Introduction: comparing media systems in Central and Eastern Europe: politics, economy, culture / Sabina Mihelj and John Downey -- Post-Communist political systems and media freedom and independence / Karol Jakubowicz -- The interplay of politics and economics in transitional societies / Colin Sparks -- Between segmentation and integration: media systems and ethno-cultural diversity in Central and Eastern Europe / Sabina Mihelj -- Gender (in) equality in in post-socialist media / Mojca Pajnik -- Transnational capital, media differentiation, and institutional isomorphism in Central and Eastern European media systems / John Downey -- Transnational media regulation in Central and Eastern Europe / Alison Harcourt -- Back to the local? transnational media flows and audience consumption patterns in Central and Eastern Europe / Václav Stetka -- Conclusion / John Downey and Sabina Mihelj