Arseniy Yatsenyuk at the presentation of "UA: Public Broadcasting": Public broadcasting should be independent of authorities and have independent funding sources
In the course of organization of a public broadcasting it is important to
deprive of the influence of authorities in the process of formation of bodies to
manage a new public television and also to provide an opportunity to have
independent sources of funding, stressed Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy
Yatsenyuk during presentation of a national public broadcaster on Tuesday,
April 7.
The Head of Government noted it had been decades till the country could launch
a public broadcasting service. He reminded that the first attempt to establish
public television had been made back in 1997, when the Parliament had passed a
relevant law, but it was never signed by the President.
Arseniy Yatsenyuk also reminded that in 2005 the Council of Europe
"clearly stated that Ukraine should carry out a comprehensive reform and ensure
the transition of UT-1 state channel to the high-quality public television".
He stressed that during the Soviet era there had been created “a large, deep-rooted
state machinery of the regional public service broadcasting": "Unfortunately,
UT-1 has also become part of this rather complicated and inefficient mechanism
that should be a tool to tell truth to the people."
At the same time, to speak the truth the media ought to be characterized
with maximum independency, the PM has explained.
In the process of organization of public television activities it is significant
both "to get rid of the influence of authorities on the formation of bodies
responsible for management of the new public television and to provide an
opportunity to have independent and guaranteed sources of funding", stressed
Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
|
Arseniy Yatsenyuk noted that during his discussion with Director
General of the National Television Company of Ukraine Zurab
Alasania on what shape should have a public
television, it was agreed on the need to abandon a public enterprise shape:
"Public television, in compliance with a decree of the Government, is
established as a public joint stock company. Not such a public company that
is directly controlled by the Ministry of Finance, the Government and the
Prime Minister, but as an exceptionally independent body with its own management
system". According to the Prime Minister, the public television plays a crucial
role in today's information war started by Russia: "Russia started a new
type of warfare, a hybrid war, which has spread not just to
eastern Ukraine and the entire Ukraine - Russian propaganda has already
reached the territory of the European Union what is openly declared by the EU". "That's why we should ensure people hear the truth, know what is
happening, to prevent manipulation of facts. And to ensure Ukrainian
journalism could become exemplary with regard to the global media standards –
in its ability to deliver true information, to obtain information, represent
facts and interpret clearly and fairly", he said. Arseniy Yatsenyuk emphasized that there was still a lot of work ahead,
both in organizational and financial planes. He expressed belief that before
the end of year there would be finalized all organizational activities, set
up a public joint stock company, approved the statute, "there will be established
new management and a new quality Ukrainian channel". The Prime Minister accentuated the quality of the Ukrainian public
broadcaster "should reach the BBC and CNN level": "So when you
turned on the TV, you wouldn’t like to turn it off, as you're watching Ukrainian
public television”. |