Czech public media staff hold one-day strike against funding overhaul plan

The short version

• Public radio and television workers in the Czech Republic held a one-day strike on Tuesday.[Associated Press · ABC News]
• The protest targets a plan led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to replace regular fees with state budget funding.[Associated Press · ABC News]
• Critics, including European press groups, warn the model could threaten editorial independence and give the ruling coalition control over media.[Associated Press · ABC News]
• Michal Kubal, Czech Television's chief news editor, called the strike unprecedented in the history of Czech public service media.[Associated Press · ABC News]

Key facts

• Public media workers held a one-day strike on Tuesday to protest a government plan to overhaul public broadcaster funding.[Associated Press · ABC News]
• The plan is led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.[Associated Press · ABC News]
• Under the plan, public radio and television would be financed from the state budget instead of regular fees from individuals, households and businesses.[Associated Press · ABC News]
• Michal Kubal, chief news editor at Czech Television, said the strike is unprecedented in the history of Czech public service media.[Associated Press · ABC News]
• A joint statement from the European Federation of Journalists, Reporters Without Borders and other groups said the funding model opens the door to political pressure.[Associated Press · ABC News]
• Critics say the overhaul would give the ruling three-party coalition the means to take control of the media.[Associated Press · ABC News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Czech public media workers go on strike over a government plan to overhaul their fundingABC News - International
• Czech public media workers go on strike over a government plan to overhaul their fundingAssociated Press · Wire: associated-press