Academics propose alternative vision for LRT law, warn current draft raises concerns

A group of academics from three Lithuanian universities has presented an alternative governance model for public broadcaster LRT, criticising the current draft law as rushed, legally flawed, and a threat to editorial independence, LRT.lt reports.

The researchers—from Vilnius University, Vytauto Didžiojo University, and ISM University—argue that the government’s proposed amendments to the LRT law fail to align with Lithuanian and EU media freedom standards. Their alternative concept emphasises safeguarding journalistic independence and ensuring LRT’s mission as a provider of reliable, high-quality news with diverse perspectives.

“A poorly balanced draft, inconsistent with legal acts and rejected by much of the professional journalistic community, is now advancing in the Seimas,” the academics stated. They warned that the current process ignores widespread public and media protests, legal warnings, and concerns from international organisations.

The group’s proposal includes structural reforms such as establishing a supervisory board alongside the existing LRT council to oversee operational management, while a citizens’ assembly could serve as an advisory body to better reflect public interests. The academics also advocate for a merit-based appointment system for council members, replacing the current delegation model with selections based on professionalism, independence, and reputation.

Vytauto Didžiojo University professor Auksė Balčytienė stressed that LRT must function not only as a broadcaster but as a “network of informational resilience,” calling it a matter of national interest. The council’s composition should ensure broad societal representation and strategic oversight without interfering in editorial decisions.

The government’s draft law, which passed its first parliamentary reading, has faced criticism for restricting external media collaboration in LRT content creation and expanding grounds for dismissing the broadcaster’s director. Opposition lawmakers have withdrawn from the working group in protest.