LSM staff urge lawmakers to drop fast track for media law changes

More than 200 employees of Latvian Public Media (LSM) have urged lawmakers to remove fast-track status from proposed changes to the law governing public electronic media and to back proposals from the media’s supervisory body to protect LSM’s independence, LSM reported.

In an open letter to the Saeima’s Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee and members of parliament, the employees said the amendments would regulate LSM’s internal operations in disproportionate detail. They argued that matters which should be left to the media itself could become subject to law, creating risks for editorial independence.

The letter was signed by 220 staff members within two working days. Signatories included camera operators, directors, producers, journalists and editors, as well as LSM editor-in-chief Anita Brauna.

The employees criticised terms in the draft approved at first reading. It defines a public media organisation’s identity as a historically developed combination of its name, symbols, reputation, editorial heritage, professional traditions and public recognition.

The letter says “editorial heritage” and “professional traditions” are not defined in the law. As a result, decisions such as introducing a programme format, changing programming strategy or choosing a new content direction could potentially be challenged as violations, the signatories warned.

The letter also says amendments proposed by ZZS were submitted to parliament before discussion sessions held this summer between LSM’s board and employees. Those sessions resulted in an agreement on how the Latvian Radio and Latvian Television brands should be used, but the current bill does not include the guidelines agreed upon, the employees said.

The proposed changes were intended to protect the historical identities of Latvian Radio and Latvian Television, the letter says, but the signatories argue the draft goes beyond that purpose by regulating the public media’s internal work.