National Focal Point

Mr Zeljko Martyn SAMPOR, National coordinator on protection of journalists and media pluralism policies

National Campaign Committee

The Platform for the Promotion of Press Freedom and the Protection of Journalists acts as the Slovak national committee within the Journalists Matter Campaign, coordinating and implementing commitments arising from international and national initiatives to promote press freedom and protect journalists in Slovakia.

The Platform is a permanent expert coordinating body with the following mandate and scope:

• Propose measures to central state and public administration bodies to support freedom of the press and protect journalists, aligned with the Slovak Constitution and international obligations (EU, Council of Europe, UN, OSCE).
• Participate in preparation of national reports on press freedom and journalist protection relevant to international commitments.
• Present analyses, draft opinions, and resolutions on draft laws and policies affecting press freedom and journalist protection.
• Participate in creating and monitoring strategies and action plans in these areas, providing expert input where necessary.
• Cooperate with ministries, public bodies, civil society, local governments, academic institutions, and NGOs to further press freedom and safety objectives.
• Encourage the exchange of information and statistical data on press freedom and journalist protection

The Platform is chaired by the National Contact Point for the Journalists Matter Campaign and is composed of representatives from both state institutions and media sector stakeholders:

• Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic
• Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic
• Presidium of the Police Force of the Slovak Republic
• Slovak National Centre for Human Rights (SNSLP)
• Public Defender of Rights
• Council for Media Services
• Office for the Protection of Whistleblowers
• Government Plenipotentiary for the Development of Civil Society
• Public broadcasting service
• Association of Print and Digital Media
• Association of Television Broadcasters of Slovakia
• Association of Radios of Slovakia
• Print and Digital Council of the Slovak Republic
• Reporters Without Borders
• Ján Kuciak Investigative Centre
• Three elected senior editors from nationwide media outlets meeting defined ethical criteria

2025 update

Following a temporary interruption caused by personnel changes and the inability to reach a quorum, the Platform for the Promotion of Press Freedom and the Protection of Journalists resumed its activities at the end of 2025 after an agreement was reached to renew and supplement its membership.

Slovakia continued strengthening its framework for media self-regulation and co-regulation. In 2025, the Media Services Council registered the Association for the Protection of Journalistic Ethics (AONE) as a recognised self-regulatory body, expanding the existing co-regulatory mechanism in the media sector. Requests concerning media content may now be referred to the relevant self-regulatory body where a media outlet has committed to comply with the applicable code of ethics.

Further work was undertaken to strengthen the protection of journalists and media freedom. A draft methodology for police procedures aimed at protecting journalists during high-risk mass events was prepared and is expected to be adopted in 2026. In addition, the Slovak Police developed Principles of Sensitive Media Reporting on Cases of Violent Extremism, intended to support ethical reporting and enhance journalists’ safety when covering terrorist attacks and violent extremist incidents.

Slovakia also advanced preparations for the implementation of European and Council of Europe standards on countering SLAPPs. In November 2025, a draft law transposing the EU Anti-SLAPP Directive was submitted for public consultation. The draft goes beyond the scope of the Directive and incorporates elements of the Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)2.