By Vaia Doudaki, Charles University
The fourth, and last, session of the Czech Citizen Parliament on Media and Democracy was held in Prague, on 17 May 2025, and focused on media participation, zooming in on how citizen participation in and through the media can enhance democracy in the Czech society.
Learning about media participation and democracy
Assistant Professor Miloš Hroch (Institute of Communication Studies and Journalism, Charles University, Prague) addressed the main components and dimensions of citizen participation in and through the media, using as example the creation of Czech fan zines, periodicals created non-commercially by engaged audiences, most often from the field of popular culture or subcultures. Journalist Michaela Mašková (editor-in-chief, Naše Broumovsko news outlet) further explained the role of local and regional media in engaging audiences in news moderation and creation, and the challenges of running participatory or self-managed media projects.
Resolutions for the support of independent media and media literary
The parliamentarians, after revising and finalising the previously formulated subtopics on the theme, voted to accept six resolutions on media participation (out of in total 14 proposed resolutions) guided by four subtopics. The resolutions focused on: supporting regional, local and community media, through funding and other protective measures; creating the conditions for journalists’ continuous education, integrating the component of citizen involvement in news creation; and, enhancing media literacy (for media professionals and the public) as key to strengthen citizen participation in democratic dialogue, deliberation and decision-making.
Preparing for Brussels and closing ceremony
During this last session, the parliamentarians elected their representatives to attend a special European workshop (for/with the European Parliament and Commission), in Brussels, which is scheduled to take place in January or February 2026. Josef Tokár and Iveta Černá were elected as the two representatives of the czech citizen parliament, with Radoslava Renzová and Luboš Pavlovič being elected as substitute representatives. The elected parliamentarians will represent the Czech Citizen Parliament on Media and Democracy, presenting the Czech citizens’ demands for more democratic media, serving democracy. This workshop will be attended also by citizen parliament representatives from the other participating countries (Austria, Ireland, Slovenia and Germany) that have been organising citizen parliaments on media and democracy.