Media Outlet Latvijas Radio Date of first publication 16/09/2024 Date of Latest Change 01/11/2024
3. Public Service Media
3.1. Public Service Media Mission, Governance and Independence
The Media Outlet shall describe its public service mission and the legal instrument on which it is based. It shall describe its governance structure, including the role of all relevant governance bodies or organisations (for example, regulator, supervisory board, government/parliament role). It shall state how its financial income is generated and what proportion of its financial resources are totally or partially provided by public funds. It shall state if both external and internal governance measures guarantee its editorial independence.
Is the Media Outlet a Public Service Media?
YesWhat is the public service mission for which it is responsible?
The public service mission of the Latvijas Radio (LR) is laid down in the Section 2 of the Law on Public Electronic Mass Media and Administration Thereof (hereinafter referred to as the Law):
"The general strategic objective of public electronic mass media is to strengthen the democratic structure of Latvia, freedom of speech and a sense of belonging to Latvia among the inhabitants of Latvia, to tend to the Latvian language and national culture in accordance with the Constitution, this Law and other laws."
The Section 3 of the Law also sets 17 basic principles for the operation of public service media.
"The general strategic objective of public electronic mass media is to strengthen the democratic structure of Latvia, freedom of speech and a sense of belonging to Latvia among the inhabitants of Latvia, to tend to the Latvian language and national culture in accordance with the Constitution, this Law and other laws."
The Section 3 of the Law also sets 17 basic principles for the operation of public service media.
Is this governed by legislation?
YesWhat law or legal instrument specifies its role and responsibilities?
Law on Public Electronic Mass Media and Administration Thereof
Provide a reference URL here.
https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/319096
What are the stakeholders with which it has formal relations, and what is the nature of the relationship?
According to the the Law (Chapter 2, Section 4) public electronic mass media, including LR, are "capital companies where all capital shares are owned by the State". The Public Electronic Mass Media Council is the holder of the State capital shares in LR and performs the functions of the meeting of shareholders thereof.
How is income generated?
The Law (Chapter 2, Section 7) states that the sources of financial provision of public service media (PSM) shall be:
1) subsidy from the State budget for the implementation of a public service remit that may not be less than that of the previous year if the annual State budget is not less than the State budget of the previous year;
2) income from economic activity, including profit;
3) gifts and donations in the form of money and property, including gifts and donations of foreign natural and legal persons;
4) income from received earmarked grants and participation in the tenders organized by third parties, including international organizations and foundations;
5) other sources of financing provided for in laws and regulations.
1) subsidy from the State budget for the implementation of a public service remit that may not be less than that of the previous year if the annual State budget is not less than the State budget of the previous year;
2) income from economic activity, including profit;
3) gifts and donations in the form of money and property, including gifts and donations of foreign natural and legal persons;
4) income from received earmarked grants and participation in the tenders organized by third parties, including international organizations and foundations;
5) other sources of financing provided for in laws and regulations.
What portion of income is public funds?
96%
Does the governance guarantee editorial independence?
YesState here in what way.
The Law (Chapter 1, Section 3) states that public electronic mass media, including LR, "are free from political and economic interference, interference of particular interest groups and any other interference with the operation thereof" and "the State shall ensure the independence of public electronic mass media".
The Law defines the main elements and procedures of governance which provide conditions for the PSM to carry out its mission independently.
The holder of capital shares of LR is a independent body called Public Electronic Mass Media Council (hereinafter referred to as the Council). The Law states that the Council is "an independent, lawful, autonomous authority which in conformity with its competence represents the public interests in the field of public electronic mass media". The Council is the highest decision-making body in PSM and supervises it's operations. According to the Law the Council "guarantee editorial independence of public electronic mass media, including without interfering with the production of the programme content".
Three members of the Council are elected by the parliament for the term of four years and nominated by:
1) the President of Latvia,
2) the Council for Implementation of the Cooperation Memorandum between Non-governmental Organizations and the Cabinet of Ministers,
3) the parliament.
Member of the Council may not be a member of the decision-making body or the executive body of a political party or be a member of the political party. If on the day of approval in the position of a member of the Council the person is a member of a political party, he or she shall immediately terminate its membership in the political party.
LR is managed by the board. The Council appoints the board of LR through a public competition procedure for a five year term and may withdraw a member of the board before that time period only in certain cases defined by the Law. The board is accountable to the Council.
According to the Law the board implements the administrative management of LR and can not influence editorial decisions.
Editor-in-chief of LR is responsible for the editorial policy and editorial decisions. Editor-in-chief is nominated by the board of LR and approved by the Council for a five year term.
The Law states that a member of the board and the editor-in-chief of PSM may not be active in a political party, but in case he or she is active, such activity shall be terminated. The Law also defines that a member of the board and the editor-in-chief of PSM may not be a person who is or, within the 24 months, has been an official of a political party.
A member of the board and the editor-in-chief of PSM may not be an owner of capital shares (stocks) of any media company.
The Law defines the main elements and procedures of governance which provide conditions for the PSM to carry out its mission independently.
The holder of capital shares of LR is a independent body called Public Electronic Mass Media Council (hereinafter referred to as the Council). The Law states that the Council is "an independent, lawful, autonomous authority which in conformity with its competence represents the public interests in the field of public electronic mass media". The Council is the highest decision-making body in PSM and supervises it's operations. According to the Law the Council "guarantee editorial independence of public electronic mass media, including without interfering with the production of the programme content".
Three members of the Council are elected by the parliament for the term of four years and nominated by:
1) the President of Latvia,
2) the Council for Implementation of the Cooperation Memorandum between Non-governmental Organizations and the Cabinet of Ministers,
3) the parliament.
Member of the Council may not be a member of the decision-making body or the executive body of a political party or be a member of the political party. If on the day of approval in the position of a member of the Council the person is a member of a political party, he or she shall immediately terminate its membership in the political party.
LR is managed by the board. The Council appoints the board of LR through a public competition procedure for a five year term and may withdraw a member of the board before that time period only in certain cases defined by the Law. The board is accountable to the Council.
According to the Law the board implements the administrative management of LR and can not influence editorial decisions.
Editor-in-chief of LR is responsible for the editorial policy and editorial decisions. Editor-in-chief is nominated by the board of LR and approved by the Council for a five year term.
The Law states that a member of the board and the editor-in-chief of PSM may not be active in a political party, but in case he or she is active, such activity shall be terminated. The Law also defines that a member of the board and the editor-in-chief of PSM may not be a person who is or, within the 24 months, has been an official of a political party.
A member of the board and the editor-in-chief of PSM may not be an owner of capital shares (stocks) of any media company.