The editors and journalists of Macedonia's biggest newspapers and TV stations are questioning how did organizations such as "Freedom House", IREKS, and "Reporters without Borders" issued failing grades on Macedonia's freedom of press when none of them were contacted by the above mentioned organizations.

Not a single editor of major newspapers or TV stations was asked for their opinions or personal analysis regarding the freedom of press in the country. The editors of country's largest printed newspapers Vecer, Vest, Utrinski Vesnik, Dnevnik all confirmed they have never been contacted by Freedom House or Reporters without Borders, nor have they received any sort of questionnaire. Despite this, Macedonia was put in the same category as Azerbaijan, Russia, and few African nations, citing no freedom of press? So how did Macedonia "earn" these marks? All three organizations on their websites have sections in which they explain their methodology. Most often than not, Freedom House and IREKS hold panel discussion where a specific NGO within the hosting country is hired and invited to it. The second methodology is via unified polls which result in points after which the ranking is done. Curiously, all three organizations do not provide any information how many polls were conducted and who participated in these polls, was it reporters, journalists, editors, managers or individuals with high school degrees who are termed as "media workers". Frequently, Freedom House and Reporters without Borders will copy reports done by other organizations both political and non governmental. No Criteria where the source of information originates from



All three organizations admit information for ranking is obtained informally, from people they personally select (including friends) and not following a certain professional criteria. According to Freedom House, this was good, because media workers were supposedly more honest when speaking informally.

From the three Organizations who issued low marks for Macedonia, only IREKS listed whom it interviewed as part of their panel. The list included, Biljana Sekulovska (ex A1, introduced as "independent" journalist), Roberto Belichanec (Center of Media Development), Lirim Dulovi (Alsat), Tamara Chausidis (president and only member of Belicanec's NGO). Although Macedonia received the same marks as Russia, IREKS in its report ironically states while they can't report the names in Russia fearing reprisals, in Macedonia they can because journalists are free to write whatever they wish. IREKS perhaps didn't realize they contradicted themselves. As to why individuals (Sekulovska, Belicanec, Chausidis) who have publicly declared themselves members of the opposition were the only ones invited to the 'panel discussion', and not editors of major newspapers, only IREKS knows. Apart from the questionable selection of individuals, IREKS in 2013 names A1 as the most influential television station, even though the station was shut down 2 years ago (2011) because its owner had not paid taxes for 12 years.

IREKS goes on to name news agencies, mentioning MIA, and the little known Netpress and Makfaks, completely ignoring newspapers who are 100 times more visited and read than the above mentioned: (Dnevnik, Vecer, MINA, Kurir, Nova Makedonija, Utrinski). "Reporters without Borders" takes unprofessionalism to new heights. According to their 'methodology', they consult with up to 150 coworkers in a country through a specific questionnaire. They placed Macedonia on the bottom of its list for press freedom after putting a questionnaire on its website which can be completed by anyone, from any country, regardless whether they are in media or not. You don't have to be from Macedonia to fill out the poll. Freedom House on the other hand says it is consulting with "regional experts" on the press freedom in a specific country or use already published reports by both political or non government organizations. What this means, Freedom House can phone a "regional expert" in Athens and ask him about Macedonia. Zoran Dimitrovski, Head Editor of Nova Makedonija



- During my time at Nova Makedonija I have never been asked by these organizations about the freedom of press in Macedonia, nor have I been asked about my team. If you see their reports, they don't just list freedom of press, but often go for certain social and economical parameters involving the status of journalists. But then again, no one has asked me about this either. Most probably, they do polls with people they seem to want to do business with. Goran Mihajlov, Head Editor of "Vest"

- I have never been contacted by any of the organizations who is publishing these results. Likely they have some informal methodology, I would like to emphasize 'informal' and I am certainly unaware of what their methodoly is. I have given my opinion about our freedom of press at various conferences, however I don't believe my statements were taken into consideration. Dime Ratajkoski, Manager and Head Editor of MTV



- No. I have never been contacted by any of these foreign organizations who supposedly are relevant in their sphere of influence. It isn't just me, we are the largest TV station in Macedonia, and none of my managers have been consulted about this. It is sad these sorts of reports are showing up, supposedly telling our freedom of speech is limited, when you and I know this is utterly false. These reports are not taken seriously. I see these reports as an attempt by specific structures to show the wrong picture about Macedonia. You are asking me about the methodology of these reports. I can say with confidence there is no methodoly of any kind, these reports are produced and published for specific purpose whose background is controversial. Dragan Pavlovic, Head Editor of Sitel TV



- I've never been asked by these organizations, directly or indirectly, neither when I was heading Vecer, or now Sitel TV. These organizations don't have a methodology, rather 5-6 friends of theirs are consulted, usually from Soros based NGOs whose responses are based whether their party the SDSM is in power or opposition. Lidija Bogatinovska, Head Editor of Kanal 5



- I've never been asked by any of these organizations on any topic, let alone about freedom of press. There's been some interest by foreign diplomats, about political things, but never anything else. I don't expect to be asked in the future either because only certain people are being 'called' whose job is to create negative picture about Macedonia. In other countries maybe media heads are interviewed, so their reports may make some sense, but not here. Ivona Talevska, Head Editor of Vecer



- For 17 years, as a reporter, a manager and now main editor in Vecer, none of these organizations have ever contacted me or expressed interest of any kind. I don't understand their methodology, I don't believe they have a methodology. From what I understand, the same few people are contacted regardless whether they are involved in the media business anymore. In turn these people for personal or business reasons give the same opinions year after year.