The “experience in the past months is something really new and unprecedented.” “The pressure I feel right now is strong,” said one senior Slovenian journalist working for public media, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Janša’s moves directly contradict the EU’s standards on media freedom - Commission Vice President Věra Jourová declared last year that “journalists should be able to report without fear or favor.” And the pressure comes at a time when concerns are growing about media freedom and plurality across much of Central and Eastern Europe - in particular in Hungary, Poland and Bulgaria. Journalists say the pressure has led to self-censorship and that some editors have resorted to calling police over threats.Īnd while some journalists say they have been able to continue reporting as usual, many covering Janša’s government say political pressure is strongly felt in their daily work, affecting reporting on issues such as Hungarian investments in Slovenia, the role of far-right movements in the country and even Janša’s Trump-boosting on Twitter.Īsked if the Slovenian Press Agency’s independence is at risk, editor-in-chief Barbara Štrukelj said: “Absolutely.” Many of them accuse Janša of whipping up hatred against public media reporters and editors, resulting in threatening phone calls, letters, emails and messages on social media. POLITICO spoke with over a dozen journalists, including senior staff at Slovenia’s public media outlets. The campaign has had a toxic effect on media freedom in the southeast European country, according to journalists, watchdogs and academics.
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