Journalists' Groups Warn of Government Threat to Slovenian Public Broadcaster

Several Slovenian journalists' organizations, including the Slovenian Association of Journalists (DNS) and the Slovenian Journalists' Union (SNS), have voiced serious concerns regarding government actions that they claim are pushing public broadcaster RTV Slovenija into financial difficulties and threatening its operational stability.

The associations highlighted the government's failure to fulfill its financial obligations to the public media outlet and a reduction in the anticipated loan amount from the state treasury. They argue that this financial dependence on executive branch decisions can quickly undermine RTV Slovenija's ability to perform its public service mandate. The government is urged to immediately meet its financial commitments and ensure conditions for stable and independent operation.

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The law explicitly stipulates that it is the founder's duty to ensure institutional autonomy, editorial independence, and adequate financing of RTV Slovenija.

"The law explicitly stipulates that it is the founder's duty to ensure institutional autonomy, editorial independence, and adequate financing of RTV Slovenija," the organizations stated. They believe the government's current actions, which create financial uncertainty and hinder the broadcaster's public service, must be assessed against the state's legal duties. "Financing public media is not a technical or budgetary issue, but a matter of democracy," they emphasized.

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Financing public media is not a technical or budgetary issue, but a matter of democracy.

A particular point of alarm is the upcoming parliamentary review of a bill that proposes abolishing the RTV contribution and transferring all funding to the state budget. The signatories of the open letter warned that such a "populist and ill-considered change" would render the public media entirely financially dependent on the ruling party of the day. They concluded that RTV Slovenija's challenges should be addressed through reforms that strengthen its independence, transparency, public accountability, and long-term sustainability, rather than increasing its vulnerability.

Furthermore, the DNS expressed deep concern over developments related to the sale of United Group's media assets, which include N1 Slovenia. Reports suggest that the investment fund Alpac Capital, slated to acquire these media outlets, may be seeking to take over their management even before the sale is finalized. This potential takeover could involve personnel and editorial changes. The DNS is closely monitoring the situation surrounding the sale of these media assets.

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populist and ill-considered change