Indicators of Media Freedom and Journalists’ Safety in Bosnia and Herzegovina represent a research project conducted since 2016 by the BH Journalists Association within the regional SafeJournalists Network, with the support of the European Union. The Journalists’ Safety Index was developed in 2020 and tested in 2021, with the aim of measuring changes in the environment that directly or indirectly affect the safety of journalists and other media actors.
The research includes data on attacks, threats, and pressures against journalists in BiH, the state of media legislation, the economic position of media outlets and employees, as well as current trends related to the endangerment of media rights and freedoms. This year’s edition also presents the results of a two-year mapping of the transparency of judicial institutions.
In 2023, the Free Media Help Line received four new reports of labor disputes and workplace mobbing. The most frequent violations concern rights related to salaries, overtime, payment of social contributions, severance pay, and disciplinary procedures. Journalists also reported political pressures and attempts at censorship. Compared to 2022, the number of reported cases increased by 10.2%. Recorded incidents include pressures and threats from politicians (21 cases), verbal attacks (17), incitement and hate speech (8), death threats (7), and physical assaults (6). Of particular concern is the issue of censorship and self-censorship in Republika Srpska following the criminalization of defamation in the summer of 2023.
The research also highlights very low levels of union organization in the media – it is estimated that only 16% of newsrooms have a trade union or employees’ council. Journalists rarely report censorship and political pressures due to fear of losing their jobs, and even when they do, they insist on remaining anonymous.
In 2023, the Free Media Help Line recorded a total of 87 cases of violations of rights and freedoms, which is about 10% more than in the previous year.
The report provides recommendations for improving the media system in Bosnia and Herzegovina:
* Decriminalization of defamation from the legislation of Republika Srpska;
* Establishing a mechanism for recording and monitoring SLAPP lawsuits, with the involvement of the media community;
* Developing anti-SLAPP protections for journalists and media;
* Harmonizing legal standards and ensuring proactive transparency of institutions;
* Amending the Law on Freedom of Access to Information in line with professional requirements;
Adopting a state-level law on hate speech, online violence, and threats, with clearly defined sanctions.
You can read the full research here.
