World Media Freedom Day, do we have anything to celebrate in BiH?

(Patria) - World Media Freedom Day is celebrated every year on May 3rd, since 1993 when it was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly.

However, do media in BiH have reasons to celebrate.

Brutal attacks and threats against journalists, insufficient legal protection, institutional pressures, SLAPP lawsuits, the shutdown of the state public RTV service, are part of the media landscape in BiH, a country aspiring to membership in the European Union.

According to the latest ranking, BiH has regressed when it comes to media freedom.

Attacks on the media are becoming more brutal, and institutional pressures on media and journalists are increasingly frequent. Numerous institutions and officials refuse free access to information for the media, and very often label them personally through social media or other media.

Since August 2023, 47 criminal charges have been filed against journalists and media after defamation was criminalized in RS. So far, there have been no indictments against journalists.

When it comes to the media themselves, especially in the case of online media which are expanding, there is often no information about the ownership structure or editors and journalists in those newsrooms, so it would be desirable to legally regulate the obligation for media to publicly disclose this data in this segment.