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Slovenia's Public Media Under Pressure

Marja Novak

   LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA - Slovenia's media have played a crucial role in
   the past 30 years, as the country declared independence, introduced a
   democratic political system, liberalized its economy and became one of
   the first former communist states to join the European Union.

   But now its journalists, including those at state-funded outlets, are
   facing political and commercial pressures that risk damaging the
   independent news industry and the young democracy it helped create.

   "For 30 years there has been constant pressure on the public radio and
   TV station and the main printed media," said Slavko Splichal, a
   professor of communication at the University of Ljubljana's Faculty of
   Social Sciences. But "the media situation has never been as bad as it
   is now."

   Part of the problem is financial, with lower revenues from advertising
   and subscriptions. But journalists are also under [1]pressure from some
   officials or powerful businessmen who verbally assault media or file
   lawsuits over critical coverage.The government also introduced plans to
   reduce financing for the public radio and television broadcaster RTV
   Slovenia and briefly stopped financing the public news agency STA.

   Dispersal of subscription fees

   The government says the subscription for RTV Slovenia that most
   households are obliged to pay and that represents more than 75% of the
   broadcaster's income should partly be dispersed among other media to
   promote competition. Opposition politicians and many analysts and
   journalists say they believe the proposed change is an attempt by the
   government to block critical reporting.

References

   1. https://necenzurirano.si/

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