Public media service outlets are a unique example of public service provision. In most countries, especially if these countries were newly formed, the task was given to press agencies. These are considered key media institutions, their provision of public media service amounting to structural support for the media and the communication foundation of the states. Therefore, states have always had an interest to affect agencies’ management and funding. Most national press agencies remain, at least in part, dependent on state funding, which increases their vulnerability to external (political) pressure. The thesis examines how the existing management and funding model of the public media service of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) affects its editorial independence; and whether, considering the STA's significance and role, there is a growing need for independent and stable funding, as well as legislative changes and safeguards. The results show that through its supporting role for other media outlets, the STA remains a key and indispensable information backbone of Slovenia's media environment, with the need for stronger media in general indicating the need for a stronger STA due to the role it plays. This is what is needed in legislative changes to not only preserve but also strengthen editorial independence, as well as set up a stable and foreseeable financial model. Above all, the results indicate the need for financial automatisms, a multi-year budget and procedures that do not allow arbitrariness in decision-making of whichever government is in power.
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