In this blog post, we will comprehensively examine and analyze the major challenges facing the Czech media—concentration of media ownership, the erosion of political independence in the media, the spread of misinformation, and distrust of journalists.

Introduction

As a public good, the media plays a pivotal role in fulfilling citizens’ right to know by providing accurate and impartial information, and in representing diverse voices within society. Therefore, freedom of the press and editorial independence are essential for the development of democracy, and factors that undermine them degrade the quality of public discourse and erode public trust. However, the Czech media has recently faced complex challenges, including the concentration of media ownership, political bias, the spread of misinformation, and distrust of journalists. This paper examines these issues in detail, exploring their causes, impacts, and possible solutions.

Main Body

Media Ownership in the Czech Republic

Media ownership in the Czech Republic is showing a trend toward increasing concentration, raising concerns that editorial diversity and independence may be undermined. According to various sources, as of 2023, a few major groups account for a significant share of the Czech media market; figures vary depending on the source, with some reporting that the top five groups hold over 70% of the market, while others indicate that the top four groups hold over 70%. Since these discrepancies may stem from differences in the scope of the surveys (e.g., whether regional, national, broadcast, or online media are included), the severity of ownership concentration must be assessed by synthesizing data from multiple sources.
As a specific example, the Mafra Group, formerly owned by former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, has faced criticism for wielding significant influence through its ownership of major Czech media outlets. The original text of the paragraph states that Mafra “owns a total of 4 out of 13 outlets in this segment of the sample” and holds various media outlets, including Lidové noviny, Pražský deník, Pražská zelená, TV Nova, and Radiožurnál. This raised concerns that former Prime Minister Babiš could use the media for political and personal gain, but there have since been reports that Babiš sold Mafra.
Meanwhile, Daily Právo, its sister website Novinky.cz, and the newspaper Deník N are cited as some of the few media outlets considered to be independent of their owners’ political and financial interests. In particular, Deník N is described as a project established by six Czech entrepreneurs (some of whom are founders of NFNZ) through the Independent Media Foundation. Ultimately, the phenomenon of a small number of individuals and companies controlling a significant portion of the media market can limit diverse perspectives and potentially undermine editorial independence, while media acquisitions by domestic billionaires carry the risk that they may use the media to promote their own agendas.

Political Independence of the Czech Media

Assessments repeatedly point out that the political independence of the Czech media remains fragile. The Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom (CMPF) has evaluated the presence and effectiveness of safeguards against political bias and political control over media outlets, news agencies, and distribution networks, noting that Czech legislation fails to adequately regulate conflicts of interest between media owners and politicians.
In particular, the case of media outlets owned by former Prime Minister Babiš has drawn criticism for producing coverage favorable to the government, and the media structure’s heavy reliance on advertising revenue has amplified concerns that it cannot be completely free from political and commercial influence.
The literature notes that Babiš recently sold Mafra, citing political reasons behind the sale, such as the strengthening of conflict-of-interest laws (scheduled to take effect in January 2024) that prohibit members of parliament and the government from owning media companies. Additionally, Babiš previously transferred Agrofert to a trust fund in 2017.
According to the explanation accompanying the indicator labeled “Figure 1,” a high-risk score does not merely signify direct evidence of political control over the media; it also reflects a lack of self-regulatory mechanisms governing editorial independence. Furthermore, the 2015 “Freedom of the Press” report notes that some Czech media professionals reported experiencing self-censorship, particularly in media outlets where owners had political and business connections.

The Spread of Fake News and Misinformation in the Czech Republic

The spread of fake news and misinformation has emerged as a serious problem in the Czech Republic as well. With the proliferation of social media and online platforms, misinformation spreads rapidly, causing confusion in the public opinion-forming process and degrading the quality of democratic discourse. This phenomenon is exacerbated by a lack of fact-checking mechanisms and the ease of sharing information.
In specific figures, AKA data indicates that 181,317 articles containing fake news were reported in 2019, a figure noted to be double that of 2016. Furthermore, according to the Czechia in Data project, Czech disinformation websites published nearly 200,000 online posts “last year,” a figure reported to be approximately 6% higher than in 2020. These statistics suggest a continuing upward trend in disinformation.
Policy responses are also under discussion. According to a February 2023 report, the Czech government is considering incorporating the spread of intentional information manipulation into the criminal code, a move aimed at clarifying the legal status of information manipulation and adjusting relevant criminal laws. Alongside these legal and institutional discussions, there is a need to strengthen media literacy education and expand fact-checking systems.

Distrust of Journalists in the Czech Republic

Distrust of journalists among the Czech public is also reported to be at a serious level, leading to a decline in media credibility. According to a 2015 opinion poll, the Czech public’s trust in the media was reported to be below 60%, and several factors contribute to this distrust.
First, the issue of media bias was cited. Many Czechs perceive the media as reporting in a way that reflects specific political leanings, and the pro-government reporting tendencies of the media owned by Babiš, mentioned earlier, are frequently cited as a prime example. Second is the problem of misinformation and distortion; the public perceives the media as failing to provide accurate information. Third is the commercialization and capitalist orientation of the media; it has been pointed out that the production of sensationalist and provocative stories to secure profits leads to a decline in trust.
The survey results labeled as ‘Figure 2’ appear to visually illustrate these reasons for distrust, and studies suggest that ensuring transparency in media ownership structures, guaranteeing the financial stability of media outlets, and strengthening the fairness and accountability of journalists are key tasks for restoring trust.

Conclusion

The Czech media faces complex challenges, including concentration of ownership, weakening political independence, the spread of misinformation, and distrust of journalists; these issues could hinder the development of Czech democracy. Therefore, it is necessary for the government, the media sector, and civil society to collaborate to develop a multi-layered response.
The following measures can be considered as concrete solutions. First, implementing competition and ownership regulation policies to mitigate media ownership concentration and enhancing transparency. Second, establishing legal and institutional mechanisms to strengthen editorial independence and self-regulatory mechanisms. Third, implementing criminal and administrative responses to misinformation while simultaneously expanding media literacy education and fact-checking infrastructure. Fourth, a strategy to restore trust by supporting the financial sustainability of media outlets and strengthening journalistic ethics and accountability.
When these efforts are pursued in tandem, the Czech media will be more likely to once again faithfully fulfill its role as a core institution of democracy.