prijava
BERN, December 2 (FENA) - The European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA) today expressed its support to the Slovenian News Agency (STA), which is facing pressure through a serious reduction or even complete cessation of revenues from public service contracts with the Slovenian Government's Communication Office (UKOM).
Taking notice of the pressure exercised on our member STA by severely cutting or even stopping its income from the public service contract with the state-owned UKOM, EANA - the European Alliance of News Agencies - expresses its support for the independence of its member, urging the Slovenian government to make sure that any further moves against STA, that would alter the Slovenian news agency's workflow, reputation and business, come to an end.
Mass media is the cornerstone of democracy, and news agencies are the backbone of free media worldwide. More so, national news agencies represent one of the most important voices of their respective countries in the world. This is why, especially during crisis times like the ones we are all crossing right now, maintaining the freedom of these voices is of the greatest importance to both the mass media environment and for the perpetuation of democratic societies.
The STA must continue to function as an independent and reliable national news agency. Its contribution to the Slovenian democracy should be supported, rather than hindered by the relevant authorities, it is stated in a letter of support from the EANA Steering Board to the Slovenian News Agency.
On Monday, the government of Prime Minister Janez Janša, at the suggestion of UKOM, made a decision not to finance the work of the national agency STA, thus questioning its further survival.
The STA news service is the basis of media coverage of events in the country and abroad for most media outlets in Slovenia, and its founder is the state. Under the law, it receives state funds as a “public service” under a contract that is renewed at the end of each year and paid out in monthly installments.
Although the government did not announce the decision to stop funding the STA in its press release, Slovenian media report that it did not pay the agency any funds for the last month and that it was decided that the contract for next year will not be renewed. Prime Minister Janša has been the target of criticism for his hostile attitude towards the public media, especially the STA, which he resents for not following his speeches and activities enough.
Such attitude of the Slovenian government towards the public media, including the STA, has encountered numerous criticism in Slovenia itself, but also in the European Union.
An open letter from EANA members was sent to the President of Slovenia, the Prime Minister and the Speaker of Parliament, signed by Peter Kopsch, EANA President and Director of the German News Agency DPA, and EANA Secretary General Alexandru Ion Giboi, with the consent of the alliance members that brings together leading European news agencies.
(FENA) S. R.
