Media watchdog: LSM board not to blame for storm coverage gaps, but processes need fixing

Latvia's Council for Electronic Mass Media (SEPLP) has concluded that the public broadcaster LSM did not provide sufficiently timely information to residents during storm recovery efforts, a period when radio FM broadcasts were the only source of current information for many people due to power and communications outages. The council said the shortfall stemmed from editorial decisions rather than actions of the LSM board, and therefore found no grounds to dismiss the board or any of its members.

The decision follows an explanation submitted by the LSM board regarding the broadcaster's work on August 22-23, and a hearing with the board on August 27. SEPLP acknowledged that the board acted promptly within its authority over the weekend, ensuring service continuity and coordinating responsible units.

Deadlines set

The LSM board must evaluate the actions of officials responsible for continuity and public service delivery during that period by October 15. By December 1, it must update internal regulations and job descriptions, establish clear procedures for editorial decision-making when communications are lost, and ensure resources can be quickly reallocated between news services in favor of radio. Readiness must also be tested through drills. By March 31, 2027, the board must assess whether structural changes are needed to ensure quality informational and analytical content.

The council stated that the merger process forming LSM as a unified company has not reduced editorial autonomy for news services or the LSM.lv portal. However, the crisis exposed a problem: autonomy among different units led to conflicting decisions on news pace and resource allocation, while cooperation and efficiency were lacking.

SEPLP acknowledged that staff acted responsibly and dedicatedly, adjusting program content and providing special news bulletins, but noted that August 23 called for greater resource pooling and stronger initiative from journalists and producers earlier in the morning.

The Saeima's Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee is set to discuss LSM's role in crisis situations on September 2.