Information in society (part III)

When finishing my last blog, I assumed that the next article would cover a different subject. Last night however, an article appeared on the SME-website, which needed some attention to illustrate how systematically and cunningly government is manipulating media into its political alley. Realising, that the word cunningly would imply a whiff of 'hidden skills'; they openly admit it with impunity.

Since the dark Mečiar years, where Slovakia was subjected to political pressure, corruption, crime (including the abduction of the President's son), SME has been a daily in Slovakia that was not hiding from publishing critical notes. A cover-up scandal as the Dreyfuss-Affair was uncovered by continuous efforts of journalists and an elite intelligentsia (Emile Zola), and not to forget Woodward and Bernstein to unravel the murky connections in the Watergate scandal which eventually ended in the abdication of Richard Nixon. The press here assumed the correct role: Informing the public. Regardless of political leadership, all cabinets received equal critical attention - unfortunately, it must be said, a fact which is hardly realised by a group of readers, based on the sometimes nonsensical ranting in the discussions, making one wonder whether to to take it as sarcastic humour or a very sad and grim given.

The aforementioned article dealt with a personnel (ex)change of the Transmission Council of the Slovak Radio. Everywhere people come and people go, but when it pertains to let's say strategic positions, which should be in the public's interest, then of course the movements are to be watched a bit more closely. There is a clear tendency, that the influence of the governing parties is getting much stronger - where especially the HZDS (Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, the present coalition party lead by the very same Mečiar(!)). Not only has Mr Mečiar put a highly corrupt figure into the seat of the President of the Supreme Court, even the broadcasting will become a bit more 'partial'.

It was in fact, as the article opens, the Prime Minister himself, who in 2007 openly declared "obviously, we [the coalition] have a an interest, to have people voted [into the Transmission Council], who represent our views". A blunt statement, which in none of the decent democracies, would have been said without any immediate repercussions. Imagine the BBC becoming a propaganda instrument for Gordon Brown.

People - especially in this new independent state - do not fully realise what a public broadcasting organisation is supposed to be. The perception, that it's a state radio (or equally TV) and therefore must be aligned with the government. This fact gives the present government exactly the necessary leeway to abuse this position, and you can guess what happens next.

Slovak Television visibly lost some critical programmes (apparently as a cost saving exercise) while shallow entertainment came in lieu of it. I shall be fair to admit that the Slovak Radio in this respect is quality-wise still ahead of the television, and does broadcast some reasonably fair discussions, but in my view it's not good enough. 

As highlighted in my previous two articles, the professionalism of independent reporters is pivotal to the democratic functioning of societies. Slovakia is becoming more and more visibly manipulated from above. Not just visibly, but also highly effectively. It all will now depend on the ethical and professional conscience of the journalists - together with those who have the 'right stuff' - whether to succumb to the dangerous trends or to withstand. Else things will indeed soon turn quite ugly.

Meanwhile, I am going to watch "All President's Men" again...

MS

When finishing my last blog, I assumed that the next article would cover a different subject. Last night however, an article appeared on the SME-website, which needed some attention to illustrate how systematically and cunningly government is manipulating media into its political alley. Realising, that the word cunningly would imply a whiff of 'hidden skills'; they openly admit it with impunity. Since the dark Mečiar years, where Slovakia was subjected to political pressure, corruption, crime (including the abduction of the President's son), SME has been a daily in Slovakia that was not hiding from publishing critical notes. A cover-up scandal as the Dreyfuss-Affair was uncovered by continuous efforts of journalists and an elite intelligentsia (Emile Zola), and not to forget Woodward and Bernstein to unravel the murky connections in the Watergate scandal which eventually ended in the abdication of Richard Nixon. The press here assumed the correct role: Informing the public. Regardless of political leadership, all cabinets received equal critical attention - unfortunately, it must be said, a fact which is hardly realised by a group of readers, based on the sometimes nonsensical ranting in the discussions, making one wonder whether to to take it as sarcastic humour or a very sad and grim given. The aforementioned article dealt with a personnel (ex)change of the Transmission Council of the Slovak Radio. Everywhere people come and people go, but when it pertains to let's say strategic positions, which should be in the public's interest, then of course the movements are to be watched a bit more closely. There is a clear tendency, that the influence of the governing parties is getting much stronger - where especially the HZDS (Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, the present coalition party lead by the very same Mečiar(!)). Not only has Mr Mečiar put a highly corrupt figure into the seat of the President of the Supreme Court, even the broadcasting will become a bit more 'partial'. It was in fact, as the article opens, the Prime Minister himself, who in 2007 openly declared "obviously, we [the coalition] have a an interest, to have people voted [into the Transmission Council], who represent our views". A statement, which in none of the decent democracies, would have been said without any immediate repercussions. Imagine the BBC becoming a propaganda instrument for Gordon Brown. People - especially in this new independent state - do not fully realise what a public broadcasting organisation is supposed to be. The perception, that it's a state radio (or equally TV) and therefore must be aligned with the government. This fact gives the present government exactly the necessary leeway to abuse this position, and you can guess what happens next. Slovak Television visibly lost some critical programmes (apparently as a cost saving exercise) while shallow entertainment came in lieu of it. I shall be fair to admit that the Slovak Radio in this respect is quality-wise still ahead, and does broadcast some reasonably fair discussions, but in my view it's not good enough. As highlighted in my previous two articles, the professionalism of independent reporters is pivotal to the democratic functioning of societies. Slovakia is becoming more and more visibly manipulated from above. Not just visibly, but also highly effectively. It all will now depend on the ethical and professional conscience of the journalists - together with those who have the 'right stuff' - whether to succumb to the dangerous trends or to withstand. Else things will indeed soon turn quite ugly. MS

When finishing my last blog, I assumed that the next article would cover a different subject. Last night however, an article appeared on the SME-website, which needed some attention to illustrate how systematically and cunningly government is manipulating media into its political alley. Realising, that the word cunningly would imply a whiff of 'hidden skills'; they openly admit it with impunity. Since the dark Mečiar years, where Slovakia was subjected to political pressure, corruption, crime (including the abduction of the President's son), SME has been a daily in Slovakia that was not hiding from publishing critical notes. A cover-up scandal as the Dreyfuss-Affair was uncovered by continuous efforts of journalists and an elite intelligentsia (Emile Zola), and not to forget Woodward and Bernstein to unravel the murky connections in the Watergate scandal which eventually ended in the abdication of Richard Nixon. The press here assumed the correct role: Informing the public. Regardless of political leadership, all cabinets received equal critical attention - unfortunately, it must be said, a fact which is hardly realised by a group of readers, based on the sometimes nonsensical ranting in the discussions, making one wonder whether to to take it as sarcastic humour or a very sad and grim given. The aforementioned article dealt with a personnel (ex)change of the Transmission Council of the Slovak Radio. Everywhere people come and people go, but when it pertains to let's say strategic positions, which should be in the public's interest, then of course the movements are to be watched a bit more closely. There is a clear tendency, that the influence of the governing parties is getting much stronger - where especially the HZDS (Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, the present coalition party lead by the very same Mečiar(!)). Not only has Mr Mečiar put a highly corrupt figure into the seat of the President of the Supreme Court, even the broadcasting will become a bit more 'partial'. It was in fact, as the article opens, the Prime Minister himself, who in 2007 openly declared "obviously, we [the coalition] have a an interest, to have people voted [into the Transmission Council], who represent our views". A statement, which in none of the decent democracies, would have been said without any immediate repercussions. Imagine the BBC becoming a propaganda instrument for Gordon Brown. People - especially in this new independent state - do not fully realise what a public broadcasting organisation is supposed to be. The perception, that it's a state radio (or equally TV) and therefore must be aligned with the government. This fact gives the present government exactly the necessary leeway to abuse this position, and you can guess what happens next. Slovak Television visibly lost some critical programmes (apparently as a cost saving exercise) while shallow entertainment came in lieu of it. I shall be fair to admit that the Slovak Radio in this respect is quality-wise still ahead, and does broadcast some reasonably fair discussions, but in my view it's not good enough. As highlighted in my previous two articles, the professionalism of independent reporters is pivotal to the democratic functioning of societies. Slovakia is becoming more and more visibly manipulated from above. Not just visibly, but also highly effectively. It all will now depend on the ethical and professional conscience of the journalists - together with those who have the 'right stuff' - whether to succumb to the dangerous trends or to withstand. Else things will indeed soon turn quite ugly. MS