PRAGUE - The proposal to abolish licence fees and transfer the financing of Czech Television and Czech Radio directly to the state budget raises serious concerns. According to a group of prominent public figures, this move would mean the destruction of the independence of public media.
Nine signatories, including former ombudsman Anna Šabatová, former senator Petr Pithart and Bishop Václav Malý, warned in a statement today that such a change would lead to the destruction of one of the key pillars of democracy - free access to information.
"Direct funding from the state budget would make the media dependent on the government drawing up this budget. This would open the way for political influence on their content," the appeal continues.
The signatories, who also include Senator Hana Kordová Marvanová and political scientist Ivan Gabal, addressed their warning to Czech President Petr Pavel and the general public. They call for the preservation of the current funding model, which they see as a guarantee of neutrality and service to the public, not to political interests. The debate on the future of the media is thus taking on a completely fundamental dimension.
gnews.cz - GH
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