In Czech Republic, students and pupils demonstrate to defend independent public RTV

In a powerful display of civic engagement, thousands of Czech students and pupils took to the streets across the nation, united under the banner "Ne damo medije" (We won't give up our media). Their protest targets Prime Minister Andrej Babiš's government, which is pushing to shift public broadcasting funding from subscription fees to the state budget.

Organized by students from Charles University's Faculty of Arts, the demonstration highlights deep-seated concerns that this financial restructuring will inevitably compromise the independence of Czech Television and Czech Radio. By placing these vital public services under direct government budgetary control, critics argue, the government seeks to exert undue influence over editorial content, potentially stifling critical reporting and promoting state-friendly narratives.

“

We call on the government to withdraw the proposal. The media should serve the citizens, not the political authorities.

The students' message is clear: they see this as a direct threat to the democratic fabric of the Czech Republic. They argue that public media, funded directly by citizens, serves as a crucial bulwark against disinformation and a platform for diverse public interest. Transitioning to state budget financing, they contend, is a dangerous step backward, reminiscent of less democratic eras and jeopardizing a hard-won achievement of the 1989 Velvet Revolution – independent public media.

From a Czech perspective, the defense of public media is intrinsically linked to the nation's post-communist identity and its commitment to democratic values. While international coverage might focus on the political maneuvering, for Czech citizens, this is about safeguarding a fundamental pillar of their free society. The students' passionate stance underscores a national understanding that media independence is not a luxury but a necessity for a healthy democracy, and they are prepared to fight for it.

“

One of the achievements of the 'Velvet Revolution' (1989) was public service media that was as independent from the state as possible. That independence was largely guaranteed by the fact that citizens paid for it directly. Moving to budget financing is always a step backward.