Journalists’ association says RTVS amendment would repoliticize public broadcaster

The Slovenian Journalists’ Association has sharply criticized the government’s proposed amendment to the law governing Radiotelevision Slovenia, saying it would bring political influence back into the public broadcaster’s management.

The association said the proposal would revive arrangements that previous amendments had improved. It also warned that the changes could reduce the stability and predictability of RTVS funding and potentially violate the European Media Freedom Act. The group said the proposal also conflicts with earlier Constitutional Court decisions.

The amendment would replace RTVS’s four-member management board with a seven-member supervisory council. The council would appoint and dismiss the director-general, adopt the broadcaster’s statute and financial plan, and oversee its operations. Six of its seven members would be appointed by the government, which the association described as an attempt to control key decisions at the public broadcaster.

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We are disappointed that the proposer is once again not addressing the creation of a legislative framework that would enable Radiotelevision Slovenia to adapt to the many changes in the media environment and develop, but is instead largely introducing adjustments to governance and financing according to the wishes of the governing political force.

The association welcomed the decision not to change the current model for the program council, which allows broad participation by different sections of society. But it said the council’s powers would be reduced, creating what it called a concealed politicization of management. It also objected to a system in which some members would be selected through a public call while others would be appointed directly.

The association further warned that ending the mandates of the current RTVS leadership, council members and finance committee before their terms expire could be unconstitutional. It said European media-freedom rules require early dismissal to have proper justification and provide affected officials with access to judicial review. The proposal would also remove legally fixed funding shares for minority-language programming and music production, leaving those decisions to annual government assessments.

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We are extremely critical that it is simultaneously taking away important powers from the program council and thereby reducing its importance, because this amounts to concealed politicization of the public broadcaster’s management.