Skopje, 2 May 2024 (MIA) - Journalists in North Macedonia are marking Thursday the World Press Freedom Day (May 3) stressing that journalists are paid below-average wages while working in unsafe conditions and being at risk of intimidation and violence.

The warning was raised today by the journalists' organizations and unions at a blood drive organized in four cities to mark World Press Freedom Day. 

At the Skopje blood drive, Pavle Belovski, president of the Independent Trade Union of Journalists and Media Workers (SSNM) said that the problems journalists are facing can be overcome with unity and courage. 

Several messages will be sent today, he told reporters, relating to freedom of the press, freedom of expression and the right to freedom of speech. “Speaking of freedom of speech, let’s not forget that freedom of the press is based on a secure job and freedom of expression. Thus, we should ask ourselves – do we have the necessary conditions. In answering the question, we must note that 70 percent, i.e. over 2,000 media workers are paid a wage below the state average,” Belovski said adding that today’s blood drive shows that journalists are safeguarding the democracy. 

Dragan Sekulovski, executive director of the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (ZNM) said that journalists while working in unsafe conditions are also subject to intimidation and violence.

“Freedom of the press is usually in relation to the right to access to information and May 3 advocates for freedom of information as a basic human right, which is key to informing the society and to making decisions regarding the functioning of a democracy,” he stated. 

The blood drive, according to the Skopje Red Cross, is the best way to highlight the humane dimension of journalism. The number of journalists killed while doing their job, more than 100 across the world, shows how much journalists are subjected to risks.

Blood drives take place today in Skopje, Bitola, Strumica and Shtip. 

Photo: MIA/MIA archive