Observation

At least 274 journalists were imprisoned during 2020, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on Tuesday, the most since the New York-based group began collecting data in the early 1990s.

A journalist taking a picture of Montenegrin Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic in Podgorica. Photo:EPA-EFE/BORIS PEJOVIC

Media Freedom Rapid Response, MFRR, the Southeast Europe Media Organization, SEEMO, and their partners published a report on Wednesday, demnanding protection of media freedom in Montenegro.

At least 274 journalists have been jailed around the work this year in connection with their work - a new record high - said an annual survey published on Tuesday by the Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ found.

Albanian journalists and cameramen reporting about COVID-19 Pandemics in Tirana, on 30 March 2020. Photo: LSA

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) launched a cross-border journalism platform on Thursday with the aim of helping journalists all over the globe by providing them with knowledge and assistance necessary in today's world.

Journalists' deaths are at "historically low levels" globally, according to a report by Reporters Without Borders, quoted by AFP.

Most journalists killed in 2019 covered military conflicts in Yemen, Syria and Afghanistan, say the Paris-based organization and recall that journalism remains a dangerous profession.

At least 95 journalists were killed last year during the course of their work, according to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), quoted by BGNES.

The highest number of media deaths recorded was 155 in 2006.

Bulgaria remains at 111th place in media freedom. This was made clear by the annual Freedom of the Press Index, announced by the international non-governmental organization Reporters Without Borders.

The voice of the press gets where the voice of diplomacy and institutions sometimes loses its echo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodor Melescanu affirms in his congratulatory message to the AGERPRES National news Agency on the 130th anniversary since its establishment. "On March 27 AGERPRES celebrates its 130th anniversary.

The European Federation of Journalists, European Centre for Press & Media Freedom, PEN International and Reporters Without Borders criticised on Wednesday new restrictive laws on online media in Albania.

The laws were proposed by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama as part of his drive against "defamation".