Copyright Awareness Among Future Media Specialists: Survey Results in Bulgaria

The present paper outlines a scientific study that focuses on the methodology and outcomes of a survey conducted to assess the current level of awareness regarding copyright issues among trainees in the media field. To collect relevant data on students’ knowledge, awareness levels, and attitudes toward copyright, the authors developed a survey instrument consisting of four sections with a total of 40 main questions. The survey was carried out in nine universities in Bulgaria within Public Communications and Information Sciences professional field, encompassing specialties such as journalism, media, PR, public relations, arts, and creativity. The survey took place between April 1st and May 26th, 2021. A total of 449 Bulgarian students enrolled in “Bachelor” “Master” and “PhD” programs effectively participated in the survey. The selection of participants followed the principle of systematic random sampling, with stratification to ensure representation of approximately 10% of students within the aforementioned professional field. Data collection was conducted using a Google survey platform.