Today, Vaiva Žukienė, Chair of the Media Support Fund Council, Rasa Navickienė, Deputy Chair of the Council, and administration representatives Ruslanas Iržikevičius, Director, and Ramona Žalakevičienė, Advisor, met with Kęstutis Vilkauskas, Chair of the Seimas Committee on Culture. The meeting discussed the MRF budget for 2026, the growing funding needs, and strategically important areas.
Fund Director Ruslanas Iržikevičius emphasised that there has been a significant increase in the number of applications and the amounts requested in both project and activity funding sub-programmes. However, funding opportunities are not growing at the same pace, resulting in a sharp decline in the funding ratio. This has been noted by the Fund’s experts, the Fund’s Council, and the public. An increase in funding for the Media Support Fund is necessary to maintain a vibrant, diverse, and independent media in Lithuania.
During the consultation, considerable attention was also paid to funding for regional and national minority media. It was discussed that regional media is one of the pillars of democracy, ensuring the availability of information throughout Lithuania, especially for local communities. Without state support, many regional editorial offices would not survive, and information “deserts” pose a threat to democracy. It is MRF funding that prevents such “deserts” from emerging.
It was also emphasised that the media of national minorities contribute significantly to the preservation of national identity and the promotion of citizenship and integration. It is an important tool for combating the threats posed by propaganda and disinformation. The Fund’s funding ensures that media published, created, or broadcast in national minority languages is accessible and of high quality. It has been agreed that a strong, independent media, especially regional and national minority media, is an essential element of national security and should therefore be reflected in funding priorities.
