Local Action Groups (LAG) as actors in the EU rural development policy refl ect the endogenous paradigm. Th ey utilize the cooperation of their members and social networks to achieve the goals defi ned in their strategies developed upon the EU regulations on rural development. Th e paper demonstrates how the printed Czech media refl ect the activities of LAGs. Such research gives a background to answer the question if the references to LAGs in the Czech Republic highlight the paradigmatic shift from the material factors towards the endogenous or hybrid resources embedded in using the intangible factors for development. Th e research consists in the quantitative content analysis of 498 articles about Czech local action groups. Th e analysis indicates that paradigmatic shift is only at the beginning. LAGs activities are still reported to be embedded in using the material factors (exogenous approach) instead of reporting and accounting the endogenous resources composed of both material and non-material factors of rural development.

Scientia agriculturae bohemica, 46, 2015 (1): 41-48 41 e c o n o m i c S a n D m a n a g e m e n t Local Action Groups (LAGs) are implementing LEADER principles in rural development. The aim of the paper is to create a typology of LAGs in the Czech Republic according to the factors linked to the individual features of LAG and to its organizational background. Four different groups of LAGs emerged: 'stabilized', 'experienced', 'absorbing', and 'well-informed'. In the second step, it is assessed how particular groups fullfil selected features of the LEADER: knowledge transfer and bottomup approach. We conclude that 'stabilized' and 'experienced' LAGs, which are functioning for longer time and LAGs' manager has longer experiences with LAG operation, have better knowledge transfer than those 'absorbing' or 'well-informed'. This suggests that the rural development is realized by the so-called 'project class'. On the other hand, the most active people cooperating with LAG management are in 'experienced' and 'absorbing' groups.

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