The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has expressed concern at an increasing number of Governments trying to silence opposition voices by exerting undue influence on public service media.
“In the latest example, the independence of the Czech Republic’s national public service media broadcaster, Česká Televize (CT) is under threat,” the EBU said in a statement.
“In recent months, we’ve seen the increasing politicisation of its governing body and attempts to challenge and undermine the senior management team,” it said.
The EBU said data from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism showed that CT was the most prominent news brand in the Czech Republic, with 60 per cent of people using the service at least weekly.
“CT is also trusted by more Czechs than any other news brand,” the Union said.
“That trust is a testament to the independence that Czech TV has shown in its approach to its news and current affairs responsibilities.”
However, EBU said that in recent months it had become alarmingly clear that the Czech Republic’s Government was trying to exert pressure on that very independence, directly and indirectly.
It said the shortlist for the next election of CT’s governing council featured only candidates with political affiliations to the ruling party.
“Ahead of the elections, our President, Delphine Ernotte Cunci and Director General, Noel Curran have written to Czech Parliamentarians to urge them to protect the independence of the broadcaster so it can remain a model for public broadcasting in the Czech Republic and across the continent,” the EBU said.
“For the good of the still-young democracies of countries that were unable to tell the truth to their populations while under the influence of the Soviet Union for many painful years, it is vital that public service media such as CT should be allowed independence,” it said.
Prague, 11 April 2021
