Ombudsman finds media support reasoning wrong, decision still valid

The Parliamentary Ombudsman has asked the Media Support Committee to give more precise reasons when rejecting applications for media support, Kringvarp Føroya reported.

A media outlet complained about the reasons given for rejecting support for eight of the nine projects it had applied to fund.

The committee said the rejected applications had been placed in the category of “not eligible” because other applications were judged stronger overall and therefore given priority.

The ombudsman concluded that the committee’s reasoning was directly incorrect. However, the decision itself was not invalid, and no further action will be taken in the case.

The committee has been asked to improve its reasoning when rejecting applications. A new decision stating that the applications were not eligible would therefore produce the same result, but with the correct justification.

Jóhanna Arge served as acting Parliamentary Ombudsman in the case. An acting ombudsman is appointed when the presiding body of the Faroese Parliament determines that the Parliamentary Ombudsman has a conflict of interest.

Last year, the Media Support Committee received 92 applications from eight applicants. They sought more than 8.22 million Faroese kroner, while 2.9 million kroner was available.