The Civil Dialogue Observatory is a research and teaching project implemented by the Institute of Journalism, Media and Social Communication and the Institute of Public Affairs, Jagiellonian University, in consultation with Krakow Municipality. The Observatory was established in 2015 on the initiative of Dr. habil. Agnieszka Hess, JU professor, who coordinates research projects conducted in the IJMSC. Analyses conducted in the Institute of Public Affairs are coordinated by Dr. habil. Ewa Bogacz-Wojtanowska, JU professor.
The objective of CDO is to monitor and describe relations between Krakow authorities and non-government organizations, and to propose recommendations that may improve their cooperation. Research is focused on situations that trigger various forms of civil dialogue, on initiatives and institutions that contribute to and participate in that dialogue, and on events lacking desirable civil dialogue.
Generally, research projects conducted by the CDO aim to identify social, institutional and media conditions of maintaining civil dialogue in Krakow. Conclusions are based on an operational analysis of civil dialogue institutions, their media image and perception among citizens, on research into communication processes, organization of communication and cooperation between civil-dialogue institutions, monitoring of the civil dialogue and decision-making processes.