KOSOVO MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2019 Tracking Development of Sustainable Independent Media Around the World KOSOVO AT A GLANCE GENERAL MEDIA-SPECIFIC ▶ Population: 1,907,592 (CIA World Factbook, ▶ Languages (% of population): Albanian ▶ Number of active media outlets: Print: ▶ Internet usage: 88% of households have July 2018) (official) 94.5%, Bosnian 1.7%, Serbian 5 daily newspapers, radio stations: 82, Internet access (Index Kosova, December ▶ Capital city: Pristina (official) 1.6%, Turkish 1.1%, other 0.9% television stations: 20 (Independent Media 2015) (includes Romani), unspecified 0.1% (CIA Commission, 2015) ▶ Ethnic groups (% of population): Albanians ▶ Annual advertising revenue in media 92.9%, Bosniaks 1.6%, Serbs 1.5%, Turk 1.1%, World Factbook, 2011) ▶ Newspaper circulation statistics: Koha sector: There is no available data. Ashkali 0.9%, Egyptian 0.7%, Gorani 0.6%, ▶ GNI (2017—Atlas): $7.15 billion (World Bank Ditore is the leading newspaper, followed by Romani 0.5%, other/unspecified 0.2% (CIA Development Indicators, 2017) Kosova Sot (Index Kosova, December 2015) World Factbook, 2011) ▶ GNI per capita (2016—PPP): $11,020 (World ▶ News agencies: Kosovo Live, Kosovo Press, ▶ Religions (% of population): Muslim 95.6%, Bank Development Indicators, 2017) Economy Online Roman Catholic 2.2%, Orthodox 1.5%, other ▶ Literacy rate: N/A ▶ Broadcast ratings: RTK (40%), KTV (37%), 0.07%, none 0.07%, unspecified 0.6% (CIA ▶ President or top authority: President RTV21 (36%), Klan Kosova (18%), Radio World Factbook, 2011) Hashim Thaçi (since April 7, 2016) Dukagjini (4.2%), Radio Blue Sky (2.1%), Radio Kosova (2%), Radio 21 (1.9%) (Index Kosova, December 2015) MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX: KOSOVO SCORE KEY Unsustainable, Anti-Free Press (0–1): Country does not meet or only minimally meets objectives. Government and laws actively hinder free media development, professionalism SUSTAINABLE is low, and media-industry activity is minimal. 3.02 Unsustainable Mixed System (1–2): Country minimally 2.90 meets objectives, with segments of the legal system and 2.72 2.73 NEAR 2.65 2.65 2.63 government opposed to a free media system. Evident progress 2.64 2.61 2.58 2.56 2.57 2.52 2.51 2.52 2.46 in free-press advocacy, increased professionalism, and new 2.43 2.41 SUSTAINABILITY 2.36 2.36 2.37 2.32 2.27 media businesses may be too recent to judge sustainability. 2.25 2.24 2.16 2.16 2.13 2.02 1.96 Near Sustainability (2–3): Country has progressed in meeting multiple objectives, with legal norms, professionalism, and the SUSTAINABILITY business environment supportive of independent media. Advances MIXED SYSTEM UNSUSTAINABLE have survived changes in government and have been codified in law and practice. However, more time may be needed to ensure that change is enduring and that increased professionalism and the media business environment are sustainable. Sustainable (3–4): Country has media that are considered 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 UNSUSTAINABLE ANTI-FREE PRESS generally professional, free, and sustainable, or to be approaching FREE PROFESSIONAL PLURALITY OF BUSINESS SUPPORTING SPEECH JOURNALISM NEWS SOURCES MANAGEMENT INSTITUTIONS these objectives. Systems supporting independent media OBJECTIVES have survived multiple governments, economic fluctuations, and changes in public opinion or social conventions. Scores for all years may be found online at https://www.irex.org/msi n February 2018, Kosovo celebrated its first Thaçi, proposed redefining state borders as a OVERALL decade as an independent state. Ten years permanent solution to bring peace and stability SCORE earlier, members of Kosovo’s Parliament between the two countries. Whether that means signed the declaration of independence an exchange of territories and inhabitants is from Serbia. Major countries in the European unknown; the president’s office has failed to 2.53 Union (EU)--such as Germany, the United respond to such questions and to all inquiries IKingdom, France, and Italy-- as well as the United from the media about the president’s plan. States, were among the first nations to recognize As a result of these still-unresolved tensions Kosovo’s overall score for the Kosovo as an independent state. However, between Kosovo and Serbia and the looming MSI dropped slightly this year, in Kosovo has yet to become a member of the deadline to end talks between the two countries, comparison to its overall score United Nations (UN), as it is still not recognized media coverage of the EU-supported dialogue of 2.56 in the previous year’s by two-thirds of UN member states, including was dominant in Kosovo throughout 2018 study. Despite this decline, Russia and China. In November 2018, Interpol and was at the expense of coverage of other Kosovo remains in the “near rejected Kosovo’s application for membership, important issues such as sociopolitical events, sustainability” classification. prompting the government of Kosovo to blame the economy, minority and marginalized groups, The 2019 chapter for Kosovo Serbia for a “wild campaign” against Kosovo’s and human rights. While 2018 witnessed a shows drops in the scores for the membership. In return, the Kosovo government number of threats against journalists and freedom of speech, professional decided that all goods imported from Serbia media professionals, the year also saw journalism, and business will be subject to 100 percent tax. This decision the appointment of a special prosecutor to management objectives, and caused a further deterioration in the relations investigate crimes against journalists, which moderate increases in plurality of between the two countries. news and supporting institutions. was a culmination of journalists’ associations’ Panelists noted that while International political actors, such as the United efforts to prompt the government to take Kosovo enjoys good diversity States and EU, have called on the two countries action to protect journalists. Another major in media, the steady shift away to resume their political dialogue and find a achievement in 2018 was the adoption of the law from traditional print media to long-term solution. Dialogue between Serbia and on whistleblowing, which is good in content but the online environment has seen Kosovo has been ongoing since 2011 under the a challenge in implementation. Overall, access ethical standards diminish. auspices of the EU, the ultimate goal of which is to public information remains difficult despite to normalize relations between the two countries. the existence of a law that guarantees it. Other However, thus far the talks have shown only challenges in the media sector relate to the modest results. As such, a deadline has been set lack of transparency in media ownership, failure to end the dialogue and reach a legally binding to fully adhere to professional standards in agreement between Serbia and Kosovo in the reporting, and scarcity of financial resources. first half of 2019. Kosovo’s president, Hashim 3 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2019 KOSOVO OBJECTIVE 1: would restrict the freedom of media. It is still procedures for claiming VAT reimbursement for unclear what the content of such law would equipment bought from local venders rather than FREEDOM OF 2.52 SPEECH have been since the discussion was only at the directly imported. Media organizations are exempt conceptual level and no draft on media law was from VAT in the import of equipment, but not The Kosovo Constitution guarantees freedom of ever presented. Nevertheless, panelists believe that purchases in the domestic market. expression, and there are a number of laws that no specific law on media is necessary. regulate and defend this right. Laws are generally The licensing of television, radio, and cable consistent with EU and other internationally providers is managed by the broadcast media Legal and social norms protect and promote accepted standards for free speech protection. A regulator, Independent Media Commission (IMC). As free speech and access to public information. special law regulates the protection of journalists’ the terrestrial broadcast spectrum is fully allocated, FREE-SPEECH INDICATORS sources, but panelists feel that the law is not fully currently the IMC is only licensing non-frequency ▶ Legal and social ▶ Libel is a civil law issue; implemented. Panelists cited a few cases when content providers which broadcast through cable protections of free public officials are held a source of information became public, thus networks. This licensing process is very simple, with speech exist and to higher standards, discouraging other whistleblowers from coming minimal criteria. Panelists see this as a problem are enforced. and offended parties forward with information. In one case, a Kosovo because it has led to a rapid increase in the must prove falsity ▶ Licensing of broadcast and malice. police officer was fired after he was under number of TV channels, a large number of which media is fair, competitive, suspicion of having leaked information about a lack proper infrastructure, face insufficient human and apolitical. ▶ Public information is easily accessible; criminal act to the media involving the son of a resources, and produce poor media content. The ▶ Market entry and tax right of access to high-ranking official. IMC has failed to make the switchover from analog structure for media are information is equally fair and comparable enforced for all media to digital broadcasting, despite an existing deadline to other industries. At the end of 2018, the Kosovo Parliament adopted that passed in 2015. A board of directors, whose and journalists. the Law on the Protection of Whistle-Blowers. members are appointed by the Kosovo Assembly, ▶ Crimes against ▶ Media outlets have journalists or media This law establishes rules on whistle-blowing, manages IMC. Panelists believe the selection unrestricted access outlets are prosecuted to information; this is including procedures, rights and protections, and process is based on party preferences rather than vigorously, but equally enforced for all the obligations of public institutions and private merit.