The changes stipulate that the state protects the historical identity and recognition of public electronic media ''in order to preserve the historical names of Latvian Radio and Latvian Television".
The amendments to the law stipulate that the Latvian Public Media (LSM) is obliged to retain and use the historical names “Latvijas Radio” and “Latvijas Televīzija” in its editorial activities, including programme creation, provision of linear and non-linear services in the analogue and digital environment, as well as in public communication.
This also also applies to name abbreviations, logos (including in a stylized form) and trademarks. However, slightly confusingly, the amendments also stipulate that this provision may be deviated from when creating new programmes or services – a potential loophole of uncertain dimensions.
The changes also stipulate that the news services of Latvian Radio and Latvian Television must operate as separate, unmerged and editorially independent structural units.
Latvian Radio has been broadcasting since 1925, and Latvian Television since 1954.
There has been considerable debate in parliament, within the media and in the public sphere over the extent to which the various strands of Latvian Public Media can be united under a unified 'LSM' brand.
On January 18, 2024, the Saeima adopted changes to the law, providing that from January 1, 2025, there will be one public media outlet in Latvia, merging Latvian Radio and Latvian Television. So now the situation is that public media is merged but under some circumstances cannot appear to be merged.
Photo: Ekrānuzņēmums
Although MPs agreed at the relevant Saeima committee meeting on Wednesday that the issue of the LSM structure should not be made an urgent matter and should be discussed in a separate bill in three readings, politicians decided otherwise in parliament on Thursday. A total of 53 of 100 MPs supported the proposal of independent MP Ieva Brante.
It reads as follows: "Achieving the objectives of the public service and ensuring diversity of opinions, the Latvian Radio News Service and the Latvian Television News Service operate as separate, mutually unmerged and editorially independent structural units."
The media watchdog and some LSM employees requested, before the meeting of the responsible Saeima committee, not to forward the draft law as urgent, because it contained unclear wording that raised concerns about affecting the independence of the media.
LSM Board Chair Baiba Zūzena believes that the Saeima's decision to establish the principles of the public media's internal organization by law creates a dangerous precedent that politicians can interfere in the editorial and organizational activities of LSM.
Zūzena pointed out that such a decision creates direct risks to the editorial independence and the ability of the public media to operate freely and independently of political influence.
"If politicians start to define these issues by law, the foundations of independent public media are weakened and the opportunity for further political intervention is opened."
"It is particularly worrying that such an important decision was made without the possibility of ensuring broad and relevant discussions with media professionals and experts. Such an approach limits the right of the Public Media to independently make balanced and reasoned decisions and to work in accordance with the interests of the public in a changing media environment," Zūzena said.
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