OSCE RFoM stresses need to safeguard strength and independence of public service media during his official visit to Czechia

VIENNA, 17 July 2026 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Ambassador Jan Braathu, concluded a two-day official visit to Czechia, where he met with government officials, parliamentarians, as well as editors and journalists.

Discussions focused on the proposed reform in the financing of Czech Television and Czech Radio, safety of journalists, media literacy, tackling disinformation, the challenges to media freedom posed by AI, and the valuable support that the Czech Republic provides to exiled journalists residing in the country.

Representative Braathu highlighted the important public function played by the Czech public service media as a bulwark against disinformation and information manipulation, as well as in contributing to media literacy education. Czech Television and Czech Radio are currently the media outlets with the largest audience reach in the country, while the rate of payment of public service media fees by contributors exceeds 90 per cent, one of the highest in the OSCE region. 

“While the need to change the funding model of the Czech public service media has been called into question, I recognize the existence of different funding models for public service media,” said Braathu “However, it is key that any future funding model provides adequate, sustainable and predictable resources as well as guarantees to fully preserve the broadcasters’ institutional and editorial independence, free from any potential political interference.”

Braathu also recommended that the proposed reform bill undergo an inclusive and transparent consultation process, ensuring that stakeholders’ concerns are taken into account.

“The high level of trust among audiences that the current public service media system enjoys is profoundly valuable as a pillar of Czech democracy and should not be compromised,” Braathu noted, encouraging legislators to use the reform process as an opportunity to reinforce the legal and institutional safeguards underpinning this public interest function of Czech Radio and Czech TV. 

The visit also provided an opportunity to discuss concerns related to journalist safety in Czechia. A recent poll found that a total of 70 per cent of journalists have encountered death threats or physical violence, 40 per cent of people in the media have experience with online campaigns against them, and 10 per cent of them have experienced some form of physical attack. The Representative welcomed the Safety of Journalists Platform, launched by the IPI Czech National Committee, which aims at providing support to journalists under attack by co-operating with Czech authorities and media lawyers. He also recalled the commitment under the OSCE Ministerial Council Decision 3/18 on Safety of Journalists, adopted by consensus by all 57 OSCE participating States. The Decision highlights the responsibilities of authorities in OSCE participating States to create an environment where journalists can work freely and safely, without fear of retaliation.

During the visit, Representative Braathu met with Marie Chatardová, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; Petra Smolíková, Director-General of the Legislation and International Affairs Section at the Ministry of Culture; MP František Talíř, Chair of the Committee on Media Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies; and Senator David Smoljak, Chair of the Senate Standing Commission on Media. He also met with Milena Hrdinková, Adviser to the Prime Minister on European Union Affairs, and Viktor Kundrák, Head of the Office of the Government Commissioners for Human Rights and the Protection of Minorities. The Representative held consultations with Julie Stejskalová, Editor-in-Chief of News and Current Affairs at Czech Radio; Michal Kubal, Executive Director of ČT24 and Editor-in-Chief of News at Czech Television; Stephen Capus, President of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; and Robert Čásenský of the IPI Czech Republic National Committee.

Representative Braathu expressed his appreciation to the Czech authorities and all other interlocutors for their constructive engagement. He further reaffirmed the readiness of his Office to offer expert advice and to continue its dialogue with the Czech authorities, Parliament, media institutions and civil society in support of media freedom and the implementation of relevant OSCE commitments and international standards.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. 

Learn more at rfom.osce.org, X: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom