictions on media outlets which are under the direct or indirect control of the Russian Federation carrying out pro-Kremlin propaganda – among them also RT and Sputnik.