[3][7][8] The news media organisation's stated mission is to provide an alternative perspective that reflects the values of the European right.
On the other hand, the articles were shared by a relatively small number of users leading to suspicions that Nova24TV's content was being promoted by a group of highly active astroturfed fake accounts.
[31][32][33][34] The media company is also allegedly plagued by internal conflicts and lacks skilled technicians and other staff, which has led to broadcasting issues.
Nova24TV responded that no server breach had occurred, that Anonymous obtained an old website archival copy, and that the released data were doctored.
The invitation - which was addressed to school principals - was signed by an SDS MP, interior minister Aleš Hojs, and Nova24TV director Tomašič.
The three top ranking participants would receive cash rewards, with finishing in first place also being awarded a trip to the European Parliament where they would meet with SDS MEP and former Slovene education minister Milan Zver.
Coverage of international politics is often favourable to right-wing politicians, such as Donald Trump and Viktor Orbán,[citation needed] the latter having granted Nova24TV an exclusive interview.
[40] In April 2018, Hungarian investors again bailed out Nova24TV's holding companies with some €800,000 in additional capital, possibly with the aim of indirectly and surreptitiously contributing funds for SDS's electoral efforts.
[50] In a series of investigative media reports published in early 2020, it was revealed that Hungarian businesses operated by people close to Hungarian PM Orbán transferred at least €4M to or through Slovenia since August 2018, of which €1.5M was used to finance Nova24TV (adding up to €3,5M in total over the lifetime of the media company) while the rest was then funneled into North Macedonia (either €2,5M or over €3,2M in total).
The funds were transferred through Great Britain, and some of the money may have originated from Russian investments in Hungary, and was used to finance similar media operations of political allies of the Hungarian government in North Macedonia.
[54][55] An investigation into potential Hungarian money laundering based on information obtained by Slovene police was already launched by Macedonian authorities in 2018.
Among the largest contributors/customers were Slovenske železnice (some €37.000), the Ministry of Culture (some €21.000), Grosuplje municipality (some €13.000), the Public Agency for Transit Safety (some €12.000) and RTV Slovenija (some €10.000).
[62][63][64] The blog, Kavarna Hayek, which was regularly republished by Nova24TV, is speculated to have been operated and penned by Jože Biščak who later went on to become the editor-in-chief of both Nova24TV and Demokracija (the SDS party newspaper).
[65][66] The news portal has also published multiple articles regarding the alleged surreptitious and sinister influence of George Soros (a regular target of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories) on world and local Slovenian politics.
[67][68] In November 2017, Nova24TV published an online report alleging that a Romani child raped a fellow student in the bathroom of a Ribnica elementary school.
Police did indeed intervene on school grounds due to a report of a criminal offence involving two minors, however, all parties with knowledge of the event denied that any form of sexual assault had taken place.
After the publication of the Nova24TV article, police investigated whether any crimes had been committed, but learnt that no Metelkova administrator had confirmed the claims (contrary to what the original reporting alleged).
[73][74] On October 30, 2018, Nova24TV published an article claiming that the European Union was supplying "illegal Muslim migrants" stranded in Bosnia and Herzegovina with Mastercard bank cards bearing the logos of the EU and UNHCR with blank name fields.
[76] By mid-November, the articles alleging Soros is financing migrant debit cards had in turn also spread internationally, republished by fringe news websites.
The photos were published under the headline "Not at all Ladylike: United Left Member of Parliament Violeta Tomić was 'Airing It' in Short-Shorts on a Ferry Heading for Vis".
The article goes on to state that Tomić "is not known in parliament neither for elegant clothing nor ladylike behaviour", and that "it is not proper for an MP of her age to parade around in such high-cut shorts".
Even Makeup Can No Longer Hide Her Eye Circles", which made numerous allusions to Tomić's appearance, extensively noting that she looks very old for her age, focusing explicitly on "black circles under her eyes, ashen-white skin, and loose skin on her neck, which she is always quick to hide with a scarf", implying she has a drinking problem, and concluding "like without, like within".
[84] After Tomić posted on her personal Facebook profile complaining that someone attempted to take photographs of her crotch with a telephoto lens-equipped camera while she was basking in a bathing suit by a river during the summer, Nova24TV published an article soliciting the photographs and even offering monetary compensation, stating that it will not be discouraged by "political pressures", alluding to the lawsuit it lost only months prior.
[92] After becoming prime minister in early 2020, Janez Janša, who had co-founded and co-owned Nova24TV,[93] began regularly appearing in a dedicated weekly call-in talk program on the Nova24TV channel.