President Rumen Radev emphasized that “democracy and freedom cannot exist without freedom of expression and pluralism” during the opening of the annual conference of the International Association of Public Media, held for the first time in Sofia.
In his address, President Radev underlined that in today’s increasingly polarized world, traditional media face a dual crisis — a loss of public trust and growing doubts about their independence. He noted that public broadcasters are operating under financial pressure, struggling with political and institutional influence, and confronting new technological challenges.
“Journalists must stand at the forefront of efforts to restore public confidence and strengthen public media,” Radev said, adding:
“At the front lines of the fight against social manipulation must be courageous journalists with a strong moral compass. They must seek and share the truth — even when that truth is uncomfortable for those in power. They must resist censorship and expose situations where censorship is disguised as ‘filtering out lies.’”
Radev also stressed the importance of financial independence for public media, pointing out that “in some cases, finance ministers have cut planned budgets simply because they disliked the coverage of their own governments.” He recalled witnessing past instances in which public broadcasters’ directors had to wait outside finance ministers’ offices to secure their annual budgets.
Referring to the theme of the conference, Radev posed a provocative question:
“We must ask ourselves: Who is afraid of ideas and arguments reaching the public? And perhaps an even more painful question — do people truly want to hear your arguments?”
The president noted that many people now seek “truth” on social media, where they find their own topics, spokespersons, and versions of reality.
“Unfortunately, today algorithms have replaced arguments, demagoguery has replaced pluralism, and fake news has replaced truth,” Radev warned. “Strengthening the role of public media is essential to safeguarding democracy.”
Concluding his remarks, President Radev stated:
“For people to hear your voice, the media must also listen to the voice of the people. True journalism is not just about amplifying the loudest voices — it is about understanding people’s concerns, fears, and hopes. Real media should not only witness problems but also lead the search for solutions. Media must both inform and educate, setting standards for society as a whole.”
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