Media workers in Montenegro are not yet feeling any substantial changes for the better, as inflation is canceling out sporadic salary increases, while the increase in the number of attacks on journalists is further contributing to employee dissatisfaction, according to a survey by the Media Union of Montenegro (SMCG).
SMCG presented the tenth edition of the research on indicators of the level of media freedom and the Journalist Safety Index of the Western Balkans, which shows Montenegro's position in the region when it comes to the protection of journalists and cases of attacks on media workers.
Vice President of SMCG and author of the research Marijana Camović Velicković said that in 2025, Montenegro maintained third place in the region in terms of the level of media freedom and safety of journalists, but that a slight decline in the overall score was recorded.
"Montenegro is again in third position for 2025, but with a slight drop in the general rating of the level of safety of journalists. The rating for 2025 is 3,14, while for 2024 it was 3,15," said Camović Velicković.
As she pointed out, this is a trend that has been present in all Western Balkan countries for the last six years.
She said that, according to the research, North Macedonia ranked best with a score of 3,89, followed by Croatia with 3,15, while Montenegro was third with 3,14. Albania was rated with 2,98, Kosovo with 2,93, Bosnia and Herzegovina with 2,61, while Serbia was last with a score of 2,24.
Camović Velicković pointed out that since the beginning of the measurement in 2020, when it had a score of 3,56, Montenegro has recorded a continuous decline to the current 3,14.
"What primarily influenced the lowering of Montenegro's rating was the number of attacks, which increased by 40 percent in the previous year, but also the lack of respect for media laws, poor working conditions and low salaries in the media, and poor or non-existent social dialogue at all levels," said Camović Velicković.
SMCG President Radomir Krackovic said that a record number of attacks on journalists and media workers were recorded in Montenegro last year - 33.
"Last year, like all previous ones, was challenging for Montenegrin journalists and media workers. We recorded a record number of attacks on journalists, 33, then pressure on trade union organizations and their authorized representatives in public media, as well as a new trend of increasing lawsuits against media reporting, which can be characterized as so-called SLAPP lawsuits," said Krackovic.
He stated that cases of attacks on journalists are being resolved more quickly than before, and that every case of attack from the previous year has a certain epilogue or is in the process of being resolved.
According to Kračković, political pressure on the media continued throughout the past year, through harsh criticism of the media's work and attempts to target them due to editorial policy.
"A new trend is that there is no longer a unified condemnation of attacks on journalists and media workers, but rather some parties avoid it or even openly side with the attackers, or provide them with support when they are arrested," warned Krackovic.
The research states that the professional work of all media is not fully guaranteed, because the issue of supervision over the application of professional standards in the work of internet portals, of which there are the most on the Montenegrin media scene and whose influence is continuously growing, has still not been resolved.
The authors of the research pointed to an increase in propaganda and biased reporting in favor of certain political options, while effective sanctions for the spread of hate speech and incitement to discrimination have yet to be established.
"Although media freedom in Montenegro is guaranteed by the Constitution and laws, old and new challenges remain in the dynamic media industry," the research states.
When it comes to the Public Service, the research shows that its independence continues to raise concerns. It indicates that over the past year, court rulings have been issued confirming the illegality of the re-election of the Director General, as well as the criminal liability of the members of the RTCG Council in connection with this procedure.
The report also states that the parliamentary majority is obstructing the election of members of the RTCG council and the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services, because the current legal solutions limit political influence on these bodies.
The research shows that, despite some growth in salaries in some private media and local public broadcasters, the average income of media employees remains below the national average for almost two-thirds of employees.
Particular attention is paid to the challenges faced by women in the media, including non-transparent salary policies and lower representation in management positions, despite the fact that they make up more than 60 percent of employees in the sector.
Krackovic said that the Media Union expects that a sectoral collective agreement will be signed by the end of the year, which would increase the lowest wages and improve the rights of employees in the media sector.
"We believe that by the end of the year we will finally succeed in signing a sector-wide collective agreement that will provide an increase in the lowest salaries in the media and new rights for media workers," said Krackovic, adding that the collective agreements signed at Radio Television Pljevlja and Radio Television Montenegro are encouraging.
The research conclusions state that censorship, self-censorship and the lack of quality self-regulation remain serious challenges for the profession, while the competent authorities should intensify their work on shedding light on the most serious cases of attacks on journalists and improving their safety.
"Things must change fundamentally and systematically, not superficially and politically. Laws must be passed after consultations with all interested parties, not through government or parliamentary majority amendments that change important articles of the law immediately before adoption," the conclusions emphasize.
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