ABSTRACT
The effectiveness of MAIs in Slovenia, like ethics codes, the Journalistic Court of Honour and the ombudsman at the public broadcaster, has been put under question many times by scholars and experts as well as by journalists and editors themselves. Evidence suggests that MAIs have not been able to effectively prevent either political interference or commercial pressures on the media and journalists in their attempts to meaningfully link citizens to societal life, and that the journalistic community itself has been reluctant to push for, or even accept, the establishment of MAIs. While the emergence of new media provides possibilities for empowering audiences, journalists and editors remain reluctant to give up their power as gatekeepers; research indicates that little is being done to utilize online tools and environments for media accountability purposes. Rather, digitization has amplified the trend of the pauperization of journalism, which increases the vulnerability of journalists to both political and commercial pressures.
