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Shkruar nga Diplomatico | Pamfleti.net
The end of the era of traditional media: What does the Balkans risk in the post-journalism era?
The closure of Al Jazeera Balkans, VOA, and RFE/RL signals the decline of independent journalism in the region and heralds the era of global "post-journalism."
In a worrying development for democracy in the Balkans, the closure of Al Jazeera Balkans is not just the end of a respected outlet, but signals the beginning of a dangerous period for global democracy. In a region where media freedom has long been under strain, this is just the latest casualty.
Since the beginning of 2025, the Western Balkans region has seen a wave of closures of traditional media outlets, which for decades have been critical voices for peace and democracy in the region. Without the transparency and accountability that these media outlets have historically provided, the risk of increased government repression becomes increasingly real.
The situation is exacerbated by the Trump administration’s decisions to cut off US funding to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM). These agencies have been vital to the functioning of thousands of independent media outlets, including giants like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe, which have reported for decades on authoritarian regimes in Europe and Eurasia.
In Serbia, this wave of media closures has been accompanied by repression of civil society, student protests, and attacks on journalists. Meanwhile, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Bosnia are also facing new political and ethnic crises that require accurate and credible coverage.
This new era, called "post-journalism," is not just a period without free media, but a reality where truth becomes irrelevant. In this scenario, information will be abundant but worthless; truth will be technically accessible but structurally negligible; and traditional media will continue to exist, but weakened by misinformation and a lack of trust.
If the democratic community does not intervene now, the Balkan region will be the laboratory of a new global order, one that favors authoritarian regimes.
Brussels urgently needs to change its approach: journalists and media should be seen as a necessity for democracy, not as peripheral projects. The real challenge is not just preserving traditional media, but rebuilding journalism as a public good. / Pamphlet
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