AJM: Annual Report on Media Freedom and the Safety of Journalists in the Republic of North Macedonia for 2023 Published

The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) has published its annual report on the indicators of media freedom and the safety of journalists in North Macedonia for 2023, prepared within the framework of the Western Balkans Regional Platform project, funded by the European Commission.

This report is the result of year-round research conducted by AJM in cooperation with seven other journalist organizations from the Western Balkans, all members of the SafeJournalists network. For the eighth consecutive year, each country has prepared its own report using the same methodology. With the support of the European Commission, the SafeJournalists platform monitors legislative and practical changes in the region and engages in advocacy to improve the political, legal, and institutional environment for journalists, media workers, and media outlets.

The research methodology is based on three groups of indicators: legal protection, the position of journalists in newsrooms, and the safety of journalists.

In the past two years, an additional document-the Western Balkans Journalists’ Safety Index-was developed as a research-based tool to measure and track changes in the social and political environment that directly or indirectly affect the safety of journalists and media professionals.

A key development in 2023 was the adoption of amendments to the Criminal Code, which now treats attacks on journalists and media workers as equivalent to attacks on public officials. These amendments introduce higher penalties for crimes committed against journalists, aiming to deter potential offenders. As a result, North Macedonia has seen improvements in all safety indices for journalists and media workers, as these legal changes provide systemic solutions for their protection. The ongoing challenge remains to monitor how investigations and court proceedings unfold, to discourage attacks on journalists and reduce the trend of impunity.

It is particularly important to establish positive judicial practice and consistent application of these amendments, ensuring that judicial authorities take a proactive approach in protecting journalists’ rights. Only a functional protection system can deter attackers and guarantee a safe environment as a prerequisite for journalistic work.

A positive development is the appointment of a dedicated prosecutor to oversee cases involving attacks on journalists. In November 2023, on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office, in cooperation with AJM, appointed three special public prosecutors for the appellate regions of Tetovo, Bitola, and Shtip. Through a dedicated communication line with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, journalists can now receive updates on cases of physical attacks and violence. However, there are still no specific guidelines adopted by the Ministry of Interior or the Prosecutor’s Office for the effective detection and prosecution of perpetrators of attacks and threats against journalists. In 2023, out of five registered cases of violations of journalists’ rights, two resulted in final convictions, while the remaining three are under investigation.

Among the report’s recommendations, AJM constructively insists on establishing a Free Media Fund to support projects of public interest, including investigative and analytical journalism, documentary, educational, and informative content. This would help improve journalists’ incomes and working conditions, and avoid a return to the non-transparent, criteria-lacking state funding of media seen five years ago. Financial independence and sustainability of the public broadcaster remain unresolved, with MRT’s budget decreasing further in 2023.

Overall, the socio-economic position of journalists did not significantly improve in 2023, mainly due to declining advertising revenues across the media sector. Many journalists, especially in private media, continue to work under insecure contracts, with low pay and inadequate social protections, making them vulnerable to pressure from management, owners, and politicians.

The situation is worst for journalists in local and regional media, which face financial difficulties and greater exposure to local power structures. The status of female journalists in newsrooms is similar to that of their male colleagues, except that there are fewer women in leadership positions.

In 2023, the number of attacks on journalists decreased. However, despite a general decline in verbal and physical threats over the past decade, there is growing concern about the frequency and severity of online harassment and threats, particularly against journalists investigating corruption and other societal issues. Authorities and courts still lack comprehensive records of threats and attacks against journalists and do not publish such data. Nevertheless, it is positive that institutions are open to cooperation with AJM and show readiness to improve journalists’ safety through more proactive measures and prosecution of perpetrators.

The annual report is available in Macedonian, English, and Albanian.