media capture

The plans fuel media capture concerns and present a real threat to independent public service media and media freedom in Slovakia.

A climate of insecurity is lingering, as budget cuts and plans to dissolve RTVS into two entities were announced by the government.

Slovenian authorities must now commit to providing STA with secure funding, with protection from state capture and political interference. 

Changes to the public broadcaster’s supervisory body sparks concern about the future of its independence.

Growth in ownership by state-backed companies reignites concerns that government is tightening its control over the country’s media.

This time, the country’s last independent radio station faces possible disappearance due to the non-renewal of its licence by the Hungarian Media Council.

The country, whose government is credited with inspiring media capture across Europe, has received yet another blow to its press freedom.

From pro-government election and coronavirus coverage to hate speech, there are serious concerns that the government’s ongoing interference will extinguish hopes for independent public media in Poland.

Poland’s ruling Law and Justice Party has been voted in for a second term this week. Yet despite Poland being a representative democracy, the party’s strategy to “repolonise” and control the media is deeply undemocratic.

“Backslide”. This seems to be the word most used to describe what’s happening to public broadcasting and independent media in parts of central Europe.