RTV Slovenija faces legislative overhaul and independence concerns

The National Council for Culture is reviewing proposed amendments to the RTV Slovenija Act and the Media Act. These legislative changes follow recent updates to both laws and aim to restructure the management of the public broadcaster, potentially returning RTV Slovenija to a system led by a director and a programming council.

The Ministry of Culture states the goal is to ensure more efficient operation, greater accountability, and strengthened institutional independence for the public broadcaster. However, critics and journalists' unions have expressed significant concerns. The Journalists' Union of Slovenia and the Coordination of Journalists' Unions at RTV Slovenija have called for the withdrawal of both proposals, arguing that the amendments would subordinate media to political authorities and leave other media outlets vulnerable to ownership and economic interests.

Discussions regarding RTV Slovenija also highlight internal tensions, with employees claiming political interference and calling for a modernized business model. Proposed reforms include digital transformation, clearer cost separation between different production units, and the implementation of performance indicators for management based on audience reach rather than just viewership.