CZECH MEDIA SIGN SELF-REGULATION MEMORANDUM WITH EMFA
The Czech media has prepared the first representative self-regulatory mechanism on the Czech market. The self-regulatory mechanism (known as the "self-regulatory decalogue") was created in cooperation with private and public media and organisations representing journalists. Its aim is to help maintain high standards of journalism and quality reporting in the Czech Republic. It contains a number of rules designed to ensure transparent and responsible journalism. Representatives of industry associations today signed a memorandum on this decalogue, formally completing the entire process of its adoption.
Today's signing is the result of more than a year of debate across the entire Czech media market. Representatives of private and public media as well as the journalistic community took part in the discussion. The first joint step was the adoption last August of the so-called "self-regulatory ten commandments", which define the principles of freedom, transparency and responsibility of the media towards the public.
To ensure that the ten commandments did not remain merely a formality, it was necessary to create a system for putting them into practice. The signatory associations (AKTV, AOV, APSV, ČUV, SPIR, CZ IPI and the Czech Syndicate of Journalists) therefore agreed in a memorandum on a clear procedure for individual media outlets to join, who will oversee compliance with the rules and how professional organisations will cooperate with each other.
Individual media outlets can now sign up to the memorandum. This option is open to both members and non-members of the associations, who can do so through the relevant signatory professional organisation that corresponds to their focus. More detailed information will be available on the websites of the signatory associations.
The main objective of the memorandum is to create a unified self-regulatory mechanism and improve the position of media service operators vis-à-vis large online platforms (VLOPs), against which Czech editorial offices can act as a strong and unified partner thanks to the agreement reached. Self-regulation was established in response to the European EMFA regulation.
"Today's signing of the self-regulation memorandum is the result of the first ever open and systematic debate across the Czech media market. Commercial and public service media and journalists have agreed on the basic principles of transparent, ethical and responsible journalism. We believe that the self-regulation decalogue will help to cultivate news reporting and guide viewers and readers in today's turbulent times,"
said Marek Singer, president of the Association of Commercial Television Stations.
"This is a unique moment for the Czech media market in two respects: for the first time in our post-revolutionary history, all the main professional organisations have agreed on common rules for market self-regulation. We see this as a crucial step at a time when it is increasingly difficult to distinguish relevant independent news from disinformation, propaganda in the interests of third countries, or unverified content created by AI. Secondly, this step also makes us a flagship for countries where self-regulation is still lacking or not functioning. We are pleased that the model we have created together in the Czech Republic is inspiring for many of our colleagues in Europe and that we can thus contribute to the cultivation of the media environment in other countries as well," said Lucie Sýkorová, member of the board of the Association of Online Publishers.
"The entire media market has chosen the path of self-regulation, a path without further state intervention. We are aware that it is crucial for the future of private radio stations and all national media to retain control over content, its distribution and monetisation. It is also a way to preserve independence. At the same time, we appreciate that EMFA is raising the issue of protecting the media from the dominance of global online platforms," Jiří Hrabák, Chairman of the Board of APSV.
"From the perspective of journalists themselves, professional self-regulation and setting standards is always better than any intervention by public authorities, regardless of who is in government," says Robert Čásenský, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Czech National Committee of the International Press Institute.
"Media freedom is neither a given nor a privilege – it is a responsibility. This memorandum is proof that the Czech media scene is capable of bearing this responsibility itself, openly and collectively," said Tomáš Tkačík, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Czech Union of Publishers.
"The digital media market is evolving faster than any regulation. That is why we consider self-regulation to be the most effective way to protect media independence, content transparency and a level playing field with global online platforms. The memorandum is an important signal that the Czech media want to bear this responsibility together," said Michal Hanák, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Association for Internet Development in the Czech Republic.
"The fact that media partners and competitors have been able to agree together shows that they take this commitment seriously. Among other things, it is also a clear signal to government officials that the Czech media market is not a jungle but a field with clear rules that all participants have committed to follow," Ivana Šuláková, Chair of the Czech Syndicate of Journalists.
