Who are we?
SafeJournalists Network (SJN) is focused on improving safety of journalists and media freedom in the Western Balkans.
SJN was established in 2015 in response to continued decline in journalists’ safety and media freedoms in the Western Balkans and the need for greater solidarity within the media community in the region.
SJN gathers journalists’ associations and trade unions in the Western Balkans:
- Serbia: Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) – network coordinator
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Association of BH Journalists (BHJA)
- Croatia: Croatian Journalists’ Association (CJA)
- Kosovo: Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK)
- North Macedonia: Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM)
- Montenegro: Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (TUMM)
- Albania: an independent researcher performs the activities
Our mission
To improve regional cooperation in the Western Balkans and advocate for an enabling environment for the protection of media freedom and safety of journalists and all other media workers.
What do we do?
- Systematically monitor and record cases of violations against journalists (and produce reliable data)
- Issue annual reports on journalists’ safety and the state of media freedom in the region (using a unique methodology)
- Advocate for policy and legal solutions at the national and international level
- Build capacities of local CSOs and media to actively work to enhance journalists’ safety and promote media freedom
Our strategic objectives
- Improved legal and institutional framework and established mechanisms safeguarding journalists’ safety, freedom of expression and information
- Strengthened institutional response for improving the safety of journalists and freedom of expression
- Improved professional rights of journalists and media workers, particularly of women and local journalists
- SJN and its members are recognized as independent and reputable actors representing journalists’ interests
- SJN has established a sustainable mechanism to support joint efforts of its members related to freedom of expression and safety of journalists
Way forward
SJN will continue to:
- Contribute to creating an enabling environment in which freedom of expression can be exercised without hindrance
- Ensure that threats, physical assaults, instigation of violence and cases of invasion of privacy against journalists are properly and swiftly followed up by law enforcement and judicial authorities, as well as publicly condemned by government officials
Funding
SJN has been mainly supported by the European Commission funding (the projects were carried out in the following time frames: 1 January 2016 – 31 December 2018, 1 February 2020 – 31 March 2023, 1 April 2023 – 31 July 2026).
SJN is also very thankful for the financial support of the following donors:
- European Endowment for Democracy (in 2019)
- Civil Rights Defenders
- Balkan Trust for Democracy
- MATRA
- Belgrade Open School
- Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia
- Government of the Republic of Croatia – Office for Cooperation with NGOs
- Commission for Allocation of a Share of Games of Chance Revenues – Government of Montenegro
- International Federation of Journalists
- Civica
- Konrad Adenauer Stiftung