Reporting from the north, indictments and threats among journalists' main challenges

The report, drafted by AGK, also mentions indictments for journalists and overtime without compensation.

Getoarbe Mulliki from AGK, has said the number of attacks during the past year has gone to 41. While stressing that the challenge itself has been reporting from the country's north, there journalists and other media workers have faced attacks and threats.

“During 2023 Kosovo has experienced unprecedented decline in the security of journalists and media freedom. The number of attacks has increased to 41, making the year bigger. Journalists reporting in the North have faced attacks, threats. So was a media license. Local organisations have managed to prevent this from happening, although this poses media threats. Finally, the budget you receive RTK is designated by the assembly leaving” on display.

When it comes to media employees, journalists face additional challenges after working hours. Online media journalists face click pressure. Media owners influence content through directives. Women's newspapers consider that their conditions and positions in the news have improved, but they continue to have challenges. One is also sexual harassment at the workplace. Journalists mainly report their cases to AGK, police are named more efficient for reporting them. Courts in Kosovo have no detailed data. Journalists in Kosovo faced threats on 26 June. The suspension of a medium's license just like Klan Kosova. We have 38 attacks on journalists who believe that by the end of the year it will increase”, Mulliqi said.

Researchers Leonita Morina has said that the challenge for journalists is to exceed working hours, with which neither compensation nor compensation occur. She also mentions indictments that have been filed with journalists.

“Gaseters face challenges, we don't have accurate data of the lawsuits, but there are about 35 cases. Just call me. He has over 13 lawsuits. They continue to work under difficult conditions of wages, health insurance. Some 25 percent of journalists have contracts with a specific date, or some also have temporary contracts. Journalists most affected by these challenges are independent journalists and are forced to work outside journalism. The other challenge is to record working hours, in case the clock is not completed, it is reflected in its salary, but on the other hand if the journalist is over the clock they are not compensated for”, Morina said.

And the legal expert at AGK, Yll Zeka, a challenge to journalists, cited a lack of access to official documents.

“One of the constitutional rights is access to public documents that is important to the work of journalists. But the most disturbing is their implementation and we have many cases journalists face. We have the system of management in the legal system, we can't identify subjects that belong only to journalists, we don't have a chance to share subjects according to professions. In 2024, there was also a change of wages”, Zeka said.