Lithuanian parliament speaker meets with journalists’ union to discuss communication challenges

The speaker of Lithuania’s parliament, Juozas Olekas, met with leaders of the Lithuanian Journalists’ Union (LŽS) on Monday to address growing communication challenges between politicians and the media, LRT reports.

The meeting included LŽS President Audrius Antanaitis, members of the union’s board, and Ruslanas Iržikevičius, director of the Media Support Foundation. Discussions focused on tensions arising from recent amendments to the law governing Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), as well as broader issues such as disinformation, media funding, and crisis preparedness.

Olekas emphasised that open dialogue between politicians and the press is essential for a functioning democracy. “Democracy requires not only a free press but also a respectful, open exchange among all participants in public life,” he stated, expressing hope that the discussion would foster mutual understanding and strengthen public trust.

Antanaitis acknowledged differing viewpoints but stressed that journalists and politicians share a common goal in building the state. “Over the past six months, we as journalists have worked to strengthen democracy not by withdrawing from dialogue but by seeking to understand what is truly happening in the country and helping to find common ground,” he said.

The meeting also covered legislative initiatives to combat disinformation, secure sustainable media financing, and improve journalists’ readiness for crises. The LŽS presented a proposal for preparing public information providers for potential state emergencies, including possible state support for such efforts.

Other participants included Kęstutis Vilkauskas, chair of the parliamentary Culture Committee, LŽS Vice President Tautvydas Vencevičius, Vilnius branch chair Nijolė Jačėnienė, and Edmundas Budvytis, the union’s representative in the LRT law amendment working group. Birutė Davidonytė, head of the Lithuanian Journalists’ Professional Association, confirmed she had not received an invitation; her organisation had previously protested the LRT law changes.