BH Journalists Association (BHJA) join European and international journalists’ organisations, trade unions and associations, as well as numerous national media organisations, in expressing solidarity with our colleagues in the Czech Republic: the Czech Journalists’ Syndicate (Syndikát novinářů České republiky – SNČR), employees of Czech Television (ČT) and Czech Radio (ČRo), as well as all citizens of the Czech Republic who have stood up in defence of independent public service media.

Employees of Czech Television and Czech Radio are going on a one-day strike on 3 November, with protest rallies scheduled for 4:36 p.m. The time of the rallies symbolically refers to 4:36 a.m., when the government pushed through the first reading of the proposed law in parliament.

“Public service media belong to the citizens. As one of the foundations of democracy, their role is to inform the public, hold those in power accountable, and provide diverse and verified information. In order to fulfil this task, they must be completely free from political influence,” states the letter of support, signed by more then 30 organisations, which further reads:

“We are following with great concern the actions of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s government. On Saturday, 24 October 2026, at 4:36 a.m., the ruling coalition pushed through the first reading in parliament of a legislative proposal that would abolish the broadcasting licence fee for Czech Television and Czech Radio. The proposed changes would make both public service media organisations directly dependent on the state budget, while simultaneously reducing their funding by approximately 15 per cent.

Such a funding model opens the door to political pressure and threatens editorial independence. When public service media depend on annual budget decisions made by those in power, there is a serious risk that funding will become a tool for influencing journalism and editorial decisions. This is precisely why the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) requires adequate, sustainable and predictable funding for public service media and guarantees their editorial and functional independence.

We are encouraged by the thousands of Czech citizens protesting to protect public service media. On Sunday, 25 October 2026, large demonstrations against the proposed changes to media legislation were held at Old Town Square in Prague and in cities across the country. The message of the demonstrators was clear: public service media must remain independent of political influence.

These protests show that citizens understand the importance of independent journalism. At the same time, they remind us that this is not merely about journalists’ jobs and their professional rights, but about every citizen’s right to credible information, free from political interference.

That is why, on 3 November, we stand firmly alongside the employees of Czech Television and Czech Radio as they go on strike to protect the future of public service media. We support their right to organise, protest and defend their professional independence, dignity at work, and the public’s fundamental right to independent information.

We know that the independence of public service media is not always lost through open censorship or direct political orders. It can be gradually undermined through legislative changes, financial pressure and the creation of an atmosphere of insecurity in which journalists and editors find it increasingly difficult to work freely, without fear of consequences.

Our Czech colleagues are not alone.

We call on the Czech authorities to withdraw measures that threaten the independence of public service media, respect European media freedom standards, and guarantee stable, sustainable and independent funding for Czech Television and Czech Radio.

We wish to send a clear message to our colleagues in the Czech Republic: your struggle is part of a common European struggle for public service media that serve citizens, not those in power. Public service media belong to the citizens. Their independence is not a privilege of journalists, but a right that belongs to us all.”