site.btaBulgarian National Radio Director Stresses Need to Keep Young People's Interest in Journalism

Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) Director General Milen Mitev said Thursday that the most important task is to maintain young people's interest in journalism so that there will be journalists in the future. He was speaking at a discussion entitled "The Future of Regional News," organized by BTA and the Council for Electronic Media (CEM).

"I am very pleased that this discussion is taking place because there is a lot of talk about news deserts, but this dialogue is not usually structured in this way," Mitev said. According to him, public service media have the strongest presence in regional news coverage. He agreed with BTA Director General Kiril Valchev's observation that the main challenge in many parts of the country is not a lack of funding but a shortage of staff.

Mitev noted that BNR operates a correspondent network of 20 reporters and produces content for nine regional programmes. These programmes broadcast around the clock, with three hours of the Kardzhali programme devoted to Radio Bulgaria broadcasts in Turkish. He said the network has sufficient reporting capacity to cover events across the country.

"Since this morning alone, before the start of this discussion, our correspondents have produced 61 regional news stories," Mitev said. He explained that BNR broadcasts news bulletins every hour, with only four of them dedicated to national news and the rest focusing on regional developments. In his words, the fact that "no commercial operator can afford to launch a regional programme" is particularly telling.

"I do not believe there will be opportunities in the future for new regional broadcast programmes, whether radio or television," Mitev said. "Even if not on the airwaves, there is a need for more sources of information in the regions."

He also presented BNR audience research, showing that listeners of regional programmes prefer concise news formats. They are interested in developments both in their own city and in other settlements. News about roadworks, traffic and other issues affecting daily life is particularly important to them. Educational, cultural, social and health-related programmes are among the most valued content, and listeners believe radio should devote more resources to producing such programmes.

"There is a tremendous need for regional media because people are interested in more than just national news," Mitev said in conclusion.