The “Tsantsarova” case is not about one journalist. It is a symptom. A symptom of a deep degradation of the media environment and of the complete replacement of the concept of “independent journalism”.
The big television stations have not formed public opinion for a long time, they follow it. They follow political conjunctures, advertising interests and corporate fears. That is why their ratings are falling. Not because of “Facebook hate“, but because the viewer already recognizes the fake.
bTV did not defend a journalistic principle. It defended a business model. Between the lines, the company's position is clear: political sympathy is permissible as long as it does not interfere with our economic interests. When it starts to affect them, it is already a “problem“ and we eliminate it.
The real question is not whether Maria Tsantsarova sympathized with the PP–DB. It is obvious. And the glass with the inscription was a “wink” to the protests. For me, the real question is why a protest by journalists and citizens turns into a political scene for party leaders. Who allowed this and for what purpose?
When Mirchev, Asen Vassilev, Denkov and Bozanov stand on the front line, the protest ceases to be civil and of the journalistic guild. It becomes a tool. This is the visible “external pressure“. Not from anonymous centers of influence, but from a fully legitimized parliamentary coalition.
And here comes the big substitution: the public is convinced that it is defending freedom of speech, while in reality it is serving party positioning. That's how it turns out.
That is why even when the protest is openly party-related, like the last one in the “Triangle of Power”, it is attended mainly by people along party lines and sympathies - barely 8-10 thousand people.
The television stations do not fall because someone attacks them. They fall because they have lost trust. And trust is not restored with positions, declarations and moralizing.
The public has the only real lever - its choice. To turn off the program, not to consume, to boycott.
The major television stations have not been heading towards self-obliteration since today. The question is not whether, but how quickly.
I read the post by journalist Stoyan Georgiev, in which he announced that today he submitted a request to leave bTV. That's how it is done. When you don't feel at home and the environment is toxic - you leave.