In the course of 2022, RESIS and the partners of the platform
Safejournalists.Net worked on the second research study for the Western Balkans Journalists' Safety Index (WB-JSI). In 2021 RESIS developed the
methodology and coordinated a pilot study that for the first time measured and compared the safety of journalists in
seven Western Balkan countries. The study on North Macedonia can be found
here.
The WB-JSI is a research-grounded tool designed to measure and monitor the changes in the respective social and political environments of the WB countries, that have direct or indirect impact on the safety of journalists and media actors while practicing their profession. Based on the research evidence, nine experts in each country assess the situation and assign scores to each of the 19 indicators within the following dimensions:
1) Legal and organisational environment – the existence and implementation of legal safeguards relevant for the safety of journalists.
2) Due Prevention – the existence and implementation of a range of preventative measures that have direct effects on journalists’ protection and safety.
3) Due Process – the behaviour of state institutions and public officials towards journalists and the efficiency of the criminal and civil justice system concerning the investigations of threats and acts of violence against journalists.
4) Actual Safety – incidents and instances of various forms of threats and acts of violence against journalists and media.
The project is supported by the European Commission and Civil Rights Defenders.