Freedom of expression and media diversity
Diversity of information and independent media strengthen democracy. They impart knowledge, provide information and present different voices, perspectives and opinions in public discourse. In this way, they ensure the free formation and expression of opinions. They enable people to actively participate in social and political life. An informed public is the basic prerequisite for the functioning of constitutional and democratic states.
Media concentration has been increasing throughout Europe for years. This is mainly due to mergers between large media companies, takeovers of regional newspapers by a few national groups and the strong market position of global platforms such as Google, Meta and Amazon in the digital advertising market. As a result, traditional media are coming under financial pressure, local reporting is declining and public opinion is increasingly being shaped by a smaller number of players. At the same time, social media is further fragmenting information channels.
Media Promotion Act
Due to the small market, practically all private media in Liechtenstein are dependent on media subsidies. In 2023, the government submitted a reform of the Media Promotion Act for consultation. The aim of this was to maintain and strengthen media diversity, pluralism of opinion and the free formation of opinion in Liechtenstein. To achieve this goal, the government proposed an increase in basic funding, greater support for digital and young media, better qualification of journalistic work and adjustments to the Media Commission.
The reform was discussed in parliament during the reporting year and passed unanimously in December. The reform will strengthen micro-media in particular, for example by increasing the basic contribution to media professionals and introducing start-up funding and higher funding quotas for further training and distribution. At the same time, it promotes digital and innovative information offerings. The Media Commission has been strengthened and the basis for a binding code of conduct for journalists has been established. This has improved the basis for diversity of information and reliable information. The new law will come into force on January 1, 2025.
Media concentration
Europe-wide media concentration did not stop at Liechtenstein. In March 2023, the Liechtensteiner Volksblatt was closed for economic reasons. This left the "Liechtensteiner Vaterland" as the only daily newspaper in Liechtenstein, which is published by the same publishing house together with the weekly newspaper "LIEWO".
At the end of the reporting year, the public radio station Radio Liechtenstein was discontinued. In October of the reporting year, a referendum held by the Democrats for Liechtenstein (DpL) party led to the decision to repeal the Liechtenstein Broadcasting Act and discontinue funding for Radio Liechtenstein at the end of the year - 55.4% of the population voted in favor. Until then, Radio Liechtenstein had a stable audience (around 11,400 daily listeners in Liechtenstein in 2021). An attempt to privatize the station failed.
What remains is the private television station 1FLTV, which provides around one hour of daily local reporting on politics, society, culture and sport, as well as public information platforms such as the national channel or the municipal channels. The online newspaper lie:zeit has been published weekly since 2013.
The closure of Liechtensteiner Volksblatt and Radio Liechtenstein will significantly weaken media diversity in Liechtenstein. This will further reduce the diversity and quality of information. It is to be hoped that the new Media Promotion Act will succeed in promoting the development of new, high-quality media formats, including small ones, so that media diversity, pluralism of opinion and the free formation of opinion can be preserved and strengthened.
