LRT council member says journalists protesting proposed legal changes over future concerns

A member of Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT council has acknowledged that journalists’ protests against proposed amendments to the broadcaster’s governing law are justified, as the changes could significantly alter their professional environment in the coming months.

Deimantas Jastramskis, speaking to the ELTA news agency, stated that journalists understand the potential long-term consequences of the draft law, which has drawn criticism from the Lithuanian Journalists’ Professional Association and the Cultural Assembly.

“They have the right to express how they interpret their professional freedom, which is currently guaranteed but could be substantially altered by the proposed amendments,” Jastramskis said. “Journalists understand not only what is happening now but also what may unfold in a few months.”

A key concern, according to a media studies professor, is a provision that would restrict external journalists from contributing to LRT’s content without council approval. “The main issue is interference in editorial policy,” the professor said. “The editorial team should regulate its own work, choosing sources based on journalistic principles and ethical norms—not external oversight.”

The draft law, prepared by a working group, states that “other media outlets may not operate on LRT’s channels or website without the council’s permission,” and that individuals affiliated with external media may participate in LRT’s content only under council-approved editorial policies and after declaring conflicts of interest.

Jastramskis argued that earlier criticism focused on easing the dismissal of LRT’s director-general, but the latest amendments introduce additional restrictions. “There are many new constraints on media freedom,” he said. “The original draft was narrower, but now it includes bureaucratic oversight, unclear governance structures, and unresolved questions about the council’s composition—all of which raise serious concerns.”

While lawmakers cite a State Audit Office report as justification for the changes, Jastramskis claimed its findings are being misrepresented. “Most of the proposed amendments don’t align with the audit’s recommendations,” he said, adding that he has repeatedly suggested mandatory periodic audits of LRT to prevent misinterpretation. Estonia’s public broadcaster already undergoes regular state audits—a model Jastramskis has proposed for Lithuania, though it has not been adopted.

LRT employees have staged protests under the slogan “Hands off,” opposing what they see as political interference in editorial independence.