The Lokal Press Business Association of Local and Independent Media, with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), conducted research into pressures on local media during the 2024–2026 period.

The survey included 36 representatives of 34 media outlets from 24 cities and municipalities, and the findings show that the position of professional local media has deteriorated further. Participants rated media freedom over the past two years at an average of 2.1 on a scale of 1 to 10, representing a significant decline compared with the previous survey, when the average rating was 3.3. This is also the lowest rating recorded since 2017, when Lokal Press began continuously monitoring the state of local journalism among its member outlets.

The research also points to growing fear and insecurity among local journalists. Compared with the previous research cycle, the share of respondents who did not want their identities disclosed due to concerns about possible consequences of speaking publicly increased by almost nine percentage points.

According to participants’ responses, pressures on local media can no longer be described as sporadic or covert. They see them as systematic, overt and increasingly intense attempts to intimidate journalists and suppress critical reporting. Many believe that the situation has “never been worse” and associate the further deterioration with coverage of student and civic protests.

Media outlets that reported professionally from the protests were subjected to physical and verbal attacks, public targeting, cyberattacks and various forms of intimidation. At the same time, many were denied public funding through project co-financing schemes or state advertising, which they perceive as punishment for reporting in accordance with professional standards.

The most common form of pressure remains unequal treatment compared with other media outlets, reported by 78 percent of respondents, up from 63 percent in the 2024 survey. As many as 44 percent of respondents reported threats via social media and communication platforms, while one third had been subjected to cyberattacks, threats of physical violence or unofficial “well-intentioned” warnings. Media campaigns targeting newsrooms and attempts to have their accounts shut down were each reported by 31 percent of survey participants. Twelve respondents reported direct physical attacks, while five media representatives from different communities said they had been subjected to harassment or surveillance by state services and agencies, representing a new form of pressure compared with previous surveys.

The main sources of pressure continue to be representatives of the executive authorities and ruling political parties. However, the research indicates that unidentified individuals are increasingly among those exerting pressure, along with pro-government media outlets that conduct campaigns against professional newsrooms at the local level.

Administrative pressures also remain widespread. As many as 78 percent of respondents said they had been excluded from invitations to public events, while 61 percent reported problems with access to information of public importance, the selection of members of commissions responsible for allocating media funding, and the channelling of public funds to privileged media outlets. Female local journalists are particularly affected, facing sexist and misogynistic insults, belittlement and threats.

At the same time, the research highlights two opposing trends. While professional local media are operating under increasingly difficult political, economic, administrative and digital conditions, with many outlets on the brink of survival, citizens are demonstrating a growing need for reliable local information and providing significant support to media outlets in their communities.

Full research report (PDF): Research on Pressures Faced by Local Media 3.0