The paper examines the main changes in the media system in a transitional society. Media autonomisation by the State is considered a mainstream process in these changes. The process is analysed through theoretical models based on understanding media as guarantor of the development of civil society, public space and participatory democracy. This analysis includes political (media position in the political structure and attitudes of different political elites to the media) and economic (ownership and founding partnership) aspects of changes in the media system.