The influential British weekly "The Economist" analyzed data on press freedom and corruption in 180 countries over the past 80 years. Latvia is mentioned in a rather unfavorable context.
In a publication titled "As Global Press Freedom Declines, Corrupt Politicians Rejoice," it is stated that the publication, having analyzed data from the Swedish research project V-Dem over the past 80 years across 180 countries, identified a "vicious circle between silencing the media and the expansion of corruption," writes Kristine Kravcova in nra.lv.
Silencing and Corruption
How do media suppression and the rise of corruption interact? "The Economist" concludes that it all happens simply and inevitably: "Politicians who want to rob society have an incentive to silence the press. The tighter they silence it, the easier it becomes to steal. And the more hidden sins politicians accumulate, the stronger their incentive to suppress further critical publications. Our calculations show that if press freedom decreases from a level 'like in Canada' to a level 'like in Indonesia,' it can be predicted that the level of bribery will rise from 'as clean as in Ireland' to 'as dirty as in Latvia.' This process is gradual; it metastasizes over several years, so voters may only notice it after the next elections. The situation is worst under populist governments, which typically demonize their critics and seek to dismantle the institutions that limit their power."
Why So Harsh on Latvia?
The publication does not provide a direct answer to this question. However, it is implied that it concerns the methods by which the formally democratic power in Latvia allegedly silences the media. This occurs through the provision or, conversely, the withholding of funding, as well as through isolation from opportunities to obtain it.
"One of the most alarming trends is that governments positioning themselves as democratic increasingly use tools created by authoritarian regimes. Usually, they do not attempt to completely silence those who speak the truth. Rather, they seek to create a media environment in which voters hear an amplified praise of the ruling party and only a faint whisper of the opposition. They use taxpayer money to promote a favorable agenda: appoint loyalists to lead public broadcasting, direct budget funds to compliant newspapers, and push friendly magnates, dependent on civil infrastructure contracts, to absorb and neutralize independent media. At the same time, they make it difficult for critical publications to develop — and sometimes even survive. Those inclined to engage in investigative journalism find that the state not only refuses to place advertisements with them but also pressures private companies to distance themselves from such media. These publications may face constant tax audits and exhausting lawsuits. Many struggle for survival: in 160 out of 180 countries included in the 'Reporters Without Borders' study, news media are financially unstable," notes "The Economist."
Who Gets the Money in Latvia?
The publication does not analyze the situation in the Latvian media market in detail. However, it is worth noting that the dominant position is held by the state-owned and fully state-funded public media holding — Latvian Television, Latvian Radio, and the portal "lsm.lv." Its funding this year reached 0.14% of GDP, or 61 million euros.
Many media outlets supporting the current government have also not been left without state support. Their funding is also provided through state funds distributed via the programs of the Society Integration Foundation (SIF) — Media Support Fund (MAF).
Ahead of the elections on January 22 of this year, SIF announced the acceptance of applications for the MAF program competition "Support for National Media to Create Publicly Significant Content and Strengthen the National Cultural Space in the Latvian Language." Applications are accepted until February 19, 2026. The total amount of available financial support is 2,114,198.52 euros, with 1.92 million euros allocated for regional, local, diaspora media, and joint projects. The allocated funds must be utilized from June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027, including during the most intense pre-election campaign period.
These are far from the only media support programs. However, there is one condition: to qualify for these funds, media must be "correct" — adhere to a left-liberal position and support the current government, as well as be accepted into the "club of the chosen" — the Council on Ethics of Latvian Media, clarifies nra.lv. Only members of this organization are eligible to apply for state funds. Media that are not part of this organization must earn their keep independently, seek support from private entrepreneurs, or effectively fight for the preservation of a free press in Latvia.
From the context of "The Economist" publication, it follows that this is precisely the situation, and that is why Latvia is mentioned so unfavorably.
An Annoying but Necessary Profession for Society
At the same time, "The Economist" does not sing the praises of journalists. "Journalists can be annoying. They simplify. They exaggerate. Sometimes they make mistakes. They are disproportionately represented by university graduates, belong to the middle class, and tend to lean left, so their views often do not align with those of the rest of the population. When they act unethically — for example, when the BBC Panorama program showed misleadingly edited clips featuring President Donald Trump — people understandably felt deceived. Trust in news media in wealthy countries has declined, especially with the rise of social media, which allows for widespread criticism of their mistakes. Therefore, some may now be indifferent to the fact that journalism has problems. However, it is in their interest that this indifference does not prevail. Journalists have many flaws, but if they are forbidden to do their job, the consequences will be catastrophic. When a strong journalism system is destroyed, it is hard to restore. A world with less press freedom will be dirtier and worse governed," reminds the influential British publication.
