KAS Media Programme South East Europe

21/08/2026

🗞️Freedom of Information requests, that allow journalists and citizens to compel public institutions to release documents and data, are an essential tool of investigative journalism.

Balkan Insight addresses a BIRN report analysing 1,740 such requests submitted by journalists across Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia in 2025. While approval rates have risen from 38% in 2022 to 58% in 2025, the report finds that institutions have developed new ways to obstruct access in practice: More than a quarter of all requests receive no response at all, legal exemptions are interpreted broadly and selectively and legally binding decisions by oversight bodies are routinely ignored without consequence.

‼️In Kosovo, institutions justified refusals by citing ongoing prosecutorial proceedings; in Montenegro, journalists were repeatedly denied access to information even in cases where the responsible oversight body had already ruled in their favour. The report also warns that legislative attempts to expand exemptions risk eroding transparency safeguards further. When institutions can disregard binding decisions with no consequences, independent reporting and democratic oversight are weakened.

🔗Read the full article and report here: https://balkaninsight.com/2026/06/30/freedom-of-information-still-impeded-in-western-balkans-report-warns/bi/

Despite robust legal frameworks, public institutions in the region are finding new ways to obstruct transparency, a new BIRN report finds.

17/08/2026

🇪🇺 The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) is the EU's landmark regulation to protect media independence, pluralism and journalists.

‼️One year after it became fully applicable in August 2025, the situation is concerning: the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) warns that the EU has a two-speed implementation problem. According to the annual Media Pluralism Monitor by the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom, the lagging countries - among which Bulgaria and Romania, are held back by regulatory ineffectiveness and political influence, thus making the adaptation of national systems to EMFA slower and more difficult.

The EFJ warns that without active enforcement and the political will, the risks of EMFA remaining only on paper are rising.

🔗 Read the full article here: https://europeanjournalists.org/blog/2026/08/10/emfas-first-birthday-with-a-broken-promise-to-journalists/

2025 witnessed one of the most significant institutional developments in the media sector: the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), Regulation (EU) ...

05/08/2026

🗞"The future of media freedom in Europe is determined in Central and Eastern Europe."📣
Pavol Szalai, Director of the Prague Bureau of Reporters without Borders, makes a compelling case in an interview with Columbia Global Freedom of Expression, an Initiative of Columbia University bringing together international experts and activists regarding the protection of free expression.

From RSF's satellite project exporting information and news into Russia to the EU's stalled Anti-SLAPP Directive and mass protests in Czechia defending media independence, Szalai maps the full spectrum of threats and resistance across the region. A success story comes from Lithuania, where journalists and civil society effectively pushed back against attempts to defund public media.

Particularly relevant for Southeast Europe is Szalai's warning that surveillance and smear campaigns against journalists in Serbia have intensified to the point where the country now sits at its lowest position in RSF's Press Freedom Index in the organization's 25-year history.
Read the full interview at Columbia Global Freedom of Expression:
🔗 https://globalfreedomofexpression.columbia.edu/publications/portraits-of-foe-defenders-interview-with-pavol-szalai-the-future-of-europes-media-freedom-is-determined-in-central-and-eastern-europe/

Columbia Global Freedom of Expression seeks to advance understanding of the international and national norms and institutions that best protect the free flow of information and expression in an inter-connected global community with major common challenges to address. To achieve its mission, Global F...

27/07/2026

🎙️ "Our journalism should be licensed, not taken."

Alessandra Galloni, Editor-in-Chief of Reuters delivered the 2026 Andrew Olle Media Lecture in Sydney last week. Her central message:

As AI companies train their models on journalistic content without consent or compensation, the revenue and infrastructure that sustain original reporting are under threat. Galloni called on the industry to license verified journalism to AI companies on clear terms, with proper attribution and fair payment, rather than allow it to be taken for free.

At the same time, she argued that AI, used responsibly and with strong editorial oversight, can be a powerful tool for journalists: helping identify patterns, build databases, and speed up reporting without replacing human news judgement.

Both the threat and the opportunity are acutely relevant for Media in Southeast-Europe, where independent newsrooms already operate under financial pressure, political interference and shrinking advertising markets.

🔗 Full lecture: https://www.reuters.com/media-center/alessandra-galloni-delivers-andrew-olle-media-lecture-sydney-2026-07-23/

This week, Reuters Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni delivered the Andrew Olle Media Lecture in Sydney, hosted by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). From protecting original journalism and navigating the rise of AI to why trust has never mattered more, Alessandra's speech explored th...

14/07/2026

Annual KAS Academy for political communication – When the periphery is as important as the centre

From July 12 to 15, the KAS Media Programme South East Europe brought together political communicators, journalists, public officials, and media experts from eight European countries in Timisoara, Romania.

Throughout the Academy, participants discussed political communication beyond capital cities, the role of local media, the relationship between spokespersons and journalists, communication challenges in smaller communities, public trust, speechwriting, and lobbying.

The main conclusion was that understanding local communities, strengthening dialogue, and recognizing the value of diverse regional perspectives are essential for building trust, fostering democratic participation, and building resilient societies.

09/07/2026

A new UNESCO-supported study shows how social media algorithms are reshaping journalism across South-East Europe and Türkiye.

Whether a story reaches its audience increasingly depends not on editorial decisions, but on platform feeds and recommendation systems. Small and local newsrooms are hit the hardest, and during elections, independent content can simply disappear from feeds as political advertising takes over.

The study calls for greater platform transparency and stronger recognition of verified journalistic content in the region. 🗞

🔗 Full study via UNESCO:

A new study examines how these tools influence the spread of journalistic content in the digital space, mapping how social media platforms and online media are regulated across the region.

01/07/2026

🌍⚽ The world is united by football until July 19th! But behind every iconic World Cup moment, there is a sports journalist bringing that story to light.

Sports journalism goes far beyond reporting the final score. Sports reporters are chroniclers of our collective memory. They capture the cultural impact of the game, highlighting stories of unity and resilience that reflect our broader society.

This time South East Europe is represented in the 1/16 finals by Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. We wish both teams – and all the journalists and reporters covering the games – the best of luck! 🏆⚽

24/06/2026

“Military and journalism are like a married couple.”
These were the words of Paul Hurmuz, Senior Associate Expert at the New Strategy Center in Romania, during the Global Media Forum hosted by Deutsche Welle in Bonn on 23–24 June 2026. This years edition of the forum is titled: Journalism out loud.

The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Media Programme South East Europe participated in the conference and had the opportunity to host a panel discussion titled “Talking to Each Other: Black Sea Security Experts and Journalists.” The panel brought together experts and journalist from Bulgaria, Romania and Germany.

The Director of KAS SEE had the pleasure of moderating this important panel, which highlighted a key takeaway: While the relationship between the military and the media is complex, it remains essential. Open dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperation are crucial for informing the public and strengthening security communication in times of growing global challenges.

22/06/2026

🌍💻 The EU is taking a major step towards digital independence – and it carries significant implications for the media and democratic landscape in our region.

The European Commission published its European Technological Sovereignty Package on June 3, 2026 – an attempt to reduce critical dependencies. For South East Europe, building an independent tech stack means more secure digital infrastructures, transparent AI models and stronger defenses against online manipulation. As the region further integrates with the EU, moving away from monopolistic tech dependencies is vital for a free and independent media landscape.

However, a question remains: can policymaking match the speed of digital development? Critics warn that unless the EU accelerates the deployment of these sovereign tools, the gap between policy intent and technological reality will only widen. Furthermore, KAS Media South East Europe says that the pursuit of digital sovereignty must not come at the cost of compromises; it must remain firmly anchored in the core values the EU stands for – such as fundamental rights, data privacy, and the rule of law. Digital resilience cannot just be strategic – it must also be agile, fast, and remain value-driven.

Read the full European Commission communication here: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/communication-european-tech-sovereignty-accompanied-eu-open-source-strategy

The Commission is proposing the European Technological Sovereignty Package, marking a change in Europe's approach to its tech ecosystems.

10/06/2026

Media and Academia – A Difficult Relationship: how can journalists and academics work together to strengthen informed public debate?
On June 9-10, the KAS Media Programme South East Europe brought together in Tirana media professionals, academics, researchers, editors, journalism educators and communication experts from 12 different nationalities across Europe, Africa and Asia.
Topics we focused on are digital transformation, newsroom management, journalism education, academic freedom, and how should a truly global media-academia ecosystem look like.
The main conclusion: meaningful dialogue across borders and different fields is essential for strengthening independent media, academic freedom, and democratic resilience worldwide.