Local Media and Ethical Standards in Focus at the Meeting in Kumanovo

Organized by the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM), a consultative meeting with journalists and editors from the regional center was held on March 25 in Kumanovo, focusing on the amendments to the Code of Journalists and the state of local media.

The meeting was opened by coordinator Nedžat Akifi, who addressed the serious challenges faced by media outlets in the region. He pointed out that in recent years, due to financial difficulties, several local media outlets have shut down, resulting in a reduced number of journalists and limited public information. In this context, the need to establish a Media Fund was highlighted as a long-term solution for support.

The President of AJM, Mladen Chadikovski, spoke about the Association’s ongoing efforts to systematically address the challenges journalists face in their work, including improving working conditions, protection from pressures, and advancing professional standards. Referring to the situation in the media sector, he pointed to challenges related to media pluralism, particularly in the context of ownership concentration, limited diversity of content, and its impact on editorial independence. In this regard, Chadikovski emphasized that the initiative to establish a Media Fund remains one of AJM’s key priorities, as a mechanism for long-term support and stabilization of the media sector.

In her address, Leunora Kaliqi from the Council of Media Ethics of Macedonia (CMEM) focused on the importance of ethical standards and the need for their continuous improvement through amendments to the Code. She shared experiences from the work of the Complaints Commission and emphasized the need for a regional approach to regulating the use of artificial intelligence in the media.

Vasko Magleshov, as a member of the working group, presented the specific proposed amendments to the Code, informing about the ongoing consultation process and the contributions from journalists from other regional centers.

The discussion that followed showed that journalists are actively engaged in the process and largely agree with the proposed amendments so far. At the same time, the need for systemic support for local journalism was emphasized, as well as the need to adapt professional standards to contemporary challenges, including new technologies.

The meeting in Kumanovo is part of a broader consultative process carried out by AJM across regional centers, aimed at creating a more functional and modern Code that will strengthen ethical standards and trust in the media.

Photo: AJM

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