This thesis focuses primarily on the question ”why is freedom of speech valuable in a democratic context?” I argue that it is problematic that free-dom of speech takes for granted and that the main question therefore is absent in current political science research, in legal texts, and in public discourse. I also argue that in democratic states the focus, regarding freedom of speech, is often on its boundaries and limits rather than on its justification. But it is highly problematic to find and establish its limits without dis-cussion why freedom of speech is desirable in the first place. The thesis poses two questions. The first concerns how freedom of speech is justified by the five strongest available arguments. I analyze the arguments and conclude that they justify freedom of speech differently but that they are similar in one aspect. Freedom of speech is not primarily justified as an individual right. It is rather justified in terms of the public good. The second question asks if we can reach a better understanding of the central arguments. I argue that the arguments have something in common; all of them justify freedom of speech with reference to a common value. I argue that this common value is what I call, a “reliable communication process”. All five arguments claim that freedom of speech is valuable because it promotes a reliable communication process. This process is reliable in terms of its capacity to create a pluralistic public discourse that exposes citizens to ideas and perspectives that they would not have chosen in advance. This study results in the following findings. First, that freedom of speech is valuable in a democratic context because the reliable communication process supports the central democratic value of the enlightened understanding of the democratic citizen. Secondly, that I can give a principled reason for the boundaries of freedom of speech. This means that, according to the arguments, there are reasons to abolish or limit freedom of speech if the reliable communication process is damaged or absent, for example in case of war, anarchy, or violent circumstances. Third, that there are strong reasons in support of a public service media, and greater state intervention in media politics. One strong reason for that conclusion is that a public service media can ensure a pluralistic communication in society and counteract information conformity and intolerance among the members of society.

Title: Advertising message and Customer Satisfaction A case of Lidl Sweden Problem: “Are the customers satisfied when they compare marketing message with services provided by Lidl grocery store?” Purpose: We aim to analyze the satisfaction level of customers at Lidl store and how effective messages delivered in the advertisement. Method: We used a primary research through the interviews of the managers in Lidl, and a survey questionnaire by the customers. We also used the secondary data from the website of Lidl and some qualitative information from textbooks and different sources. Conclusion: After the research, we conclude that the advertising messages of Lidl is clear and most of the customers feel satisfied with price and the quality of Lidl’s products. However, about the non-food products, the customers do not feel so pleasant and they do not have much knowledge about after sale services.

This dissertation examines the role of social media in the communication process of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Based on communication and social media theories, this study examines how small and medium-sized enterprises incorporate social media in their marketing and communication strategy. As a result, this study concludes that social media has an important role in the communication process of SMEs. The study shows, that to increase a two-way communication via social media, SMEs must focus more on enabling interactions, to collect responses and feedback. A professional appearance on the platforms has been considered as crucial. The results additionally show that SMEs recognize space and need for improvement of their social media skills. The integration of social media into the overall concept differs among the cases. A major obstacle can be found regarding the detection of target groups on social media. Moreover, a lack of strategic orientation can be found in terms of social media goals and budgets, as well as performance measurement.

Electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) has increasingly become an important topic in marketing and consumer research. However, theory construction and methodology development in this area are still in their infancy. This leaves some basic and important questions unanswered including whether eWOM communication is effective, what roles are played by different communication cues, and how valuable information from text reviews can be generated. This study intends to answer these fundamental questions.Based on the Brunswik's Len Model, this study developed the Process Model of eWOM Communication. It extends the Brunswik's Lens Model in several important ways and provides a systematic tool to examine the effectiveness of eWOM communication processes. Furthermore, a simplified model of eWOM communication was developed to test the validity of automatic text analysis as a promising tool in studying eWOM communication.Two focus group interviews and a throughout literature review were conducted first to identify the communication cues employed by eWOM partners. Then, two web-based self-administered surveys were carried out to collect data from both eWOM senders and readers. Last, the data from both eWOM senders and readers were matched, forming a final dataset with 90 reviews. Correlations, regressions, and path analyses were employed to evaluate the models and test the hypotheses.Results showed that eWOM communication is effective, and the relative strength of information flow varies in different eWOM communication links when communicating different types of information.This study identified a list of eWOM communication cues and found that consumers employ different cues in communicating different types of information. EWOM readers' inference structure in decoding may not exactly mirror eWOM senders' encoding structure. Moreover, communication cues especially verbal cues play an important role in eWOM communication and explain additional variance in eWOM partners' intentions and perceptions beyond and above the star ratings. In general, negative emotion words are the most important cues across various situations.In addition, this study provides initial evidence for the validity of automatic text analysis in studying eWOM. Linguistic indicators such as Negations, Negative Emotions, and Money can explain additional variance in eWOM partners' attitudes and emotions beyond and above the star ratings.

Colours have been proven to have both a great physical and psychological impact on human beings. This essay investigates the rebranding of 37 Health Care Centers, located in Norrbotten, Sweden, and how 10 interviewees have experienced the new choice of colour on the logotypes of these Health Care Centers. The theoretical framework used in this research process, consists of theories related to rebranding, the communication process, encoding/decoding and Goethe’s Theory of Colours. To gather information about how the 10 inhabitants have experienced the new choice of colour, a semistructured form of interview was used. In addition to these interviews, three people employed by Norrbotten County Council (NLL) were interviewed, to get to know more about the rebranding process and the message behind the chosen colours of the logotype. Results show that the inhabitants had an overall positive reaction to the new colour choices, but that younger target groups lacked information about the new logotype and the rebranding. Due to these results, recommendations were made that NLL should expand the quantity of media channels to reach these younger target groups, and thereby be able to attract more patients to their Health Care Centers. NLL would also profit from investigating the inhabitants experiences related to the new colour choices themselves, but in a larger scale, to achieve greater knowledge of how to proceed with colour choices in the future.

Magistro darbo teorinėje dalyje analizuojama komunikacinio proceso koncepcija, išskiriama reklamos kaip komunikacinės priemonės koncepcija, jo turinys, pagrindiniai principai, tikslai ir funkcijos, akcentuojamas reklamos poveikio pasireiškimas, atskleidžiamas komunikacinio proceso reklamoje ryšys su vartotojų poreikių tenkinimu. Remiantis mokslinės literatūros studija (analize ir sinteze) teoriškai modeliuojamas komunikacinis procesas reklamoje tenkinant vartotojo poreikius. Empiriniam tyrimui atlikti parengiamas klausimynas remiantis teorine literatūros šaltinių analize. Patvirtinama autorės suformuluota mokslinio tyrimo hipotezė, kad komunikacinio proceso reklamoje modeliavimas bus atskleistas, jei bus įvertintas šio proceso ryšys su vartotojų poreikių tenkinimu akcentuojant reklamos vertinimo kriterijus. / In the theoretical part of the Master‘s work the concept of communication process is analyzed, the concept of advertizing as a means of communication is highlighted. Furthermore, contents, main principles, aims and functions of advertizing are highlighted as well and revelation of advertizing impact is stressed in this paper. Also, the correlation between communication process in advertizing and consumer satisfaction is revealed. On the basis of the data of the theoretical research (that is analysis and synthesis) communication process in advertizing is modeled in the aspect of consumer satisfaction. In order to complete the empirical research the questionnaire is prepared on the basis of the theoretical material and model. The results of the empirical research fully prove the scientific hypothesis that modeling of communication process of advertizing will be revealed if the correlation between this process and consumer satisfaction is evaluated on the basis of advertizing assessment criteria.

Title: Consumers’ perception of Traditional vs. Non-traditional Advertising in Bulgaria.A case of Kaufland BulgariaLevel: Master Thesis in International MarketingAuthors: Simeon Kovachki and Ventsislav MarinovTutor: Sarah WiknerDate: 21st of May, 2018Keywords: Advertising, Marketing, Traditional Advertising, Non-Traditional Advertising, Communication Process, Decision-Making Process, PerceptionsBackground: There are different ways to promote a brand, products or services. The researchers attempted to understand the traditional and non-traditional messages of different types of advertisements. The focus of this research is on print advertising, billboards, TV commercials and online advertisement.The purpose of this study is to better understand the perceptions that the Bulgarian customers have towards the advertising messages that are sent on traditional and non-traditional channels by one of the hypermarkets in Bulgaria.Method: In order to answer the research questions and fulfill the purpose the researchers conducted qualitative and quantitative research. The primary data was collected by carrying out a semi-structured interview with one of the Kauflands’ managers in Bulgaria and an online survey that was distributed through one of the social media channels. The secondary data was collected by using online sources such as websites that are considered trustworthy and also companies annual reports which have been reviewed in order to better understand the position of Kaufland on the Bulgarian market.Conclusion: The authors found that both traditional and non-traditional advertising plays a major role. However, traditional advertising is still a big convincer towards a purchase. The merge between traditional and non-traditional advertising elevates classic advertising into the “new classic advertising”. The perception towards both ways of advertising is relatively positive, where brochures are the most preferred way when talking about hypermarkets.

The aim of this thesis is the evaluation of the level of communication and the proposing of some changes that can result to the improvement of communicational processes.General communication process and its function in the organization is thoroughly described in the theoretical part of this thesis by means of literary resources.The practical part of the thesis focuses on the particular communication process in the firm named ABL Tools in Písek.The analysis is based on basic methods, such as: interrogation, observation and interviewing. Conclusions of the analysis and results will be provided to the manager of ABL Tools. These suggestions could be useful as a guideline to improve a current level of communication processes in the organization.

Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo compreender as estratégias de produção de funk e seu consumo por jovens mulheres de classe popular da cidade de Porto Alegre. Para isso, nos aproximamos da perspectiva dos Estudos Culturais britânicos e latino-americanos, sobretudo a partir do pensamento de Martín-Barbero, bem como tensionamos nossas discussões a partir das teorias sobre cena musical, classe, gênero e geração. Nos filiamos à metodologia qualitativa de pesquisa, realizando entrevistas, observações em bailes funk, pesquisa documental e pesquisa bibliográfica. Como unidade de estudo, contemplamos cinco MCs, três produtores e oito consumidoras de funk (funkeiras) da cidade de Porto Alegre. A fim de apresentar o contexto da cena funk, realizamos uma retomada histórica da cena no Brasil e especificamente em Porto Alegre, bem como traçamos o panorama midiático da cena na mídia massiva entre 2000 e 2015. Em relação aos resultados, identificamos que as estratégias de produção são materializadas através da construção de uma autopromoção midiática no rádio e no ambiente online através de postagens nas redes sociais digitais. Estas postagens podem se relacionar a uma clara estratégia de autopromoção, bem como podem dizer respeito a ocasiões descoladas da cena funk, retratando momentos aleatórios de seu cotidiano. No que diz respeito ao consumo, é visto que as práticas navegam entre dois meios: rádio e internet. Porém os usos efetivados nas plataformas digitais favorecem uma ampla gama de oportunidades para o consumo, contribuindo para a ocorrência de múltiplas lógicas de usos em relação ao consumo de funk. Tanto na produção, quanto no consumo, as relações de gênero ganham ênfase por um posicionamento de inspiração feminista por parte das informantes, ainda que a adesão ao movimento político seja algo evitado ou repreendido por algumas delas. / This research aims to comprehend the strategies of production of funk music and its consumption by young women from Porto Alegre’s popular class. In order to reach such aim, we have approached the British and Latin-American Cultural Studies perspective, mostly through Martin-Barbero’s thought, and our discussions were also based on the theories about music scene, class, gender and generation. We made use of the qualitative methodology research through interviews, observations on baile funk, documental research and bibliographic research. As a study unit, we take into consideration five MCs, three producers and funk music eight consumers (also known in Brazil as funkeiras). In order to present the context of the funk scene, we have traced a historical outline of the scene in Brazil and specifically in Porto Alegre, as well as we have delineated a media overview of the scene on the mass media between 2000 and 2015. Regarding the results, we identify that the strategies of production are materialized through the building of a media self-promotion on the radio and on the online environment through posts on social networks. These posts can relate to a clear self-promotion strategy, as well as they can be about situations unrelated to the funk scene, portraying random moments of their everyday life. On the subject of consumption, it can be seen that the practices navigate between two medias: radio and internet. However, the uses performed on digital platforms favour a wide range of opportunities to the consumption, contributing to the occurrence of multiple logics of use in relation to the consumption of funk. In both production and consumption, the relations of gender are emphasized through a positioning of feminist inspiration, although the adhesion to the political movement is something avoided or reproached by some of them.

The aim of my thesis was to analyze the communication of an manager on two departments in a company I have chosen. The company I have chosen for my research was UniCall Communication Group, s.r.o. I had to find out how big role the personality type of a manager plays in a communication, then to evaluate the current status and at least to suggest changes that will lead to improvement.