Journalist representatives urge parliamentarians and the Prime Minister not to vote for the LRT project prepared by the working group
A coalition of journalists’ associations in Lithuania is calling on lawmakers and the Prime Minister to reject a proposed project related to the public broadcaster LRT, citing concerns over media independence.
On Tuesday, the Professional Association of Journalists in Lithuania shared a statement on Facebook addressing the country's politicians, urging them to vote against a newly proposed project related to the public broadcaster, LRT. The statement was also endorsed by the Central Board of the Lithuanian Union of Journalists and around sixty journalists and media representatives, highlighting a broad coalition opposing the legislative initiative.
The joint statement expresses strong concerns regarding the proposed amendments, arguing that they pose a threat to the independence of the public broadcaster and could pave the way for political interference in media content and editorial policy. It emphasizes that such changes could lead to detrimental impacts on the integrity of journalism and the press, which are crucial components of a democratic society. The urgency of the parliament's upcoming vote on these amendments adds to the immediacy of this call to action.
This collective push from various media organizations underlines the vital role that journalists and media representatives play in safeguarding public interest and the standards of reporting in Lithuania. The appeal to legislators and government officials reflects a growing unease about the potential ramifications of increased governmental influence over public media. As the parliamentary decision looms, the outcome could significantly influence the future landscape of media independence in the country.