Skopje, 3 May 2018 – In the light of today’s World Press Freedom Day, the Agency wishes to stress that only independent media, free from all kinds of pressure, may contribute to the development of democratic and prosperous societies.
Freedom of expression is the foundation of modern democracies, and only through ensuring conditions for unhindered and independent work of the media may progress be achieved. This is precisely why journalists must not be targets of the political or economic centres of power, due to their work. On the other hand, it should be borne in mind that freedom of expression must not be abused and that media have an obligation to respect the professional journalist and ethical principles.
As regards the situation of the media in Macedonia, based on the latest reports of the international organizations, a small progress has been noted in the past year. Just as before, the Agency will continue its proactive role in the sphere of promoting professional standards and increasing the awareness of the media about their role and responsibility in society and before the citizens.
We hope that, in the years to come, the media picture in Macedonia will improve significantly.
