Doubtful Media Financing: Bulgaria failed again in the Reporters Without Borders Index
This is indicated in the annual report of the organization, which traditionally presents the analysis and ranking around May 3 – World Freedom of Freedom. The index is determined by the assessment of each country in five indicators: political, economic and socio-cultural context, legal framework and security.
Bulgaria is extremely vulnerable to misinformation and influence on elections, according to a report
Economic pressure on the media is an emphasis on the analysis of the state in Europe and the world. On the one hand, it is intensified by the suspension of US funding for programs that support independent and investigative gynism, which even more enthralls some such editions, and on the other, the danger between the authorities and some media outlets is a factor.
The problems of Bulgaria: the cases of slap
In recent years, Bulgaria has mostly climbed into the ranking, but still remains in the area with countries whose levels of media freedom are problematic. Since 2021, when Bulgaria took 112th place, the country gradually went up to its best achievement in 2024, when it ended up in 59th position.
Bulgaria climbs in the media freedom chart but the slats are pulling it down
Today’s correction returns Bulgaria to where it was in the ranking, appreciated what happened in 2022. (71st place from 180 countries). At that time, the economic criterion of the state of the media was set up 133, and in 2023 it improved to 105.
The evaluation of editorial independence in Bulgaria is like Lebanon (132nd in the general index), India (151st place), Armenia (36th place)
The so -called Slapp cases continue to be the so -called Slapp cases (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Particular or Jacobi) – a problem noted in last year’s report against which the authorities did nothing, the report said. In the analysis of the 2025 index, Bulgaria is cited as an example, for a country where the media trying to resist attempts at institutional pressure are crushed by the formation of slaps. By this indicator, Bulgaria is in a group with Croatia and Hungary (60 and 68).
Signs of improvement are noticeable in Poland (31st place), Austria (22nd place) and Estonia, which ranks second in the levels of freedom of expression in Europe, after Norway, which has traditionally topped the ranking.
The insidious problem that pulls down: the economic pressure
The analysis of « Reporters Without Borders » shows that the media hesitates between the conservation of their editorial independence and the provision of their economic survival.
« At a time when the freedom of the press is experiencing anxious weight loss in many parts of the world, a seriously underestimated factor undermines the media: economic pressure. Much of this pressure is due to the concentration of ownership, pressure from advertisers and financial supporters, as well as state aid, which is limited, missing. »
Media Literacy Index: Bulgaria is the most unable to resist fake news
« Guaranteeing freedom, independence and pluralism in today’s media landscape requires stable and transparent financial conditions. Without economic independence, there can be no free press. When news media are financially difficult, they are more involved in the race of the audience and the public they want them and easily in the hands of the journalism. Anne Bodinde, editorial director of Reporters Without Borders.
According to her, when journalists are impoverished, they no longer have the means to oppose the enemies of the press – those who propagate misinformation and propaganda.
« The media economy must be urgently restored to a condition favorable to journalism and providing the production of reliable information, which is inherently expensive. Solutions exist and must be applied on a wide scale. » He also says Bodande. A factor that contributes to the economic crisis in the media in the European Union and the Balkans is the fact that the adoption and implementation of the Media Freedom Act (EMFA) – which would have continued to support the news economy – is still forthcoming.
| The report gives examples of the fact that Public media funding has become a decisive test How the countries support their media landscape. |
« The Czech Republic (10th place) has chosen to strengthen its budget sustainability for the public media, unlike Germany (11th) and France (25th). In Slovakia (38th), Bosnia (86th), Serbia (96th Balkans (99th)-the country with low ranking country They confront an existential crisis due to budget and political control cuts. «
A factor that contributes to the deterioration of the economic status of the media is the sudden suspension of US aid and the growing influence of Russian propaganda. « Budget abbreviations during the reign of US President Donald Trump – especially the suspension of funding for the Free Europe Radio (RFE/RL) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) – seriously weakened the already vulnerable media, especially in countries that are still struggling with authoritarian directions
