Serbia is the only Western Balkan country whose position in the global media freedom rankings deteriorated in 2023 and ranks 91st out of 180 countries, according to the latest Reporters Without Borders report. The report said that pro-government media in Serbia spread Russian propaganda and that Serbia recorded the largest decline in the European Union (EU) and Balkans region, by 12 points.
Albania is in 96th place, followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina (64), Kosovo (56), Montenegro (39) and North Macedonia (38).
“Bosnia and Herzegovina’s position on the list is better only because other countries’ scores are falling, but its index is also falling, as is the case of Serbia,” said Pavol Szalai, representative of the organization Reporters Without Borders. Voice of America.
According to him, the differences between the Western Balkan countries are growing. “On the one hand, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo present real potential for change. They progressed by 19, 24 and five places respectively. But even in these countries, media freedom is under threat due to structural problems,” says Szalai. He said all Western Balkan countries must introduce systemic changes, in line with known European practices.
Serbia: journalists victims of political attacks
With more than 2,500 registered media outlets in the country, the media market is highly fragmented. However, award-winning investigative stories have a limited audience because they are only featured online and in a few independent media outlets.
“In a highly polarized political climate, journalists are regularly victims of political attacks investigated by members of the ruling elite and amplified by certain national television channels. Neither politicians nor institutions, including the Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (REM), made up of mostly government appointees, have been willing to remedy the situation. Additionally, journalists critical of the ruling party have restricted access to interviews with government officials and public information,” the report said.
Regarding security, the report highlights that despite efforts to improve the security of journalists and combat impunity for crimes committed against them – in the form of two working groups and the introduction of a SOS line for media – Serbian journalists always feel protected. It should be noted that this is reinforced by the fact that many serious attacks against journalists remain unanswered, such as the assassination of Slavko Ćuruvija in 1999.
Albania: editorial independence threatened by partisan regulation
In Albania, journalists are victims of organized crime and sometimes police violence, motivated by the government’s inability to protect them.
“Journalists are under political pressure exacerbated in 2021 by attempts to control information during legislative elections and the COVID-19 pandemic. Politicians limit editorial independence through highly politicized media regulators and by appointing heads of public media,” the report shows.
According to the report, journalists critical of the government are often victims of political attacks aimed at discrediting them, and they have difficulty accessing state-held information. “A recent centralization of government communications could lead to new restrictions on access to state-held information.”
Albania’s most influential private media outlets are believed to be owned by a handful of companies that maintain political ties while operating in highly regulated sectors such as construction. It is added that there are hundreds of online media outlets, while a small number have a sustainable business model with transparent funding.
Regarding the safety of journalists, the report highlights that organized crime represents one of the greatest threats to the safety of journalists. “Although police have recently taken steps to investigate attacks against journalists, impunity for these crimes, combined with political attempts to discredit journalists, has created a climate likely to encourage further attacks,” it said. The report.
North Macedonia: authorities tend to have a poor and demanding attitude towards journalists
According to the report, although journalists do not work in a hostile environment, widespread disinformation and a lack of professionalism contribute to the decline of society’s trust in the media, exposing independent media to threats and attacks.
“Although television is the dominant source of information, online media plays an important role. However, a distinction must be made between professional online editorial offices that employ professional journalists and publish original content and individual portals that plagiarize and copy this content. There is also a big gap between usage and trust: the most watched television channels are unreliable,” adds RSF.
Regarding security, the report indicates that journalists are regularly the target of verbal attacks and may be exposed to legal pressure and abusive prosecution (SLAPP proceedings).
“However, courts tend to uphold press freedom and protect journalists. In the capital, a special prosecutor has been appointed to handle cases of attacks against journalists, and the opening of similar offices across the country is being considered,” the report concludes.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: journalists do not feel protected in the exercise of their work
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, media operate in a “relatively favorable legal environment”, but in an “extremely unfavorable political and economic environment”. According to the report, journalists do not feel protected in carrying out their work and there are large differences in terms of media freedom and the quality of journalism across the country.
“Even though the overall political environment is unfavorable for press freedom, there are significant differences across the country due to the different political structures of its entities. Media work is in better conditions in the capital, Sarajevo, than in the Serbian-majority Republika Srpska and in the western part of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The country’s politicians regularly attack journalists and exert influence over state media and regulatory bodies,” the report said.
It is added that journalists are most often the subject of threats and verbal attacks as well as occasional physical attacks.
“Journalists generally do not feel sufficiently protected when carrying out their work and do not trust the police for their protection. There are various initiatives aimed at improving the safety of journalists, focused on improving legislation and the work of the prosecutor’s office,” the report says.
Kosovo: media independence threatened by poor regulation
According to the report, although Kosovo’s media market is diverse, its development is limited by its small size and strict ethnic separation. Media independence is threatened by poor regulation and a reliance on partisan distribution of public funds.
“Even the media succeed in holding politicians accountable, journalists remain the target of political attacks… Freedom of expression, protection of journalists’ sources and the right to information are legally guaranteed, while defamation and liberals are decriminalized. However, journalists are increasingly the target of SLAPP suits initiated by business groups and politicians,” Reporters Without Borders said.
It is added that, by and large, the media relies on advertising either from the government or political parties, both of which are disseminated in a non-transparent and partisan manner.
The report highlights that the murders and disappearances that occurred before and during the war in Kosovo went unpunished.
“Even if these attacks are investigated by the police and the prosecution, they rarely lead to legal proceedings. Attacks on journalists in northern Kosovo increased during a period of political tensions between Pristina and Belgrade in late 2021.
Montenegro: Press freedom continues to be threatened by political interference
After the DPS’s first defeat in 2020, government pressure and attacks on journalists have diminished somewhat, but the new authorities are still trying to control certain media outlets and journalists.
“In addition, there are concerns that foreign owners of some media outlets may influence editorial policies to serve the interests of other governments (Serbs, for example) or those of their local political favorites,” the report said.
Regarding attacks against journalists, almost all of those that took place over the last year have been resolved, but among those that took place earlier, many remain unpunished, despite the promises of the government that came to power in 2020 to take action to resolve the issues. them.
“One of these cases is the assassination of editor-in-chief Duško Jovanović and the attempted assassination of investigative journalist Olivera Lakić. In 2023, after seven years of proceedings, journalist Jovo Martinović was finally acquitted of unfounded accusations of belonging to a criminal group,” concluded Reporters Without Borders.
