TV Reporting and Self-governing Regions in the Czech Republic

Local and regional development is increasingly influenced by less traditional soft factors. Mental maps represent one of the most important categories in this respect. Information delivered by media considerably affects the formation of mental maps. Analyses show that TV coverage embodies media agenda in a satisfactory manner just due to the intensity of its impact on the wide public as well as its representative character. News in national TV reporting related to regions and localities importantly co-determine territorial images and in aggregate view also mental maps. This article attempts to examine regionally-related news in Czech national TV reporting from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives. Thus, TV portrayals of self-governing regions in the Czech Republic related to the period 2004-2010 will be disclosed and assessed. In spite of its relevance, amazingly small amount of research has been devoted to this topic so far.