NORTH MACEDONIA MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2019 Tracking Development of Sustainable Independent Media Around the World NORTH MACEDONIA AT A GLANCE GENERAL MEDIA-SPECIFIC ▶ Population: 2,118,945 (July 2018 est. CIA ▶ Languages (% of population): Macedonian ▶ Number of active print outlets, radio ▶ Newspaper circulation statistics: Sloboden World Factbook) (official) 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, stations, television stations, Internet pečat – 12,800, Večer - 7900, Nezavisen vesnik ▶ Capital city: Skopje Romani 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (CIA news portals: Print: 5 dailies, 4 weeklies, 29 – 7000, Nova Makedonija – 7500, Koha – 5000 World Factbook, 2002 est.) other periodicals (Registry kept by AVMS); (figures refer to print circulation, figures on ▶ Ethnic groups (% of population): Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish ▶ GNI (2017 - Atlas): $10.17 billion (World Bank Television: 53 TV broadcasters (AVMS sold copy unavailable) 3.9%, Romani 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% Development Indicators, 2017) Registry) – Public broadcaster MRT (5 ▶ Broadcast ratings: Sitel TV – 24.46%, Kanal channels), 5 DVB-T national broadcasters, (CIA World Factbook, 2002 est.) ▶ GNI per capita (2017 - PPP): $14,680 (World 5 TV – 13.51%, AlsatM TV – 5.56%, Telma 8 national cable and satellite TV stations, 10 TV – 2.85%, TV24 – 2.81%, Alfa – 2.42%, 1TV ▶ Religions (% of population): Macedonian Bank Development Indicators, 2017) regional cable TV stations, 10 regional DVB-T – 1.09% (Nielsen ratings, received through Orthodox 64.8%, Muslim 33.3%, other ▶ Literacy rate: 97.8% (male 98.8%, female TV stations, 20 local cable TV stations; Radio national Joint Industry Committee) Christian 0.4%, other and unspecified 1.5% 96.8%) (CIA World Factbook, 2015 est.) stations: 71 radio stations (AVMS Registry) – ▶ News agencies: MIA, Makfax (CIA World Factbook, 2002 est.) ▶ President or top authority: President Gjorge Public Radio MRA (3 channels), 3 commercial Ivanov (since May 12, 2009) national radio broadcasters, 17 regional radio ▶ Annual advertising revenue in media stations, 50 local radio stations; Internet news sector: est. €31.5 - 35M - TV 57%, Radio portals: approximately 80 (estimate based on 5.7%, Out of Home 22.8%, Print 2.8%, coverage of largest news aggregator) Digital 11.5% (Google and Facebook control approximately 50% of the digital advertising spending) – Estimate by Macedonian Association of Marketing Agencies. MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX: NORTH MACEDONIA 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. Unsustainable Mixed System (1–2): Country minimally meets objectives, with segments of the legal system and 2.68 NEAR government opposed to a free media system. Evident progress 2.46 2.44 SUSTAINABILITY in free-press advocacy, increased professionalism, and new 2.32 2.19 2.18 2.17 media businesses may be too recent to judge sustainability. 2.04 1.97 1.94 Near Sustainability (2–3): Country has progressed in meeting 1.77 1.76 1.76 1.74 1.70 1.66 1.61 multiple objectives, with legal norms, professionalism, and the 1.62 1.54 SUSTAINABILITY 1.53 1.49 1.47 1.44 business environment supportive of independent media. Advances MIXED SYSTEM 1.38 1.37 1.36 UNSUSTAINABLE 1.29 1.27 1.26 have survived changes in government and have been codified in 1.06 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. 2018 2019 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2014 2015 2016 2017 2019 UNSUSTAINABLE ANTI-FREE PRESS Sustainable (3–4): Country has media that are considered FREE PROFESSIONAL PLURALITY OF BUSINESS SUPPORTING generally professional, free, and sustainable, or to be approaching 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 2018, the Prespa Agreement formally changed The economy of North Macedonia had another slow year. OVERALL Macedonia’s name to the Republic of North Macedonia, With a 2.5 percent growth in 2018, it was well below the 4.5 SCORE a culmination of negotiations with Greece to resolve the to 5 percent growth rate generally necessary for economic 27-year dispute over Macedonia’s name, which has stood progress and improved living standards. The center-left as a barrier to the country’s efforts to integrate fully with government did increase minimum wage on a national level 2.26 the European Union and with NATO. Foreign ministers and introduced new welfare programs for several vulnerable Isigned the agreement on June 17 and the country’s parliament groups. ratified it on June 20. For the second year in a row, The media market remains overcrowded, although it North Macedonia’s MSI scores North Macedonia saw several other political developments experienced some movement towards reduction. A number of showed increases across all over the past year. Political party members involved in the broadcast media, specifically those broadcasting at local and objectives, which is reflected failed coup d’etat on April 27, 2017 were brought to trial, regional levels, ceased operations. as were several high-ranking officials from the previous in its higher overall score for The MSI panelists generally held that the situation with government. Former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski was the 2019 edition. While the media freedom and freedom of expression is much improved, involved in serious corruption and received a two-year country remained the “near as evidenced by the increasing average MSI score of this prison sentence for a case surrounding his procurement of sustainability” ranking with this objective over time. The government’s “Plan 18,” adopted in a new armored limousine by abuses of office. However, he year’s study, panelists noted that November 2018, delineated urgent national reforms but did never saw the inside of a cell, as he escaped to Hungary in the country’s slow economic not include any of the long-awaited and much-needed media November. He received political asylum from Hungarian Prime growth, crowded media market, reforms — effectively pushing them to the sidelines. However, Minister Viktor Orban. and competitive advertising before the end of the year, the government elected to market present significant The two sets of events collided, as the government could not introduce a subsidy program for print media. And on the last challenges to sustainability secure the two-thirds majority to change the constitution or working day of 2018, parliament adopted the Law on Changes and quality of journalism implement the name change unless it granted amnesty from and Amendment to the Audio and Audiovisual Media Services, throughout the country. While prosecution for the party members involved in the April coup which covered primarily the composition and the manner of the government has largely attempt. Civil society organizations and the majority of people appointing members to the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual adhered to its commitment not who were active in the “Motley (Colorful) Revolution” cried Media Services and the Programming Council of the public to interfere in the media sector, foul, arguing that European integrations are worth nothing in service broadcaster. the continued rise in prominence the absence of the rule of law. Their objections were in vain. of news from social media also brings a slew of negative factors, including fake news, filter bubbles, and disinformation. 3 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2019 NORTH MACEDONIA asd 1 OBJECTIVE 1: media outlets are able to finance and maintain either Council of Media Ethics of Macedonia , keeps a FREEDOM OF 2.44 national or international correspondent networks. voluntary registry for online media outlets. SPEECH Additionally, most media cannot afford to pay the Print media are given reduced value-added tax fees for major international wire services or news (VAT) rates. But otherwise, the government does not The discussion of media reforms has taken a agencies. Their coverage of foreign affairs usually offer special benefits to media companies. backseat to foreign affairs and the prosecution depends on the reports by major international media Restrictions are in place for preventing media of former government officials for corruption and available on the Internet. ownership concentration. These regulations ban abuses of office. Still, civil society media groups, Licensing in North Macedonia applies to high-ranking political figures, political parties, and organizations in related fields, and professional broadcasting only. Actual licensing policies have journalism associations remain focused on these traditionally been ultra-liberal, which has contributed media sector issues. to an overcrowded and unsustainable broadcast Legal and social norms protect and promote sector. More than 50 television stations and 70 radio free speech and access to public information. Panelists have long considered the country’s stations compete in a market of nominally 560,000 FREE-SPEECH INDICATORS media legislation good quality, in line with relevant households — in one of the weakest economies in ▶ Legal and social ▶ Libel is a civil law issue; international standards. However, their general Europe. The less strict licensing process for non-ter- protections of free public officials are held perception is that implementation is lacking and restrial broadcasting means that new companies speech exist and to higher standards, often depends on the will of political centers of continue to enter the market as satellite or cable are enforced. and offended parties must prove falsity power. Participants in the ongoing reform debate broadcasters, further pressuring North Macedonia’s ▶ Licensing of broadcast and malice.