Media Studies and Applied Ethics

AI Generative Chatbot in the Media: Journalistic Coverage of ChatGPT in Bosnia and Herzegovina

2024-07-02T15:46:25+02:00

In diffusion research, journalistic coverage is acknowledged as a significant factor in spreading awareness and fostering knowledge about innovation, potentially accelerating or impeding the adoption process. With regards to AI-related innovations, this dynamic has largely been studied within the context of Western developed countries. There is far less understanding of how this process unfolds in the news ecosystem of post-communist countries, particularly those with lower democratic standards and weaker economic development, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina. With the intention of gaining preliminary insights, this study investigated how the journalistic organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina covered the emergence and societal adoption of ChatGPT, a novel form of generative AI, during the initial six-month period following its widespread availability. The content analysis of relevant news messages (N=542) published by 40 legacy and digitalonly news outlets was used to explore the key characteristics of journalistic coverage, the attention given to the issue over time and the media depictions of this innovative AI technology. Results indicate that a small group of news outlets, predominantly legacy news organizations, provided significantly more content on ChatGPT than others, particularly public broadcasting services. Findings highlight a tendency among news outlets to focus on either the risks or benefits of ChatGPT and similar AI-based products and amplify sources associated with the business sector and high-tech industry, overrepresented by male voices.

Digital Cultural Engagement of Elderly Audiences: Concepts, Perspectives and Examples within Academic Research

2024-07-02T15:49:00+02:00

Digital technologies have transformed and continue to transform the way culture is produced, that is, the way it is presented, transmitted and consumed by the (inter)active audience. We consider it particularly important to examine and identify the concepts, perspectives and examples of digital cultural engagement of elderly audiences within academic research, given that the world population is aging and the elderly people are an important actor in socio-cultural processes, especially because younger generations are associated with new technologies by default. The main research question is: “What academic research has been done on the topic of digital cultural engagement of elderly audiences in the last ten years (2013-2023)?” As a research technique we used rapid literature review because our approach in this case is not analytical and critical as it comprises summarizing and synthesizing. The results show a noticeable solid presence of research papers that take into account the digital engagement of the elderly and the cultural engagement of the elderly as separate processes. However, there are few research papers that elaborate the topic of digital cultural engagement of the elderly from a communicological point of view.

TV Eurikon and Europa TV: Research on the Beginning of Transnational pan-European Television

2024-07-02T15:51:20+02:00

The article examines the success or failure of two experimental pan-European channels, TV Eurikon and Europa TV, focusing on the role of television in shaping European identity. The research, carried out thanks to the International Visegrad Fund Research Grant Program and the Historical Archives of the European Union, showed that balanced reporting during development of satellite communication and strong pan-European communication strategy are of key importance for shaping the public perception of supranational institutions like the EU. To achieve success, policy makers must overcome obstacles such as linguistic diversity, regulatory frameworks and national interests. Although we are not in the era of the beginning of satellite systems, Europe should consider new models of cooperation, cultural exchanges and different perspectives for the long-term sustainability of similar pan-European initiatives.

The Serbian Language in the Eyes of Foreigners: Analysis of the Most Common Doubts of Learners on The Social Platform Reddit

2024-07-02T15:55:00+02:00

The subject of this paper is the analysis of posts on Reddit about foreigners’ confusions related to learning Serbian as a foreign language. The aim of the research is to clarify the most common questions of foreigners who are interested in learning the Serbian language. A descriptive method and a method of theoretical analysis with the technique of content analysis have been used in the paper. The analysis of research results has shown that there has been a lot of interest among foreigners for learning Serbian as a foreign language. The most common questions related to mastering the Serbian language include: 1. issues of integration into the social community (solving administrative problems, studying and working, finding friends, finding information about the character and mentality of the Serbian people, getting to know the culture and history of the Serbian people, life in Serbia without knowing the Serbian language, etc.), 2. issues of finding language learning modalities (accredited study centers, private schools, online platforms, private lessons), 3. issues of learning Serbian as a foreign language (difficulty in learning, time needed to master the language, differences between the eastern and western variants of the language), 4. issues of finding and using appropriate teaching tools (textbooks, language learning apps, podcasts, adapted folk and art texts, music, films and TV shows with foreign language translation, flash cards, illustrations and tables) and 5. the issue of mastering certain grammatical and lexical contents (Cyrillic, cases, difference between perfective and imperfective verbs, getting to know colloquial expressions).

Social Media as an Educational Support for Studying

2024-07-02T16:00:48+02:00

The paper presents the results of an empirical study aimed at determining students’ attitudes toward social media as a digital tool in the process of studying. The research used a descriptive research method, and data collection was done using a specially constructed instrument – a rating scale. The research sample was intentional and consisted of 314 undergraduate students from the Faculty of Philosophy in Niš. The results of the study indicate that the majority of respondents express positive attitudes toward the use of social media during their studies. Namely, respondents recognize the potential of these tools for sharing and exchanging educational materials and are aware of their usefulness in supporting cooperative work, especially when it comes to solving tasks at the group level or collaborating on joint projects. Students perceive social media as a platform for active discussion with peers and teachers, as well as for solving academic challenges and problems. The study found no statistically significant differences in relation to independent research variables (years of study, study program, grade point average, length of presence on social media, frequency of access). It is concluded that further research into specific social media platforms is necessary to make a greater contribution to higher education.

The Ottoman Siege and Conquest of Shkodra in the 15th Century According to the Journal Glas Crnogorca (Voice of Montenegro)

2024-07-02T16:04:13+02:00

The paper examines the appendix on the Ottoman siege of Shkodra in 1474, which was published in two issues of the weekly newspaper Glas Crnogorca (Voice of Montenegro) in December 1896. The appendix is a translation of an article written by the Italian sub-lieutenant Eugenio Barbarich, which was published in the magazine Rivista Militare Italiana at the end of 1896. The historical theme was inspired by the marriage between the heir to the Italian throne and the daughter of the Montenegrin ruler, which resulted in a political alliance between the Kingdom of Italy and the Principality of Montenegro. Under these circumstances, it was important to remind the citizens of the united Venetian and Montenegrin armies that defended Shkodra against Ottoman attacks in the 15th century. The two countries’ insistence on forming an alliance can be explained by the need to prove continuity and draw parallels between historical and contemporary events. It is for this reason that this article has been written, which must be examined to determine the extent to which it provides accurate historical information about a significant event of the 15th century.

Gender Representation on Postcards of the Inter-war Era

2024-07-02T16:06:49+02:00

Using the examples of postcards from the inter-war era of the 20th century, it will be shown how media culture participates in building and maintaining social order by defining gender roles. Several of the most representative examples of French provenance, which belong to the collection of postcards of the National Museum of Leskovac have been singled out. Media culture is inseparable from visuality, since, based on a given visual expression, it creates a framework within which the recipient of media content will perceive, interpret and form an opinion. Gender representations on postcards of the inter-war era are precious testimonies of patriarchal ideology and women’s subordination that is represented as natural, although it is a cultural construct. Gender discrimination is a phenomenon that still exists today. Even though the status of women in European societies has undergone a radical change during the past century, the inequality still exists on the basis of their economic and social status. The article seeks to encourage research on the same or similar topic in order to find the roots of gender dichotomy and to understand it so that we can work towards its eradication.

In the Waves of the Communication Flood without the “Old Testament Ark” of Culture

2024-07-02T16:24:43+02:00

The collection of essays “Sharing Opinions” published in 1997 by Miroljub Radojković, professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences from Belgrade, also contains an essay from 1981 titled “The Communication Flood and the ‘Old Testament Ark’ of Culture”. The author of the essay offers a critical analysis of the changes brought about by the era’s new communications technologies and how they impact both society and an individual. Forty-three years later, the overview of how communication technology would grow in the future is especially impressive when viewed from today’s perspective. In the early 1980s, the technical concepts and predictions that the author wrote about - such as working from home, remote learning, and the smart watch - seemed like science fiction. The “look into the future” section of the aforementioned essay, in which communication technologies play a significant role in shaping culture and social connections, is, however, its most significant component. Radojković uses the “power of sociological imagination” to offer partially positive, but mostly negative responses to questions about the future of morality in that new society, as well as the place of art or religion.The author of this paper wants to examine the futuristic theses that were developed more than 40 years ago by looking at them through the lens of contemporary communication technology and its effects on society. The main research inquiry is derived from Miroljub Radojković’s thesis regarding the communication flood (or “floods of generality”) that will endanger the fundamental cultural values based on interpersonal interaction, human engagement with nature, and the symbolic environment, and it is as follows - why, in spite of the warnings, did man encounter the communication flood without the “Old Testament ark” of culture?

The Usage of Artificial Intelligence in Media: Benefits, Disadvantages, and Ethical Concerns

2024-07-02T16:11:27+02:00

The purpose of this study is to examine the benefits and drawbacks of applying artificial intelligence in media. The research focuses on the evolution of artificial intelligence and the moral quandaries that it raises. To begin, a historical overview of artificial intelligence is offered. Then its use in the media is described. Following that, the benefits and drawbacks of artificial intelligence are discussed. Finally, the potential for future advancement and ethical consequences are examined. Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool with diverse applications, but it currently has severe disadvantages, particularly on an ethical level.