Thousands rally in Prague in support of public media

Thousands of people gathered on Old Town Square on Tuesday to protest against a proposed overhaul of public media financing which they fear would undermine media independence. The protest, titled “Hands Off the Media”, was organized by the civic group Million Moments for Democracy.

The organizers are demanding the withdrawal of a proposed bill that would make the country’s broadcasters dependent on state finances and an end to what they describe as efforts to bring Czech Television and Czech Radio under political control.

A petition titled Hands Off the Media, has already collected around 170,000 signatures.

Speakers highlighted the historic role of public media in 1945, 1968 and 1989 when they became the voice of resistance and the struggle for freedom, telling the crowd that the time had now come to defend Czech radio and television from politicians.