RUV's headquarters at Efstaleiti, Reykjavík.
Published Wednesday, a report by a committee commissioned by the Ministry of Culture last spring to look into RUV’s affairs, criticizes the “almost totalitarian power of the Director over programming, staff and policy” and finds the arrangement “undemocratic and untransparent in a company which has an important cultural and democratic remit and operates a public service.”
The report also criticizes the director’s other role as a news announcer, as affecting his credibility as a guardian of RUV’s interests. It also finds fault with his decision to allow RUV’s Programme Director to also act as editor and host of the daily current affairs magazine Kastljós, pointing out this could compromise his decisions in regard to other programmes. The programme director resigned last week, citing personal reasons.
The report, highly critical of Mr. Magnússon’s professional conduct, suggests that the Director’s term of office should be limited and the job advertised. The same should apply to other key members of RUV’s staff.
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