Vooglaid: Government Strengthens Control Over ERR Under the Guise of Independence

Varro Vooglaid writes that increasing the number of expert members on the public broadcaster's council does not guarantee ERR's independence if their appointment remains in the coalition's hands. According to the author, the reform makes it easier for the government to appoint a favourable board and remove unwanted executives. In essence, it is a growth of control disguised under the slogan of independence.

Public service media independence is a cornerstone of democracy – a principle repeatedly emphasised in Estonia. Yet social critic Varro Vooglaid argues that the planned ERR council reform does precisely the opposite: it masks government's growing influence with fine-sounding rhetoric.

Expert members are not independent

Vooglaid's core argument is straightforward: as long as the appointment of the public broadcaster's so-called expert council members depends on the ruling coalition, increasing their numbers adds not an iota of independence to ERR. On the contrary – the more the coalition can place its preferred "experts" on the council, the easier it becomes to shape a compliant board and exclude unwanted executives.

Control under the cover of reform

According to Vooglaid, this is a classic political manoeuvre where the real aim is control, but public rhetoric speaks of independence. Such an approach is particularly dangerous because the formal change – growth in the number of expert members – appears at first glance credible and professional. In reality, however, it means the coalition has more leverage to shape ERR's editorial principles.

What actually needs to change

To ensure genuine independence, the process of appointing expert members should be removed from direct government influence – for instance, by entrusting it to professional associations, civil society organisations, or parliament on the basis of broader consensus. Until this happens, any reform that promises "more professionalism" remains in practice a tool through which those in power strengthen their grip.