Podgorica, (MINA) – There has been no meaningful progress in the position of media workers in Montenegro, the Media Trade Union (SMCG) has stated, warning that journalists face attacks and threats in the course of their work and are not safe even in their private lives.

In a press release marking World Press Freedom Day, the SMCG said that the problems burdening the media profession remain unchanged, including the unfavourable socio-economic status of media workers, poor working conditions, political pressure and pronounced security risks.

“From 2020 until the end of 2025, the Trade Union registered a total of 146 attacks, as recorded in the SafeJournalists database. Over this six-year period, female journalists were victims in as many as 56 cases, their male colleagues in 50, while in 40 cases the victims were groups of journalists or media organisations,” the press release said.

It added that media workers are not only exposed to attacks and threats while on duty, but are also unsafe in their private lives.

“Hate speech, targeting and coordinated attacks on social media are increasingly frequent, often coming from public office holders, while experience shows that they can escalate into physical incidents.”

The SMCG stressed that women in the media face specific forms of violence, including sexist insults, threats and discreditation campaigns aimed at excluding them from public life and their profession.

According to the press release, there have nevertheless been some encouraging improvements.

“A mechanism for the safety of journalists has become operational, in its pilot phase, and is already showing initial results, particularly through improved coordination between institutions and the media community,” the SMCG said.