Media analysis in a case study of Šumava National Park: A permanent dispute among interest groups

The proclamation of Šumava National Park as a large-scale protected territory in the early 90′s of the 20th century shortly after the change of the political regime in Czechoslovakia resulted in the onset of discussions among different interest groups. The question of the approach to its management has always been controversial because forest ecosystems were essentially modified due to intensive forest management and in particular, the indigenous vegetation with native species composition has been preserved in insignificant residues only. The discussion between supporters of the “non-intervention regime” and supporters of “forestry approaches” is also reflected in reporting of the media, which addresses the public. The authors use media content analysis and framework based on a CIMO logic to find out whether the media and way of reporting can reflect the dynamism of the acting factors, provide feedback to the policy and decision makers and interests groups, and how the media influence the perception of the forestry sector by the public and, in this connection, the communication of foresters with the public and forest policy enforcement.