"Everywhere is similar, journalists are intimidated” (RTV KIM, Radio kontakt plus)
Publication “Invisible Violence – Stories from Redaction” prepared by Croatian Association of Journalists was presented in Pristina, RTV KIM reports. According to the research, 70% of interviewed journalists said they would change the job or media outlet, listing low salaries (42%) and censorship within the media outlet (15%) as the main reasons.
The research on whether the journalists have adequate conditions to carry out their duties, lasted six months and was implemented in different media outlets in Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Montenegro.
According to Pristina-based journalist Una Hajdari the biggest problem is that the journalists are not well organized in labour union, remain insufficiently engaged in their associations and involvement in their rights protection processes. If that would change, difference and progress would be significantly noticeable.
A journalist from Skopje, Biljana Sekulovska said journalists are intimidated, frightened. She added journalists are sad and tired people due to different pressure and propaganda machinery, starting from the machinery of political parties in power, the government, tired of entire not only media but also political situation in countries of the region.
A journalist from Belgrade, Zarka Radoja said journalism in Serbia does not differ much comparing to the journalism in the region.
She added, the only difference that can be noticed is a tendency to hire “non-journalists” in media outlets, respectively people who are there to hold a microphone, do the job without excessive questions and involvement in the matter.”
The project “Protection of the Freedom of Media and Freedom of Expression” part of which is this publication, was supported by the European Union, while the Croatian Association of Journalists implemented the research with the support of Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia, Association of Journalists of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Association of Journalist of Kosovo, Association of Journalists of Montenegro and Labour Union of Montenegro Media.