On 20 April, the Media Support Fund team attended a discussion organised by Transparency International’s Lithuanian chapter in collaboration with the news portal 15min.lt, entitled ‘Does what is called the media look like the media and is it the media?’.
At the event, representatives from various institutions and organisations discussed the role and potential of the Information System for Producers and Distributors of Public Information (hereinafter VIRSIS) in ensuring media transparency, examined cases of abuse, and identified existing gaps and needs. They considered who should register in the system, what constitutes a media outlet, and which of these should be granted free access to data from state registers.
Participants in the discussion included Deividas Velkas, Head of the Public Information and Copyright Policy Group at the Ministry of Culture; Žydrūnas Radišauskas, Head of the Legal Department at the Centre of Registers; Dainius Radzevičius, Inspector of Journalistic Ethics; Jūratė Damulytė, Editor of the Investigations Department at “15min.lt”, and Ingrida Kalinauskienė, Head of the Lithuanian Chapter of “Transparency International”. The discussion was moderated by journalist Aurimas Perednis.
During the event, Ruslanas Iržikevičius, Director of the Media Support Fund, emphasised that, just as the Media Support Fund only allocates funding after verifying that public information providers meet certain requirements, and that access to data via the VIRSIS platform should only be granted to those producers who meet certain professional and credibility criteria.
Participants in the discussion agreed that the system requires a steward, clear objectives and regular review. It is planned to continue the discussion in other formats in search of practical solutions to make the VIRSIS platform an even more effective tool for ensuring transparency.
The VIRSIS system, which has been operational since 2023, allows users to search for, view and analyse data and information on media outlets and other producers and disseminators of public information operating in Lithuania (publishers, advertising, public relations agencies, independent creators), and see their links with other media outlets, politicians, etc. Currently, the system is managed by the Ministry of Culture, with the Centre of Registers acting as the data controller. The Media Support Fund relies on VIRSIS data when assessing the administrative compliance of public information producers and/or disseminators who have submitted applications for funding.
