Ainars Dimants (Supervisor) is a media researcher and Associate Professor, Dr.Phil. in political and communication science. Before starting his academic career, he worked as a journalist in several Latvian media companies, including Latvian Television, the daily newspaper Diena and the daily newspaper Latvijas Avize, where he worked as a Deputy Editor-in-Chief for a time. After finishing his doctoral studies at the Freie Universität Berlin, in 2005 he was appointed Associate Professor of Communication Theory at the School of Business Administration Turiba, where he became the journalism expert within his department. At present, he is Head of the Department of Communication Sciences and Director of the Communication Management Doctoral Studies Program. He has also been Chairman of the Board of the Media Institute in Riga (Latvia) since 2004, which he co-founded, and was previously a Visiting Professor at Vidzeme University College in Valmiera (Latvia), Head of the Department of Communication Studies at Riga Stradins University and lecturer at the University of Latvia since 1993. His scientific publications include five books on media and journalism. He is involved in research primarily in the areas of the Latvian media system, media policy, media economics and management, media ownership, editorial autonomy and quality of journalism.