Nordic Council of Ministers continues to fund independent Russian-language media in the Baltic continues in 2016

The Nordic Council of Ministers’ media funding aims to strengthen and promote the growth of independent Russian-language media and thus support the development of democracy and social inclusion in the Baltic countries. The majority of Estonia’s, Latvia’s, and Lithuania’s Russian-speaking populations currently depend solely on news and current affairs programming from Russian state-controlled television companies.

The council of ministers’ Baltic office is administering the funding programme.

Versatile funding package

Estonia’s Russian-language public service channel ETV+ will continue to receive funding in 2016. Funding in Latvia focuses on skills enhancement courses for journalists, while the programme in Lithuania aims at improving people’s ability to navigate this new media landscape, known as media literacy.

“Our funding objectives are a direct response to the needs of the recipient countries, while the positive results reflect how well our co-operation with the Baltic countries works,” says head of staff at the Nordic Council of Ministers’ secretariat, Kenneth Broman.

All funding takes place in co-operation with local partners, who also receive funding from other sources.