April 26 (SeeNews) - Kosovo's journalists are facing serious obstacles in their work, such as direct and indirect political interference, financial pressures, concentrated ownership and limited access of information, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said on Wednesday in the latest edition of the World Press Freedom Index.
The country improved eight positions in this year's edition, reaching 82nd place, the survey, which takes into consideration the press freedom in 180 countries, showed.
Journalists who criticize the government and the country's authorities are often labeled “traitors” or “Serbian sympathizers”, and may be subjected to intimidation in the form of financial or tax inspections, the non-government organisation said.
"Access to information pertaining to institutional activities remains limited, restricting the reporting abilities of journalists in the country," RSF said.
According to the survey, the ethnic division in the country also represents a factor hindering the normal functioning of Kosovar media.
Slovenia remained the best ranked country in Southeast Europe (SEE), at the 37th spot, well ahead of Romania (46th), Bosnia (65th), Serbia (66th), Croatia (74th), Albania (76nd), Kosovo (82nd), Montenegro (106th), Macedonia (111th) and Bulgaria (109th), the World Press Freedom Index 2017 showed.
Media freedom has declined throughout SEE, but the erosion of the rule of law has been most visible in Macedonia, the non-governmental organisation also said.
The index is based on a questionnaire and on statistical data about abuses and acts of violence against journalists. The criteria evaluated in the questionnaire are pluralism, media independence, media environment and self-censorship, legislative framework, transparency, and the quality of the infrastructure that supports the production of news and information.