Kosovo ranks 84th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, marking a significant improvement compared to the previous year, when it held the 99th position, reports KosovaPress.

According to the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) report, although the country has a diverse and dynamic media market, its development remains constrained due to the small size of the market. The report states that media freedom continues to face multiple challenges, including political interference in regulation, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), limited access to public information, and risks to journalists’ safety.

The report highlights that Kosovo’s television sector is concentrated and dominated by private channels, while the public broadcaster RTK continues to play an important role. At the same time, online media has grown significantly, including platforms publishing in multiple languages.

It also points to the rise of SLAPP cases and weak enforcement of laws, particularly regarding access to public documents and copyright protections. Politically, journalists continue to face pressure and attacks, despite their role in holding institutions accountable.

“The ineffective media regulator, the Independent Media Commission (IMC), underwent a legal reform that was deemed unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court. Ahead of the general elections in early 2025, several private media outlets faced boycotts from the government, which also threatened the independence of the public broadcaster RTK… Serbian-language media face the additional challenge of a small market, where some outlets depend on funding from neighboring Serbia, while independent media would not be able to survive without international funding,” the report states.

Economically, media outlets mainly rely on private sector advertising but often also depend on political or municipal funding, “increasing the risk of editorial influence.” Serbian-language media face additional challenges due to the limited market and reliance on external funding.

The report also addresses the socio-cultural aspect, noting that journalists enjoy a certain level of public trust but are often targeted by insults and misinformation on social networks, as well as political and ideological attacks.