Report on Media Reporting in Serbian Language in Kosovo
As part of the project "System for the Prevention of Violence and Protection of Journalists," the Association of Independent Electronic Media, along with partners the Center for the Development of Local Media (CRLM) from Požarevac and Insider TV, aims to enhance the system for the protection of journalists and media workers. One of the project's activities is the preparation of a report by CRLM on the state of local media, addressing both security and financial aspects, as well as any other relevant factors impacting the independence and professionalism of the media.
The first of these reports was produced by CRLM for local media in Kosovo that report in Serbian. In response to questions about the safety of journalists and media, cooperation with associations and state institutions, political pressures, education, funding, and operations, editors and management from Radio Goraždevac, Radio Kontakt Plus, Radio Mitrovica Sever, Radio KiM, and KoSSev provided their insights.
The authors of the report, Jana Jacić and Jelena Milenković, concluded that although most of their respondents assess that pressures and threats are less pronounced than in previous years, journalists in Kosovo still face these challenges. Verbal attacks are the most common, and a significant issue is the selective invitation from the Serbian List, as well as the complete disregard, meaning journalists are not invited during visits by Kosovo officials to northern Kosovo.
The closed nature of institutions is evidenced by the long wait for responses concerning the most basic, service-related information. In addition to the overall atmosphere in which journalists operate, the withdrawal of USAID funds particularly affects the operations of media reporting in Serbian that were analyzed in this report, as project financing is the main source of funding for these media due to their inability to earn from traditional advertising sales for various external reasons. The entire situation impacts the difficulty in finding new personnel as well as the departure of experienced journalists from the profession.
The complete report on the state of media reporting in Serbian in Kosovo can be viewed here.
The project "System for the Prevention of Violence and Protection of Journalists" is supported by the European Union, Norway, and the Balkan Democracy Fund, a project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
