On the occasion of May 3 – World Media Freedom Day, congratulations were sent by police officers and representatives of the civil sector.

Borovinić Bojović: Our role is to provide an environment in which journalists can work freely without fear or censorship

The President of the Assembly of the Capital City, Dr. Jelena Borovinić Bojović, sent a congratulatory message to journalists and media workers in Montenegro on the occasion of May 3, the World Press Freedom Day:

“On the occasion of World Media Freedom Day, I express my strong support to all journalists and media workers who, often in difficult circumstances, persevere and dedicatedly protect the public’s right to the truth,” said 0na.

Borovinić Bojović points out that free, responsible and professional media are a pillar of every democratic society. Their role is not only to inform, but also to encourage critical thinking, empower citizens and strengthen trust in institutions.

“On this day, we remind you that it is our joint responsibility, and especially the responsibility of decision-makers, to provide an environment in which journalists can work freely, without pressure, fear and censorship”, she stated.

According to her words, the fight for media freedom is not only a fight for journalists – it is a fight for a free and democratic society in which different opinions are respected and a culture of dialogue is nurtured.

“On my own behalf and on behalf of the Assembly of the Capital City, I express my sincere gratitude to all those who, with professionalism, ethics and courage, contribute to the true freedom of the media”, concludes Borovinić Bojović.

Media Council for Self-Regulation: The future of media and journalism as a profession looks bleak and discouraging

The Media Council for Self-Regulation congratulates all media and journalists on May 3rd, World Press Freedom Day.

“Like never before, journalists welcome this media holiday with concern and anxiety. Like never before, the future of the media and journalism as a profession has not looked bleak and discouraging. Yesterday, Reporters Without Borders announced that the world media freedom index is at the lowest level since this type of measurement has been carried out”, according to the MSS.

And Reporters Without Borders does not have to measure anything, but it can be seen with the naked eye that the media have become enemies of many politicians and many governments in the world. And not only authoritarian ones, but also those who rule in so-called democratic states.

“How the media and journalists have become unwelcome in part of the democratic world is a separate topic, but the overall global environment is not conducive to this once respected profession. And it is not only politicians who are working with journalists and the media. The super-rich technology giants have also decided to put the media under their paw so as not to interfere with their idea of ​​absolute freedom of expression. You can see what that freedom looks like in practice by logging into any of the major social networks,” they added in the statement.

And what should we do when more than half of the planet has conspired to get the heads of the media. Montenegro has never sympathized with independent and free media.

“We simply do not have that tradition due to various historical circumstances. The rudiments of independent journalism have only lasted a little longer than a decade here,” they said in a statement.

However, right before this world media holiday, it happened that a journalist in Montenegro resigned due to the censorship of the media where he worked.

“This small event attracted the attention of almost the entire public and showed that journalistic integrity and faith in the profession can sometimes overcome all these regressive forces that we talked about previously. The name of that journalist is Nemanja Živaljević”, they conclude.

SEP: There is no reason to celebrate the International Day of Media Freedom in a country whose media space is occupied

The International Day of Media Freedom is an opportunity to once again point out the lack of a well-designed state strategy for the protection of the Montenegrin media space and to again condemn the attacks on journalists, announced the party of European Progress SEP.

As they pointed out, the Party of European Progress stands for free media and the maximum legal protection of journalists, including the statutory status of an official. We note with concern that several attacks on journalists have occurred in Montenegro over the past year. It is encouraging that the attacks were effectively processed.

“Unfortunately, on the International Day of Media Freedom, we note that the majority of electronic media in Montenegro is not free. The media space of Montenegro has been occupied for five years, it is dominated by policies and manners imported from the neighborhood – from false or misleading information, hate speech and censorship, to the continuous marketing of a narrative contrary to Montenegrin national interests”, they state in the statement.

The biggest concern, however, is the fact that the government not only does not show any intention to change this situation, but also does not show that it recognizes the problem.

“In the state of occupation of the media space, the Party of European Progress considers the appropriate congratulations of state officials on the occasion of the International Day of Media Freedom to be hypocritical”, concludes SEP.

Dukaj congratulated the World Media Freedom Day: May it inspire us to fight for truth, justice and transparency

The Minister of Public Administration, Maraš Dukaj, congratulated the World Press Freedom Day.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Public Administration, and on my own behalf, and on the occasion of World Media Freedom Day, I would like to send my heartiest congratulations to all media employees, associations and unions,” said Dukaj.

As he stated, let this day inspire us to fight for truth, justice and transparency, and to support all those who strive every day to properly inform us and shed light on issues of essential importance. Our previous cooperation and constant support for the democratic changes that the Ministry strives for is of exceptional importance on the way to achieving open public administration tailored to the citizens.

“With the desire that all segments of society continuously undertake the activities necessary to improve the realization of freedom of expression and information as a basic human right, once again I congratulate you all on the World Media Freedom Day”, concluded Dukaj in his congratulatory message.

Pejović congratulated the International Media Freedom Day

On behalf of the Parliament of Montenegro and on my own behalf, I sincerely congratulate all media workers on the International Day of Media Freedom, with a reminder of the enormous progress that Montenegro has made in the past few years, announced the Vice President of the Parliament, Boris Pejović.

“While in 2020 we were in a devastating 113th place on the world media freedom index, today, in 2025, we occupy a high 37th place – which is an increase of 76 positions in just five years, and 3 places compared to last year,” he said.

This result, he points out, does not come by itself – it is the product of a serious social turn, institutional stability and a greater degree of government responsibility.

“Today we live in a society that has never been freer, which means at least two things – the government is not like it used to be, and the growing standard of living enables more freedom, not only economic, but also expressive. Freedom of the media is not a privilege – it is the foundation of democracy. And when the media freely ask questions, investigate and criticize – it is a sign of a healthy society, not the weakness of the government. Happy Media Freedom Day”, concluded Pejović in his congratulatory message.

Media union: The position of journalists in Montenegro is still not at a level that would guarantee their safety

On World Media Freedom Day, we remind you that the position of media professionals in Montenegro is still not at a level that would guarantee their safety, dignity and professional autonomy. Although certain developments have been recorded, the fundamental struggle for free media is still ongoing, the Media Union announced.

As they said, during the year 2024 in the media sector, as well as in the rest of the country, there was an increase in wages, due to the implementation of the Europe Now 2 program. However, the salaries of media workers are still below the national average, that is, they are closer to the minimum than the average wage – which, apart from being insufficient for a dignified life, does not reflect the importance that members of this profession have in preserving the democratic order.

“Violence and pressure on journalists are not abating. In 2024, 24 incidents were recorded in the SafeJournalist database, which is significantly more than the previous year, when there were 16. In the Media Syndicate, we are not only concerned about the quantitative increase, but also about the nature of the attacks themselves – such as the brutal physical attack on Ana Raičković. It is encouraging, however, that this case received a judicial epilogue – which is a continuation of the trend of faster resolution of cases where “As in previous years, the media union will continue to actively strengthen the culture of safety in the media sector, especially when it comes to training on risk assessments and active participation in the establishment of a national response to security challenges,” the statement said.

Apart from physical and economic security, they point out, it is equally important to work on improving the psychological security of media workers. Through more than 170 individual sessions as part of our free psychological support service, as well as through numerous seminars, workshops and publications dedicated to mental health, SMCG strives to open a space for taking care of the emotional and mental well-being of journalists – because journalism without people who feel safe and supported is not sustainable.

“Some colleagues are still further marginalized. As stated in the exhibition “From Frame to Frame: Stories of Journalism” that we organized, there are about 230 registered media in Montenegro, and at the same time only about 15 active photojournalists. Most of them work for daily newspapers or foreign agencies, while domestic portals almost never hire them. This clearly testifies to the threat of newspaper photography, which is increasingly being replaced by lifeless illustrations and photos taken with mobile phones – just as fast and superficial news is suppressing real, professional journalism segment by segment”, they add.

A positive step forward is the new Law on Audiovisual Media Services, which has yet to be fully implemented, and which, we hope, will solve the long-standing problem of financing local public broadcasters, but will also affect the better economic position of employees in those media. However, all municipalities did not comply with the law when adopting the budget for this year, and the Media Union will continue to insist that this be corrected and that the Law be fully respected.

“And the Law on Media, adopted in the middle of last year, brought several important news, so among other things, the participation of journalists in the selection of the editor-in-chief was regulated for the first time, as well as his position in the event of a change in the ownership or editorial policy of the media”, said the Media Syndicate.

The media union of Montenegro continues to grow. We gather around 700 members, which makes up almost half of the employees in the media in Montenegro – who work in private, local and public media. We are proud of all members, and especially of young journalists who strengthen our community with their enthusiasm, knowledge and energy. Our Youth Section is making ever greater strides, the most important of which is the youth magazine “Ekipa”, two issues of which have already been published.

“We do not forget about those who have it most difficult. Together with our colleagues from the European Union (EFJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), we support media workers who report from war-affected areas. The solidarity of the media community with media workers who were killed, wounded or arrested in Ukraine and Gaza must be on a much higher level, and the media must hold governments accountable and provide the public with information about all the crimes that take place there,” they said in a statement.

Solidarity in the guild must be the basis of all our actions.

“The fight for rights, safety and professional standards is a joint one. Only by being united and organized can we build a media scene that serves the public interest and protects freedom of speech”, they conclude.

Spectra: We are as free as our journalists

We are witnessing that attacks on journalists continue, and that women are disproportionately more targeted. Data from the Media Union show that in the previous three years, out of a total of 53 attacks on media workers, as many as 31 were aimed at female journalists, and only since the beginning of the year have we recorded attacks on Ana Raičković, Dušanka Pejović, Jelena Jovanović, and Magdalena Čelanović, announced the NGO Association Spectra.

From physical attacks, insults, death threats, public pressure and attempts at institutional intimidation, Montenegro has to face a long history of violence against journalists, because without it no one’s freedom can be guaranteed.

“On the International Day of Media Freedom, we once again remind you of the European Commission’s report, which states that it is particularly important to provide fast and efficient application of the law and institutional protection of journalists from all forms of violence, while prioritizing investigations and judicial follow-up of key outdated cases, as well as ensuring the consistent application of all laws related to the media and supporting a zero-tolerance policy for any form of pressure or harassment of journalists,” they say from Spectra.

According to their assessment, none of the mentioned cases are isolated, but they evidently confirm the continuation of the long-term treatment of journalists, and with them, anyone who uses their voice to shed light on a system that values ​​capital and profit more than human freedom and life.

“We are witnessing that our freedom to express ourselves, rebel and demand responsibility is threatened, that such an atmosphere suits many politicians, that institutions are held captive, and therefore cannot protect their citizens”, they added.

As they conclude, a safe space for the work of media workers is crucial for the survival of democracy and human rights. Free media space must not be private property, because it concerns the freedom of all of us.

NGO 35mm: Only free media make a free society

In a country where media freedom is still waiting to become the norm and not the exception, we celebrate this day more as an act of resistance than as a holiday. And while the media scene is polarizing, laws are delayed in their implementation, and institutions are silent – the number of those leaving the profession is increasing. Those who remain work in an atmosphere of fear, often exposed to direct attacks and threats just because they dare to investigate and ask questions, NGO 35mm reported.

“This is precisely why we are using May 3rd to point out: free and responsible media is not a luxury – but a condition for a healthy democracy. When journalists do not have the freedom to investigate, citizens are left without the right to know. And without the right to know – there is no responsibility for the government,” they said in the statement.

As they point out, journalism in Montenegro today resembles a trench position: economically disenfranchised, without collective protection, faced with growing violence and attacks, journalists have been stuck in the same struggles for years, without real progress, changes or protection.

“In the last three years, more than 50 attacks on journalists have been registered in Montenegro, and the growth of violence and harassment in the online space is particularly worrying, with a disproportionately large number of cases affecting female journalists. In the background of everything – weak institutions”, said the NGO 35 mm.

Despite the adopted media laws, we still live in a reality in which information of public importance becomes “official secrets”, and freedom of expression is measured by the tolerance of those in power towards criticism.

“As a non-governmental organization that participated in the drafting of media laws and a team that has a representative in the working group for Chapter 10, NGO 35mm continues to insist on the fundamental reform of the media sector and the creation of a safe, dignified and professional environment for the work of journalists in Montenegro,” they added in the announcement.

We are not celebrating today. Today we support. Those who are attacked, those who report under pressure, those who do not remain silent even though they are under pressure. Those who investigate, even though they are persecuted. Those who speak, even though they try to silence them. And most of all – we pay respect and seek justice for those who lost their lives because of journalism.

“At a time when the darkness of fake news, propaganda and misinformation threatens to suffocate every trace of responsible journalism – we do not agree to silence. Because only free media make a free society”, concludes the NGO 35mm.

CGO: Without free media, there is no responsible government

On the occasion of May 3 – World Media Freedom Day, the Center for Civic Education (CGO) sends congratulations to all media and media workers. Unfortunately, even this year there are not sufficiently objective reasons for optimism when it comes to the state of media freedom and the overall professional, and especially economic, environment in which journalists in Montenegro work.

“CGO assesses that the media scene in Montenegro remains deeply polarized and politically instrumentalized, reflecting wider socio-political divisions. This makes it difficult for the flow of credible information, undermines public trust and compromises the development of professional journalism based on ethics, responsibility and public interest,” the statement reads.

In this context, as a very positive and different practice, we highlight the action of journalist and editor Nemanja Živaljević, who left the media where he worked due to censorship.

“Of particular concern is the fact that the decision-makers’ attitude towards the media does not change even after political changes. Instead of equal treatment, the practice of selective attitude towards the media is still applied – whereby some are enabled and others are denied access to information, interlocutors and public resources. This directly undermines democratic standards and makes it difficult for the media, which strive to report professionally and impartially”, they point out.

As they state, in addition to political pressures on the media, we continue to witness physical threats to journalists, and numerous more serious cases from the past remain unsolved, which creates an atmosphere of impunity and insecurity along with the inconsistent reactions of the competent institutions. Nevertheless, there are positive developments – such as the recent verdicts in the cases of attacks on the journalist Ana Raičković and the lawsuit by Dragana Šćepanović against the Aktuelno portal.

“A special example of the institutional collapse of public interest standards is the situation in the RTCG Public Service. Instead of being a pillar of independent, professional information, RTCG is increasingly perceived as a symbol of political influence, non-transparent management and manipulative reporting. There are many controversies, and the most recent one in connection with the distribution of housing units to employees further emphasizes the urgent need for a fundamental reform in RTCG and determining the responsibility of the RTCG leadership. Reporters Without Borders published a report yesterday, according to which Montenegro has formally advanced for the three positions, when read carefully, indicate serious problems in the media sector, among which RTCG stands out,” CGO assesses.

They also add that according to the data of CG Puls, which the CGO conducted with the DAMAR Institute in March 2025, the media recorded an average score of 2.30 (on a scale of 1 to 5), which ranks them among the actors with the lowest degree of trust in the country. This warns of a crisis of credibility in the media sector and the need for professional and regulatory improvement.

“Through its program activities, CGO remains committed to creating a better media environment, strengthening professional standards and protecting media freedom, because without free and sustainable media, without the physical and economic security of journalists, and without a responsible approach to government, there is neither objective information nor the truly democratic society we strive for”, they conclude.

DPNCG: A discouraging situation for journalism

Although in principle the state takes the steps required of it from Brussels – to ensure the unhindered work of journalists and pluralism of the media – we cannot say that we welcome this World Media Freedom Day in such conditions, announced the Association of Professional Journalists of Montenegro.

“Verbal and physical attacks and hate speech, especially towards female journalists, will not abate until the material position of media employees improves”, they stated in the statement.

As they said, journalists from senior editorial offices testified in the previous period that they generally did not have editorial support, including legal support in cases where they were the targets of attacks, verbal harassment, persecution and harassment.

“The lack of solidarity and the cancellation of the Granski collective agreement have as a result the extremely poor economic position of journalists, which is causally connected to work addiction. The recent public announcement by my colleague Nemanja Živaljević that he is censored is not news for those who work in the media, because a good number of them have problems with it almost every day. From political pressure from superiors in the public media, to censorship of employers due to advertisers and covert marketing, mostly in private media.” they add.

Because of this, the DPNCG points out, more and more people are leaving the profession and there are fewer and fewer professionals ready to practice objective journalism. That we are easily replaceable is shown by the practice in the Public Service, where a good number of experienced journalists and editors are marginalized, while in the private media the number of employees is drastically reduced and the work accumulates for those who have contracts.

“When it comes to attacks on journalists, they are not decreasing, but at least the quick reaction of the authorities is commendable. Unfortunately, the criminal policy is still inadequate and there are very few judgments based on criminal offenses, which concern the performance of work of public importance”, they conclude.

We invite our colleagues to make maximum efforts together, so that the Branch Collective Agreement is signed and with the help of the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the Commission for Investigation of Attacks on Journalists, improved procedures for reporting and supporting journalists who are the targets of attacks.

Any negative practices will ultimately have irreversible consequences for the journalism profession as the current situation discourages young journalists from continuing, or even starting.

Camaj congratulated the World Press Freedom Day

The Vice-President of the Parliament of Montenegro, Nikola Camaj, congratulated May 3 – the International Day of Media Freedom to all representatives of print, electronic and internet media:

“Journalism has always been a responsible profession because it represented the ears and eyes of the public. Professionalism in journalism is a special segment in which the objectivity of informing the public is not called into question, but a real representation of all involved parties is implied so that consumers can get as realistic a picture as possible and make their own judgment about an event,” said Camaj.

As he said, every season brings its own challenges, so even today, when media have become available on phones, they cannot be avoided. The importance of objective reporting is therefore unquestionable, and self-regulation is an indispensable part of the journalistic profession.

“Unfortunately, in Montenegro we witness that there is a continuity of confrontation with media representatives as an attempt to stifle freedom of speech, which is unacceptable in the 21st century of progress, development and reason,” says Camaj.

The guaranteed rights of freedom of speech, and therefore the freedom of publicly expressed views and criticism in the media, must be respected, and for any type of attempt to silence or intimidation, the punishments must be faster and greater.

“Along with the congratulations on the International Day of Media Freedom, I also wish that everyone continues to do their work responsibly and according to the laws of this country, so that the media can write more about topics from ecology and economy than about the black chronicle”, concluded Camaj.

AMU: Media freedom must be a daily practice, not just an ideal

The Agency for Audiovisual Media Services (AMU) expresses its strong support for all journalists, as well as media organizations that base their work on the principles of professionalism, responsibility and public interest, the AMU announced. “Their daily contribution in searching for the truth, verifying the facts and opening topics that would otherwise remain out of focus is of key importance for the public and the quality of social dialogue”, the AMU points out.

In a time of intense social changes and global challenges, they add, the role of independent and responsible journalism is becoming indispensable – as protection against misinformation and propaganda, but also as a voice of reason and conscience.

“It is unacceptable that journalists continue to be exposed to threats, pressures and physical attacks due to the professional performance of their work – whether they report from conflict zones or from local areas where decisions of wider social importance are made. Journalists are the eyes and ears of the public, often present where society would not have access if it were not for their work,” the AMU emphasizes.

They say that this is why journalist teams, without exception, must be protected – always and everywhere.

“Freedom of the media must not remain a mere formality, but must be a concrete and achievable practice – ensured through legal and institutional protection, but also through the improvement of the economic position of journalists and media workers. The conditions in which many media in Montenegro work, faced with financial insecurity, make this component particularly important”, the AMU notes.

It is necessary, they emphasize, to ensure not only political independence, but also economic protection of the media, creating a sustainable environment for their unhindered and free work, regardless of
the size and limitations of the Montenegrin market.

“The Agency for Audiovisual Media Services remains consistent in its mission to strengthen the regulatory framework, encourage pluralism of opinion, promote the transparency of media ownership and improve the level of media literacy. We believe that media freedom is not a privilege, but a fundamental right that includes our right to be accurately, timely and objectively informed,” the AMU concludes.

Source: CdM