Public service media operating in the public interest are among the key pillars of democratic societies. To fulfil their mission, they require editorial and institutional autonomy, transparent governance, and stable funding. These conditions can be undermined by political pressures and interventions, especially in times of crisis. The covid-19 pandemic created circumstances in which media vulnerability increased and, in some countries, including Slovenia, enabled stronger political interference in the media field. This master's thesis examines the mechanisms of political influence on public service media in Slovenia between 2020 and 2022. The theoretical part defines the normative role of public service media and situates Slovenia within the comparative context of post-communist countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The analysis draws on the concepts of political instrumentalization and party colonisation. The empirical part analyses the key measures and strategies of the 14th Government of the Republic of Slovenia, including legislative changes, interventions in funding, pressures on editorial autonomy, and public discrediting of media workers. It also assesses whether and to what extent these measures and strategies reflect the characteristics of political instrumentalization and party colonisation. The findings show that political interventions in the analysed period were systematic and multifaceted, threatening institutional autonomy and narrowing the space for rational-critical public debate.
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