Nova24TV

Nova24TV
Launched March 1, 2016 (2016-03-01)
Owned by NovaTV24.si, d. d., Nova hiša d.o.o.[1][2]
Slogan "Prvi v službi resnice" / "The First in the Service of the Truth"
Country Slovenia
Language Slovene
Broadcast area Slovenia
Headquarters Linhartova cesta 13
Ljubljana
Website http://nova24tv.si/
Nova24TV
Type of site
Politics
News and opinion
Tabloid
Available in Slovene, English
Owner NovaTV24.si, d. d., Nova hiša d.o.o.
Editor Miro Petek
Website http://nova24tv.si
Launched October 15, 2015 (2015-10-15)

Nova24TV is a Slovenian right-wing[3] news media conglomerate consisting of a television channel, radio station, and online news portal.[4][5] Nova24TV was founded by members and supporters of the Slovenian Democratic Party.[3][6][7] The news media organisation's stated mission is to provide an alternative perspective that reflects the values of the European right.[8][9]

History

Plans to create a media company were first made public by Slovenian Democratic Party leader and former prime minister Janez Janša at a meeting of senior party members in mid-2015.[10][4] The media company was established on 7 Jul 2015, after ensuring sufficient capital.[11] Initial investments were made by individuals committed to the project (mostly SDS members and individuals associated with the party). Additional funding was to be obtained by sales of shares.[12]

The launch of the media company was fraught with issues. Broadcasting of the Nova24TV channel was initially scheduled to commence on 1 December 2015,[13][14] but the launch was subsequently postponed several times.[15][13][16] The media company is also allegedly plagued by internal conflicts and lacks skilled technicians and other staff, which has led to broadcasting issues.[17][18][19] The company was also met with difficulties when attempting to launch it's radio station.[20]

Since its inception, the media company has struggled to procure sufficient funding for its operations. The startup capital obtained by the sale of shares to individual investors was assumed to be sufficient for two years of continuous operations, however, by late summer of 2016 (less than a year since the beginning of operations), the company was in need of additional funds. Company chairman Aleš Hojs stated that instead of seeking funding from existing shareholders, the company will seek to attract a strategic partner, preferably European companies that manage media. Hojs also stated that they will remain committed to the rule that no single shareholder can own more than 20% of stock in the company.[21] Miro Petek, Nova24TV's editor-in-chief, allegedly met with Italian media executives associated with former Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, to seek financial support. When asked to comment, Petek declined to answer.[17] The financial woes of Nova24TV were partially alleviated after three Hungarian media companies (all with deep ties to the Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán and his party) bailed out Nova24TV to the amount of €800,000,[3][22] and purchased, in total, 45.44% of the company's shares. The owners of nearly half of NovaTV24.si shares are, however, still undisclosed.[23] Restructuring the company in a way that would allow public financing was also considered.[24] In April 2018, Hungarian investors again bailed out Nova24TV's holding companies with some €800,000 in additional capital, possibly with the aim of indirectly and surreptitiously contributing funds for SDS's electoral efforts.[25]

An article published by Svet24 claims that by early 2017, though initially offered decent wages, many employees and contributors worked for minimum wages or even volunteered to work without pay.[18]

Content

Nova24TV offers coverage and content with an explicit right-wing perspective. Coverage about economic issues often critique the welfare state, state ownership of enterprises, the public sector and public healthcare, and advocate free-market capitalism. Anti-immigration[3] and anti-Islamic content is common. Coverage of international politics is often favorable to right-wing politicians, such as Donald Trump and Victor Orban, the latter having granted Nova24TV an exclusive interview.[23][26][3] Many news articles regarding international issues are based on articles originally published by Breitbart, The Daily Mail, The Daily Caller, Bild, and other right-wing news media organisations.

Criticism

Anti-semitism accusations

During an interview on Nova24TV, economist and former state secretary in Janša's cabinet, Brnard Brščič,[27] stated that the "alleged" Holocaust is a ploy by Jews intended to cause collective guilt so that a "multicultural dystopia" could be established. The comments drew widespread condemnation from the public sphere, including the director of the Slovenian Jewish Cultural Center, Robert Waltl, who said he would press charges (Holocaust denial is a classified as a hate crime in the Slovenian criminal code). Nova24TV's editor-in-chief, Miro Petek, stated that the media company is intended to present readers with a multitude of points of view. The Nova24TV news portal later republished an article arguing that the Holocaust is a historic fabrication and that the Second World War was caused by Jewish bankers so that Jews could be martyred to facilitate the establishment of a Jewish state.[28][29][30] The news portal has also published multiple articles about the alleged surreptitious and sinister influence of George Soros on world and local Slovenian politics.[31]

False reporting

In November 2017, Nova24TV published an online report alleging that a Romani child raped a fellow student in the bathroom of a Ribnica elementary school. The report further alleged that the principal of the school attempted to prevent the information from going public by demanding silence from school officials and even the police, and that there had been multiple crimes committed on school grounds in the past, mostly by Roma children whom the school leadership treated with leniency. The story was based on information provided by a reader. The report was harshly rebuked as false by representatives of the school, Ljubljana police department, and Ribnica municipality. Police did indeed intervene on school grounds due to a report of a criminal offense involving two minors, however, all parties with knowledge of the event denied that any form of sexual assault had taken place. Further details could not be disclosed due to privacy protection rules regarding minors. A school representative stated that the incident represented an isolated event and was not indicative of a systemic problem. Nova24TV later retracted the story and published a correction.[32][33][34]

In July 2018, Nova24TV, citing "reliable sources", reported that a "group of migrants sexually assaulted two underage Slovene women", going on to claim that the incident supposedly ended with some of the migrants raping the pair. The incident allegedly took place at the autonomous alternative culture centre Metelkova. The report goes on to state that though the incident was not reported to the police, their claims were "veryfied by Metelkova", and that "this sadly is not an isolated case, however, the mainstream media often goes to great lengths not to report on incidents committed by migrants".[35] Other media organisations were unable to independently verify the claims made in the Nova24TV report. After the publication of the Nova24TV article, police investigated whether any crimes had been committed, but learned that no Metelkova administrator had confirmed the claims (contrary to what the original reporting alleged). Police also sought information regarding possible crimes in the field at the location itself, but to no avail.[36][37]

Defamation

In August 2017, Nova24TV published paparazzi-style photos of Violeta Tomić, an MP of Slovenian political party, The Left (then United Left), surreptitiously taken during a ferry ride while Tomić was on vacation. One of the photo depicted her sitting with spread legs. The photos were published under the headline "Not at all Ladylike: United Left Member of Parliament Violeta Tomić was 'Airing It' in Short-Shorts on a Ferry Heading for Vis". The article goes on to state that Tomić "is not known in parliament neither for elegant clothing nor ladylike behaviour", and that "it is not proper for an MP of her age to parade around in such high-cut shorts". The article further states that the photos were taken by a "reader", who was "shocked" when the MP sat up in such a way as to reveal "the inside of her thighs and more for all to see ... [The reader] Sarcastically added: 'Maybe she had to ventilate it.'" The article also contained snide remarks about her only being accompanied by her dog, and her putative flirtations with men on the ferry.[38][39]

In a lawsuit brought against Nova24TV over the article by Tomić, the Ljubljana local court ruled that the publication of the photos themselves does not constitute an encroachment upon Tomić's right to privacy, despite having been shot without her authorisation or prior knowledge, and while on vacation abroad, as she is a public figure, being an actress as well as a politician. However, the court ruled that the text contained in the article constitutes defamation, as do some of the comments published under the article, which the court ruled must be removed by the news portal. The court furthermore found that the author of the article intended to "devalue" the plaintiff who is of a different political orientation as the author, and mainly wished to "create an image" of the plaintiff as unfit to serve as MP. The malicious intent of the article was furthermore evidenced by the negative anonymous comments it evoked. The court ruled Nova24TV is to pay €6,000 in damages to Tomić, and ordered Nova24TV to issue a public apology.[40][39][41]

Commenting on the ruling, a Nova24TV representative stated they consider the ruling wholly unjustified and a grave infringement against freedom of speech, and that they will appeal the ruling, including up to the European Court of Human Rights, if need be.[39]

The article that was the basis for the lawsuit was not the only instance of Nova24TV making disparaging comments regarding Tomić's age and appearance, however. In January 2018, Nova24TV published another article, entitled "What's Happening with Violeta Tomić? Even Makeup Can No Longer Hide Her Eye Circles", which made numerous allusions to Tomić's appearance, extensively noting that she looks very old for her age, focusing explicitly on "black circles under her eyes, ashen-white skin, and loose skin on her neck, which she is always quick to hide with a scarf", implying she has a drinking problem, and concluding "like without, like within".[42] After Tomić posted on her personal Facebook profile complaining that someone took photos of her crotch with a telephoto lens-equipped camera while she was basking in a bathing suit by a river during the summer, Nova24TV published an article soliciting the photographs and even offering monetary compensation, stating that it will not be discouraged by "political pressures", alluding to the lawsuit it lost only months prior.[43]

SDS electoral campaign bypass financing

Less than a week before the 2018 Slovenian parliamentary election, news reports revealed that SDS-affiliated media companies - including Nova24TV - received some €800.000 in bailouts from two Hungarian nationals (or, rather, their companies) just months before the election (bringing the total amount SDS-affiliated media companies received from Hungarian entities to over €2.2M). Both individuals had close ties to Hungarian president Viktor Orbán. These SDS-affiliated media companies than purchased campaign adds for SDS.[25][44][45]

Political ties

Though asserting itself as an independent news media company,[46][9] Nova24TV has deep ties to the biggest opposition party in the Slovenian parliament, the Slovenian Democratic Party, with many of its co-founders also members of the party.[47][48][3] The plans to create a new media company were first made public when the party's leader, Janez Janša, voiced the party's support for the project.[8][10] As the name of the project was revealed only later, it was often referred to as Janša TV by the media until the official name was announced. During the media company's formation, two thirds of SDS members of parliament were also co-founders (stakeholders) in the company.[47][49] Nova24TV shares offices with those of other SDS media projects.[3][25]

References

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  2. "NovaTV24.si, informativna televizija, d.d.", bizi.si, retrieved 2017-01-29
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