Publication

By Florian Bieber , Marko Kmezić - 01 August , 2015

Background Paper: Media Freedom in the Western Balkans

Background Paper: Media Freedom in the Western Balkans
Background Paper: Media Freedom in the Western Balkans
DOWNLOAD PUBLICATION

Recent assessments of the situation concerning media freedom in the Balkans have been sobering. The region is brewing with incidents of media freedom violations, which bring under attack not just the basic right to freedom of expression, but also the state of democracy in the region. In addition, some of the same problems that existed a decade or so ago are still haunting the Balkans: political pressure, illegal state subsidies – often in the form of state advertising, reinforced by the economic crisis – professional weakness, and a lack of security for journalists. Although the legal frameworks are essentially in place throughout the region and have mostly been brought up to date with the assistance of international organisations, political elites in the Balkan countries are effectively resisting the implementation of adopted strategies and laws guaranteeing media freedom.

Scroll