Index 2022
Media
2022, All cities
2.84
1 2 3 4 5 Sofia Plovdiv Stara Zagora Burgas Vidin Razgrad Pazardzhik Targovishte Ruse Veliko Turnovo Smolyan Haskovo Pernik Sliven Montana Blagoevgrad Lovech Shumen Gabrovo Yambol Vratsa Pleven Dobrich Kyustendil Varna Silistra Kardzhali
Blagoevgrad Burgas Varna Veliko Turnovo Vidin Vratsa Gabrovo Dobrich Kardzhali Kyustendil Lovech Montana Pazardzhik Pernik Pleven Plovdiv Razgrad Ruse Silistra Sliven Smolyan Sofia Stara Zagora Targovishte Haskovo Shumen Yambol

The Media Index has a total score of 2.84 points, thus ranking in the 8th position among the pillars of the Local Integrity System. The comparative assessment of the three studied dimensions (capacity, role and governance) shows that the most significant deficits are in the implementation of the role of the media – the assessment on this complex of indicator is 2.30 points.

 

The media receive a low score on the capacity dimension (resources and independence), with a score of 3.34 points. The majority of local media are in a difficult financial situation, which, according to journalists, leads to compromises with high professional standards of quality and objectivity (shortage of human resources, outdated equipment, lack of specialized software). With the exception of Sofia (3.65 points) and some larger cities, the number of media that reflects the full spectrum of significant points of view, political and social positions shrink.

 

The study identified the trend of increasing dependence of local media on the budgets for media services of municipalities and on publicity budgets for European projects implemented at local and regional level.

 

The most serious concern is the low ratings of the media on the indicator role in the Local Integrity System – an overall score of 2.30 points, with only the media in Sofia, Plovdiv and Stara Zagora receiving scores above 3 points on this group of indicators. Journalists in local media rarely conduct journalistic investigations. Although corruption is sometimes present in local media, it is more about reporting on national media revelations than independent investigations of local journalists. Most local media in the surveyed municipalities have not conducted effective journalistic investigations in the last year and have not exposed cases of corruption or abuse at the local level. The exceptions are few and show in the work of media in Sofia, Stara Zagora, Varna, Plovdiv, Blagoevgrad, Shumen.

 

values of Media indexes
Capacity 3.34
Capacity of Local Media 3.01

A variety of media exists on local level 3.35

Local media has sufficient financial resources to effectively implement its’ function of source of information 2.67

Independence 3.67

Cases of harassment and threats towards journalists connected with their work 3.93

Cases of fired journalists over the last year in connection with conflicts with the editor/owner of the media 3.98

Level of priority changes of local media according to the policies of different political parties 3.31

Controlled access to official and unofficial media sources 3.46

Role 2.30
Investigation and exposing of corruption 2.00

Media have investigated and exposed large cases of corruption 1.98

Local media have specialized programs for publishing information regarding investigations and publishing signals from citizens 2.02

Informing the Local Community of Corruption Impact 2.60

Specialized media programs and campaigns aimed at informing the broad public with anticorruption practices and good governance 2.19

Local media provide political pluralism and are not a tool for discrediting political opponents 3.02

Governance 2.89
Transparency of Local Media 2.87

Local print and electronic media publish information regarding their ownership 2.78

Print and electronic media publish the authors of the information materials, commentaries and analysis 2.96

Accountability of Local Media 3.34

Local media provide the right of reply and support discussion forums for feedback 3.83

Local media publish tariffs and contracts with political parties in relation with election campaigns 2.85

Integrity of Local Media 2.45

The media obeys an ethical code that has been established by itself or a professional association 2.43

Ethical codes are being employed effectively, real sanctions are in place, trainings are conducted for journalists on the topics of ethics 1.81

The basic rule of information checking from multiple sources is implemented 3.17

Obtained protection from a professional journalism association 2.39

2022 - All Cities, Index values by pillar


All pillars - 3.22