The dismissal of José Manuel Tornero as head of RTVE, after losing the Government’s trust in a short period, signals a new phase of uncertainty for public television. Employees fear that, at a moment when regional and municipal elections are approaching alongside a general election with the PSOE and United We Can, resignations could be pressed to grant Moncloa greater control over content. The landscape is shaped by a party that has lagged in the polls and is pressing for influence over the network.
According to multiple sources who view Tornero’s departure as a maneuver to ease a government intervention, the atmosphere at RTVE is tense. The former president feels the pressure stems from Podemos, which has floated the idea that RTVE is not aligning with a left-leaning administration. Within a party environment permeated by the PSOE, Tornero’s usefulness seemed to wane. The concern now is that with the leadership unsettled and Elena Sánchez serving as a temporary figure without full executive authority, the government may seek to monitor and steer the network’s information more closely.
RTVE’s News Council stated after Tornero’s resignation that there is a “great risk of exposure to strong politicization at the gates of a year with several elections” and that “if current or imminent moves at RTVE are aimed at subordinating this public service to partisan interests, workers will not tolerate it.” Journalists at the public chain have called for mobilizations, a measure some see as reinforcing a warning already present in the union’s stance.
Sources within TVE acknowledge past tense episodes during Tornero’s tenure, but they insist that collaboration remains in place “today.” “All freedom in the news,” they insist, adhering strictly to established editorial criteria. “As of today,” these sources add, “no unusual approach has been detected.” They note that if any deviation occurs, professionals will respond as they did in 2018, when Fridays were marked by black clothing to protest perceived manipulation at the PP-led stage and the stalled renewal of RTVE’s leadership.
Professionals on guard
Different sources also indicate that even with a leadership aligned to the government, it would be difficult to stray from editorial criteria because the core editors and chiefs are tightly integrated, making unilateral shifts unlikely. There are many minds on the organizational chart, and while leadership may voice slogans, a robust professional corps can prevent changes from reaching the newsroom. If trouble arises, reporters will cover it honestly and without fear.
The situation at Moncloa has long been strained in relation to TVE, and employee sentiment has included unease and restlessness. The relationship between professionals and Tornero reportedly deteriorated as he reportedly ignored newsroom requests. In the journalists’ statement this past period, they criticized decisions such as a public-channel veto on travel to the Tindouf refugee camps in Western Sahara, a move tied to Morocco’s crisis following the Polisario Front’s leadership crisis. With months passing while a project waited to materialize—Tornero had been appointed by Congress with PP support—his departure has reignited attention in the newsroom.
Today, as the newsroom looks at the horizon, the next steps remain uncertain. The industry remains vigilant about how political pressures could shape coverage and the management of public broadcasting. Journalists insist that reporting will continue to be governed by professional standards, regardless of government dynamics, and they will speak up if editorial independence is compromised.
In the broader context, observers note that RTVE’s governance has become a testing ground for how public media is insulated from political influence while still navigating a politically charged environment. The shift in leadership has already sparked conversations about how newsrooms balance oversight, editorial judgment, and the public interest. The stakes are high, as the outcome could influence not only newsroom practices but also public trust in a national broadcaster that serves millions of Canadians and Americans who follow international coverage and comparative media analyses. The unfolding developments at RTVE will likely be examined through the lens of media governance, newsroom autonomy, and the role of public broadcasting in a politically polarized landscape. (Source: El País)