Slovakia's public broadcaster STVR faces trust dip after new law, TV still top news source

The General Director of Slovakia’s public broadcaster STVR, Martina Flašíková, says the credibility of its news programming has fallen sharply since the adoption of a new media law. Signatories of an initiative claim this reflects a loss of trust in STVR, though the broadcaster remains among the most trusted Slovak media outlets. The Reuters Institute notes that Slovakia already ranks among the European countries with the lowest overall media trust, citing societal polarization, the rise of social networks, audience fragmentation and a growing segment of people who deliberately avoid news.

A separate IVO/ESET survey of 1,038 Slovaks confirms television's dominant role as an information source, used by 68 % of respondents, while social media reach 51 %. Trust varies by age and education: seniors rely on TV (82 %) and radio, whereas 18‑24‑year‑olds favor social platforms (81 %) and podcasts. The study also highlights lower confidence in digital platforms with unknown authors and a notable 38 % of the public expressing trust in “alternative media.” STVR’s leadership emphasizes its commitment to professional standards and plans to restore national cultural programs to the broadcast schedule despite budget cuts of roughly €2 million.