North Macedonia
2020 was an extraordinary year for North Macedonia. Parliament was dissolved, a provisional government took over and then snap parliamentary elections had to be postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting state of emergency. The situation of the media worsened, senior government officials continued to threaten and insult media outlets, while cyber-harassment and verbal attacks against journalists increased on social media. All this served to reinforce the well-entrenched culture of impunity. At the same time, the pandemic complicated reporting. Organisations that represent the media strongly opposed the various proposed amendments to the state and privately-owned broadcast media law that would allow state advertising in the media. They opposed this on the grounds that it could encourage clientelism. The justice ministry is drafting a new penal code that should make journalists and media workers safer.
