Médias et religion

Bulgarian legislation in the media sphere shows a general respect for religion and believers.

The Law on Radio and Television (Art. 53) allows the Bulgarian national television and radio to allocate time for legally recognised religious organisations to transmit statements addressed to their believers on such occasions as major faith fests (e.g. religious ceremonies and statements by the leaders of faith communities). [1] There are no specific legal provisions on blasphemy.

The Law does not discuss the right of representatives of recognised religious bodies to be presented on the boards of national and public media. At the same time, it does not permit the sponsorship of programmes by religious communities. Yet, religious organisations at a central and local level are eligible to maintain their private radio and TV channels as well as printed and internet media (newspapers, websites, etc.). All religions are also well presented on social media like Facebook and YouTube. There are also scores of personal blogs on religious themes.

In the case of national and public media, religious content is transmitted through specific programmes. As a rule, they place special emphasis on the majority religion. In this regard, it is worth pointing out that the Faculty of [Orthodox] Theology of Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski offers a Master programme, “Church and Media.” [2] The National Radio “Hristo Botev” broadcasts weekly “Blagovestie” [The Gospel] dedicated entirely to Orthodox issues. Another notorious program is “The Home of Faith” broadcast by Channel One of the Bulgarian National Television every Sunday afternoon. It was preceded by “Faith and Society”, a 15-year-long programme, which was taken off the air in 2020, allegedly upon the request of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. [3]

Furthermore, religious content is transmitted via radio and TV channels on such occasions as the Orthodox Easter and Jewish Hanukkah. Every year Bulgarian media inform about the traditional Muslim dinner (iftar) hosted by the Bulgarian president on the first Ramadan Day. Meanwhile, with the advancement of internet, the paper-based media are losing ground. Many of them are duplicated by internet copies. Most e-newspapers and journals are addressed to specific religious communities. Quite popular among Bulgarians is the journal “Christianity and Culture”. Since its first volume, issued in 2002, its editors have adopted an ecumenical orientation which makes the journal attractive not only to the adherents of Eastern Orthodoxy but also to Christians belonging to the Catholic and Protestant churches and even to non-Christians. [4] In their turn, the leaderships of faith communities offer electronic newspapers, books, and video resources on their websites. The website of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church contains the electronic versions of the handbooks on “Religion : Christianity - Orthodoxy” for the students of all 12 grades of the Bulgarian public school. [5] The same is done by the Grand Muftiate on its website. [6]

Sources :
[1] Law on the Radio and Television (In Bulgarian).
[2] Church and Media Master Program at the Faculty of [Orthodox] Theology of the Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski.
[3] Lozanov, Georgi, “BNT svalya ot efir ‘Vyara i obshtestvo’” [The Bulgarian National television takes “Faith and Society” Program off the air], Deutche Welle, June 20, 2020.
[4] Hristiyanstvo i Kultura [Christianity and Culture].
[5] The collection of school handbooks on “Religion : Christianity - Orthodoxy” of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
[6] The collection of school handbooks on “Religion : Islam” of the Grand Muftiate.