New STA director takes office

"Press agencies are providing increasingly important support for the media, many of which cannot afford a wide network of journalists on the ground due to a demanding market," she told the STA.

One of her first tasks will be to ascertain the needs of Slovenian media "so that together we can shape a media landscape that provides credible information to the public".

"A well-informed public is a foundation of a democratic society and the role of credible media is becoming increasingly important in the face of the rise of social media and artificial intelligence," Prelesnik said.

For the STA to be able to fulfil its mission of informing the public and supporting other media outlets, a good legal framework is required, she said.

"Therefore, we want to be actively involved in the drafting of the new STA bill. The document must include solutions ensuring not only high, but above all stable and predictable funding, as well as institutional, financial and editorial autonomy.

"It must never happen again that the agency is left without funding for the public service it provides for the better part of a year," Prelesnik said.

The bill is currently in public debate. Among other things, it redefines public service, defines state funding as state aid, and lays down a formula to calculate the aid.

Prelesnik was appointed director by the supervisory board in April after Igor Kadunc resigned citing personal reasons. With Prelesnik finishing off term as information commissioner, former STA editor-in-chief Barbara Štrukelj served as acting director for a month and a half.

Prelesnik has served two terms as information commissioner, worked as deputy information commissioner under Nataša Pirc Musar, the current president of the republic, and before that served as the secretary general of the National Assembly.