“Recommendations of the 2015 in the area of media have only to a limited extent been
implemented. The media still faces many of the same challenges that have influenced the
media landscape for several years now and the perception is still that the media outlets are politically affiliated or instruments of influential persons,” said the chapter that referred to the media in Priebe’s second report.
Priebe’s report underlines that the 130 television and radio stations are predominantly divided according to political and ethnic lines, and the media market is weak. The situation of the print media is bad, with only five daily newspapers existing, which in turn, as the report states, is a potential threat to a free and pluralistic media, which is essential for any democracy. The economic pressure on printed media can be seen through the closure of Media Print Macedonia.
“The media profession is also still suffering from numerous challenges and the perception is that investigative journalism is not carried out generally, due to fear, lack of resources as well as journalistic skills,” states Priebe’s report.
The labor conditions for journalists are seen as very poor with low salaries and
short term employment contracts with no job security. Although intimidations, threats and violence against journalists are reported, the authorities are claimed to not investigate, charge or convict the perpetrators, leaving an impression of impunity.
The report accentuates the MRT and stresses that the national broadcasting service is still in crisis and immediate action is required, in particular to address the financial deficit. The lack of financial resources jeopardises its independence. Priebe stresses that the lack of public trust on account of its untransparency, lack of accountability and poor public engagement and he recommends securing necessary financial assets in order for the service to function independently and passing legal decisions and changes in order to surpas these conditions.
