Concentrated media ownership, declining public funding, and the dominance of tech giants in advertising continue to erode editorial independence, with more than half of journalists reporting interference from media owners. While Europe remains the region with the highest level of press freedom, the Western Balkans face mixed developments. Kosovo experienced the sharpest decline in the region, falling 24 places due to politically motivated lawsuits, restricted access to information, surveillance, and threats to journalists’ safety. Serbia’s position slightly improved but remains at its lowest score to date, with persistent political attacks and abusive legal pressure on journalists. Bosnia and Herzegovina saw a moderate decline amid continued political interference and weak editorial safeguards. North Macedonia and Albania reported opposite trends, with the former slipping due to increasing disinformation and falling public trust, and the latter making notable progress, though concerns about media ownership and legal protections persist. Montenegro inched upward, reflecting a cautiously positive trajectory, but the broader regional picture remains shaped by fragile media markets and systemic threats to journalistic independence. Read more here.
Source: Reporters Without Borders
