Media freedom in Europe is no longer a given; dependence on government is growing

Media freedom across the European Union's eastern flank presents a complex tapestry of overlapping narratives, revealing a landscape where the concept is increasingly challenged.

In Finland, the media landscape remains comparatively free but is marked by high concentration. Major players like Sanoma, Keskisuomalainen, and Alma Media dominate in terms of revenue, circulation, and publication numbers. While direct political takeover is less of a risk, the consequences of this concentration include repetitive content, a narrower diversity of news, and shrinking editorial teams. The public broadcaster Yle, despite attracting nearly half of the television and radio audience, has seen its funding reduced by 200 million euros over four years, leading to over 300 layoffs and making its educational activities, such as media literacy development, more challenging.

Latvia and Lithuania share distinct private media markets that are closely intertwined. Several major media brands in both countries are controlled by the same transnational groups based in Estonia, or in the case of the Bitė group, in the United States. Delfi operates in both countries under the ownership of Ekspress Grupp, while their competitors, 15min and Tvnet, are linked to another Estonian media giant, Postimees Group. The TV3 channels in both nations function within the Bitė/TV3 ecosystem. In Lithuania, LNK group, owned by MG grupė, is another significant private market participant. The Latvian public broadcaster operates under the umbrella of LSM, with the Latvian Public Media Council SEPLP grounding its mission in representing public interest. However, the country periodically grapples with issues of political pressure, funding, and accountability, alongside instances where local authorities hinder journalists' reporting.

Lithuania also boasts a high degree of press freedom, with the public broadcaster LRT enjoying the trust of about 70% of the public. Recently, LRT's independence has become a focal point of political debate, following proposals from the ruling coalition to freeze the broadcaster's funding and simplify the procedure for dismissing its director-general.

Poland's media market is characterized by its size, competitiveness, and polarization. Key players include TVN/TVN24, controlled by Warner Bros. Discovery; Polsat, overseen by Zygmunt Solorz; and Ringier Axel Springer and Agora, alongside the public broadcaster TVP. Channels like TVN, Gazeta Wyborcza, and Onet are considered independent. However, the public media remains a contentious issue. During the previous PiS government, TVP faced widespread criticism as a propaganda channel. Subsequently, attempts by Donald Tusk's coalition to reform the channel's management have also sparked debate.